- Joined
- Apr 10, 2012
We hear paternalistic excuses for slavery at times, both historic and unfortunately contemporary, but too often we fail to hear how this played out in real life. Northeast Missouri was not well suited for slave based agriculture as some slave owners would reluctantly learn. The cost to slave and master could be very high:
From the Weekly Hawk Eye and Telgraph, Burlington, Iowa, January 25, 1859
When the system is such that the most reasonable course is self-mutilation, there is something very wrong with the prevailing "culture."
From the Weekly Hawk Eye and Telgraph, Burlington, Iowa, January 25, 1859
THE SLAVE TRAFFIC AT THE SOUTH
A correspondent of the Madison Journal, writing from Kirksville, Mo., under the date of Dec. 28th says:
A shocking affair occurred in this place yesterday, which may be interesting to some of your readers, the particulars of which are as follows: A Dr. Patton, residing some two miles north of this town, brought a negro man to this place in order to sell him; but finding no buyer, resolved to take him south, in spite of the entreaties to be left with his family. A chain was made fast to one foot and one hand, preparing to take him away; when he seized upon an ax, laid his hand upon a block, and severed three of his fingers from his hand. I saw the poor wretch a few moments, and a more heart rending scene I have never witnessed.
Three of his fingers were cut close to the hand, and the little finger, the only remaining one, was cut to the bone. He said he would rather die than to leave his wife and children. He knew that the cutting off of his hand would render him unfit for the market, and therefore he would be allowed to remain with his family.
When the system is such that the most reasonable course is self-mutilation, there is something very wrong with the prevailing "culture."