Reading 2: An Abolitionist’s Perspective on the Alexandria Slave Pen

Known by the term of abolitionist, E. A. Andrews is one of many critics of slavery who was an active participant in the anti-slavery movement during the 1830s, a period marked by many other types of reform movements that aimed to uplift and improve America’s moral fiber. Reformers believed this was achievable by eradicating those evils and vices they perceived as rampant throughout society. The following excerpt is from a letter written by Professor Andrews recounting his visit to the Franklin and Armfield office and slave pen to witness first hand the conditions endured by the enslaved.

Alexandria, July 24, 1835. ¹⁵

…My principle object in coming to this city was, to visit the establishment of Franklin and Armfield, who have for some years been actively engaged in purchasing slaves for the southern market. From the gentleman to whom I brought the letters from friends in Washington, I have received every attention, and such directions as enabled me to accomplish the purpose of my visit.

The establishment to which I have alluded is situated in a retired quarter in the southern part of the city. It is easily distinguished as you approach it, by the high, white-washed wall surrounding the yards, and giving to it the appearance of a penitentiary. The dwelling-house is of brick, three stories high, and opening directly upon the street. Over the front door is the name of the firm, FRANKLIN & ARMFIELD. It was mid-day when I arrived. The day was excessively warm, and the doors and windows were thrown wide open to admit the air. On inquiring at the door for Mr. Armfield, he came forward in a few minutes from the yard in the rear of the building, and invited me into his parlor.

…I explained to him frankly my object in visiting him, accompanying my statement with a request that I might be allowed to see his establishment. It was an important object in my journey to gain access to such an establishment, to see the slaves collected for transportation, and to ascertain the details of the traffic. I was not wholly without fears, that, after all my labor, I should meet with a refusal; but these apprehensions were soon dispelled, for he immediately, and apparently with great readiness, complied with my request.

Calling an assistant or clerk, he directed him to accompany me to every part of the establishment. We passed out at the back door of the dwelling-house, and entered a spacious yard nearly surrounded with neatly white-washed two story buildings, devoted to the use of the slaves. Turning to the left, we came to a strong grated door of iron, opening into a spacious yard, surrounded by a high, white-washed wall. One side of this yard was roofed, but the principal part was open. Along the covered side extended a table, at which the slaves had recently taken their dinner, which, judging from what remained, had been wholesome and abundant. In this yard, only men and boys were confined. The gate was secured by strong padlocks and bolts; but before entering we had a full view of the yard, and everything in it, through the grated door. The slaves, fifty or sixty in number, were standing or moving about in groups, some amusing themselves with rude sports, and others engaged in conversation, which was often interrupted by loud laughter, in all the varied tones peculiar to the negroes.

While opening the gate, my conductor directed the slaves to form themselves into a line, and they accordingly arranged themselves, in single file, upon three sides of the yard. They were in general young men, apparently from eighteen to thirty years old, but among them were a few boys whose age did not exceed ten or fifteen years. They were all-except one or two, who had just been admitted, and whose purchase was not yet completed—neatly and comfortably dressed, and, in general they looked cheerful and contented. As my conductor, however, was expatiating on their happy condition, when compared with that in which they had lived before they came to this place—a discourse apparently intended for the joint benefit of the slaves and their northern visiter [sic]—I observed a young man, of an interesting and intelligent countenance, who looked earnestly at me, and as often as the keeper turned away his face, he shook his head, and seemed desirous of having me understand, that he did not feel any such happiness as was described, and that he dissented from the representation made of his condition. I would have given much to hear his tale, but in my situation that was impossible. Still, in imagination, I see his countenance, anxiously and fearfully turning from the keeper to me, with an expression which seemed to say, like the ghost in Hamlet, “I could a tale unfold.”

After a short time, spent in walking around this yard, and examining the appearance of the slaves, we “passed out by the iron gate,” and crossing over to the right, we came to a similar one, which admitted us into a yard that like that which we had just left. Here we found the female slaves, amounting to thirty or forty. These, too, were well dressed, and everything about them had a neat and comfortable appearance, for a prison. The inmates of this apartment were of about the same ages as those who occupied the yard which I had left. There was but one mother with an infant; and my guide informed me, that they did not like to purchase women with young children, as they were less saleable than others, in the market to which they sent their slaves. In answer to my inquiries respecting the separation of families, he assured me that they were at great pains to prevent such separations in all cases, in which it was practicable, and to obtain, if possible, whole families. Married slaves, he said, were generally preferred by purchasers to those who were single, because their owners felt more sure that they would be contented, and stay at home. In one instance, he remarked, they had purchased, from one estate, more than fifty, in order to prevent the separation of family connections; and in selling them, they had been equally scrupulous to have them continue together. In this case, however, they had sacrificed not less than one or two thousand dollars, which they might have obtained by separating them, as they would have sold much better in smaller lots. The women, in general, looked contented and happy, but I observed a few who seemed to have been weeping.

