Extract Of a letter to a member of Congress from a friend in Mississippi, published in the “Washington Globe,” June, 1837.

“The times are truly alarming here.  Many plantations are entirely stripped of negroes (protection!) and horses, by the marshal or sheriff.—­Suits are multiplying—­two thousand five hundred in the United States Circuit Court, and three thousand in Hinds County Court.”

Testimony of MR. SILAS STONE, of Hudson, New York.  Mr. Stone is a member of the Episcopal Church, has several times been elected an Assessor of the city of Hudson, and for three years has filled the office of Treasurer of the County.  In the fall of 1807, Mr. Stone witnessed a sale of slaves, in Charleston, South Carolina, which he thus describes in a communication recently received from him.

“I saw droves of the poor fellows driven to the slave markets kept in different parts of the city, one of which I visited.  The arrangements of this place appeared something like our northern horse-markets, having sheds, or barns, in the rear of a public house, where alcohol was a handy ingredient to stimulate the spirit of jockeying.  As the traders appeared, lots of negroes were brought from the stables into the bar room, and by a flourish of the whip were made to assume an active appearance.  ‘What will you give for these fellows?’ ’How old are they?  ‘Are they healthy?’ ‘Are they quick?’ &c. at the same time the owner would give them a cut with a cowhide, and tell them to dance and jump, cursing and swearing at them if they did not move quick.  In fact all the transactions in buying and selling slaves, partakes of jockey-ship, as much as buying and selling horses.  There was as little regard paid to the feelings of the former as we witness in the latter.

“From these scenes I turn to another, which took place in front of the noble ‘Exchange Buildings,’ in the heart of the city.  On the left side of the steps, as you leave the main hall, immediately under the windows of that proud building, was a stage built, on which a mother with eight children were placed, and sold at auction.  I watched their emotions closely, and saw their feelings were in accordance to human nature.  The sale began with the eldest child, who, being struck off to the highest bidder, was taken from the stage or platform by the purchaser, and led to his wagon and stowed away, to be carried into the country; the second, and third were also sold, and so until seven of the children were torn from their mother, while her discernment told her they were to be separated probably forever, causing in that mother the most agonizing sobs and cries, in which the children seemed to share.  The scene beggars description; suffice it to say, it was sufficient to cause tears from one at least ’whose skin was not colored like their own,’ and I was not ashamed to give vent to them.”

THE “PROTECTION” AFFORDED BY “PUBLIC OPINION” TO CHILDHOOD AND OLD AGE.