“Mr. Overton:
Sir, I have an order on you for $150, from your old master. It is in consideration of your dues to him for your freedom. I am in great want of the money, and have been for some time. I shall only ask you 10 per cent interest, although 12 is common. The money has been due two months. If you cannot pay it before the last of March, I shall have to return the order to Uncle Jo,—for I cannot wait longer than that time. It must also run at 12 per cent interest henceforth. If you cannot pay it all, write to me, and let me know when you can. Uncle Jo requests me to let him know when you would have any more money for him.
Yours in haste.”
“This is only one of a series of dunning letters which came every few weeks. Soon after the reception of this, Mr. Overton scraped together the pittance he had earned, and sent the young man $100, with interest. And he is now going out at days work, and his wife, when able, is taking in washing, to pay the balance.”
THE RIGHT OF PROPERTY.
We have heard the claim that some men are born slaves, but from the following fact we see that the all-grasping genius of slavery is not always contented to wait for birth. It claims a right of property in men BEFORE they are born.
“Another individual had bargained for his wife and two children. Their master agreed to take $420 for them. He succeeded at length in raising the money, which he carried to their owner. ‘I shall charge you $30 more than when you was here before,’ said the planter, ‘for your wife is in a family-way, and you may pay thirty dollars for that, or not take her, just as you please.’ ‘And so,’ said he, (patting the head of a little son three years old, who hung upon his knee,) ‘I had to pay thirty dollars for this little fellow, six months before he was born.’”—Ohio Report.