Account:
"I see 'em sell plenty colored peoples away in them days, 'cause that the way white folks made heap of their money. Course, they ain't never tell us how much they sell 'em for. Just stand 'em up on a block about three feet high and a speculator bid 'em off just like they was horses. Them what was bid off didn't never say nothing neither. Don't know who bought my brothers, George and Earl. I see 'em sell some slaves twice before I was sold, and I see the slaves when they be traveling like hogs to Darlington. Some of them be women folks looking like they going to get down, they so heavy."
-Sylvia Cannon, a freed slave, descibed slave auctions this way.
Source: Edmund L. Drago's book, Broke by the War: Letters of a Slave Trader, includes additional letters describing the nonchalance of those dealing in "the bodies and souls of men." (University of South Carolina Press, 1991)
Slaves were shown on a podium 3 ft. high and were sold to the white men without knowing what they were worth. Day after day, lots of slaves were sold each day. The slaves were sold like "horses". This was how the white men made money according to Sylvia Canno, a free slave.
Account:
"I offered Richardson 1350 [equal to 27,000 in 1998] for his two negros. He Refused to take it. The fellow is Rather light. He weighs 121 lbs., but Good teeth & not whipped. The little Girl he was offrd 475 [9,500, 1998]. I thought the boy worth about 850 [17,000, 1998] and at that price they would not Sell for cost, but I Supposed the fellow would bring 9 to 950 [18,000 to 19,000, 1998] &c and the little Girl 500 [8,300] at best."
-July 10, 1856 letter from slave trader A.J. McElveen to Charleston slave merchant Z.B. Oakes:
Source: Edmund L. Drago's book, Broke by the War: Letters of a Slave Trader, includes additional letters describing the nonchalance of those dealing in "the bodies and souls of men." (University of South Carolina Press, 1991)
So a slave trader, is offering different aged slaves at a differnet price. He tries to bargain that one of his slaves are in great condition, but the merchant would not take him. So the merchant raises the price for the best. So it is one good salve, for 2 young slaves. So slaves were not only sold with money, but was also traded with other slaves.
"I see 'em sell plenty colored peoples away in them days, 'cause that the way white folks made heap of their money. Course, they ain't never tell us how much they sell 'em for. Just stand 'em up on a block about three feet high and a speculator bid 'em off just like they was horses. Them what was bid off didn't never say nothing neither. Don't know who bought my brothers, George and Earl. I see 'em sell some slaves twice before I was sold, and I see the slaves when they be traveling like hogs to Darlington. Some of them be women folks looking like they going to get down, they so heavy."
-Sylvia Cannon, a freed slave, descibed slave auctions this way.
Source: Edmund L. Drago's book, Broke by the War: Letters of a Slave Trader, includes additional letters describing the nonchalance of those dealing in "the bodies and souls of men." (University of South Carolina Press, 1991)
Slaves were shown on a podium 3 ft. high and were sold to the white men without knowing what they were worth. Day after day, lots of slaves were sold each day. The slaves were sold like "horses". This was how the white men made money according to Sylvia Canno, a free slave.
Account:
"I offered Richardson 1350 [equal to 27,000 in 1998] for his two negros. He Refused to take it. The fellow is Rather light. He weighs 121 lbs., but Good teeth & not whipped. The little Girl he was offrd 475 [9,500, 1998]. I thought the boy worth about 850 [17,000, 1998] and at that price they would not Sell for cost, but I Supposed the fellow would bring 9 to 950 [18,000 to 19,000, 1998] &c and the little Girl 500 [8,300] at best."
-July 10, 1856 letter from slave trader A.J. McElveen to Charleston slave merchant Z.B. Oakes:
Source: Edmund L. Drago's book, Broke by the War: Letters of a Slave Trader, includes additional letters describing the nonchalance of those dealing in "the bodies and souls of men." (University of South Carolina Press, 1991)
So a slave trader, is offering different aged slaves at a differnet price. He tries to bargain that one of his slaves are in great condition, but the merchant would not take him. So the merchant raises the price for the best. So it is one good salve, for 2 young slaves. So slaves were not only sold with money, but was also traded with other slaves.