Near the yard in which the women were confined, was the kitchen, where the food of the slaves was prepared. Here everything appeared neat and clean, and the arrangements for cooking resembled those which we usually see in penitentiaries. From the kitchen we went to the tailor’s shop, where were stored great quantities of new clothing, ready for the negroes when they set off upon their long journey to the south. These clothes appeared to be well made and of good materials; and in the female wardrobe considerable taste was displayed. Each negro, at his departure, is furnished with two entire suits from the shop. These he does not wear upon the road, but puts them on when he arrives at the market. In the rear of the yard, is a long building, two stories high, in which the slaves pass the night. Their blankets were then lying in the sun at the doors and windows, which were grated like those of ordinary prisons. In a corner of the yard, a building was pointed out to me as the hospital; but such was the health of the slaves at this time, that the building was unoccupied.

Passing out at a back gate, we entered another spacious yard, in which four or five tents were spread, and the large wagons, which were to accompany the next expedition, were stationed.

Having examined everything, so far as the excessive heat would permit, we returned to the parlor. Everywhere, as I passed along, I observed the most studied attention paid to cleanliness, continually reminding me of the penitentiary, which I visited yesterday at Washington. The fences and walls of the houses, both internally and externally, were neatly white-washed, and there was also the same apparatus of high walls, and bolts, and bars, to secure the prisoners. In most respects, however, the situation of the convicts at the penitentiary was far less deplorable than that of these slaves, confined for the crime of being descended from ancestors who were forcibly reduced to bandage. Most of the former are confined for a few years only, and then go forth as free as the judge by whose sentence they had been imprisoned …Far different is the condition of the slave. He is a prisoner for life…

In the parlor I again met Mr. Armfield, who, during my absence, had been negotiating for the purchase of a slave, and had just concluded a bargain. Here I was once again treated with great politeness, and refreshments of various kinds were offered to me.

The number of slaves, now in the establishment, is about one hundred. They are commonly sent by water from this city to New Orleans. Brigs of the first class, built expressly for this trade, are employed to transport them. The average number, sent at each shipment, does not much exceed one hundred and fifty, and they ship a cargo once in two months. Besides these, they send a considerable number over land, and those which I saw were to set off in this way in a few days. A train of wagons, with the provisions, tents, and other necessaries, accompanies the expedition, and at night they all encamp. Their place of destination is Natchez, where Mr. Franklin resides, for the purpose of disposing of them on their arrival. Those which are sent by water, after landing at New Orleans, are sent up the rivers by steamboats to the general depot at Natchez, where they are exposed for sale.

As it is an object of the first importance, that the slaves should arrive at their place of destination “in good order and well-conditioned,” every indulgence is shown to them, which is consistent with their security, and their good appearance in the market. It is true that they are often chained at night, while at the depot at Alexandria, lest they should overpower their masters, and not more than three or four white men frequently have charge of a hundred a fifty slaves. Upon their march, also, they are usually chained together in pairs, to prevent their escape; and sometimes, when greater precaution is judged necessary, they are all attached to a long chain passing between them. Their guards and conductors are, of course, well armed.

After resting myself a few minutes, I took leave of Mr. Armfield and of his establishment, and returned to my lodgings in the city, ruminating, as I went, upon the countless evils, which “man’s inhumanity to man,” has occasioned in this world of sin and misery.

Questions for Reading 2

1. What do you believe was the purpose of Professor Andrew’s visit to the slave pen? Why was he given “every attention?”
2. What is your impression of the conditions of the enslaved in the pens? Do you think this is typical of all slave pens/trading firms? What would be the trader’s motives for treating the enslaved moderately well and providing better accommodations than those that would normally be given to the enslaved? Refer to Reading 1 if necessary.
3. Why do you think Andrew’s companion would make specific mention of trying to keep enslaved families together within the trade? How would this benefit the firm and the image of the trade?
4. Do you think his account of the slave pen is objective? Why or why not?

Reading 2 is from Prof. E. A. Andrews, Slavery and the Domestic Slave-Trade in the United States: In A Series of Letters Addressed to the Executive Committee of the American Union for the Relief and Improvement of the Colored Race (Boston: Light & Stearns, 1836), 135-143.