(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION) [Stephens Alexander] The Confederate

Sale 2503 - Lot 89

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Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200

(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) [Stephens, Alexander.] The Confederate Vice President's notes on a letter hoping to procure young slaves. Autograph Note (not signed), written as docketing on verso of a letter addressed to Stephens, 8 x 8 inches, with postmarked address panel and Stephens docket on verso; seal tear, short separation at fold, torn from ledger book on top and left edges. [Richmond, VA], 29 October 1861

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James M. Young of Lafayette, AL wrote to the Confederate vice-president Alexander Stephens during the early months of the war and the Confederacy, asking for business advice: "I can control some cash, say 1500 or 2500 dollars, some in gold & some in the common currency of Georgia. Can I lay it out to great advantage in Richmond or any part of Virginia for negroes? What price for young fellows, for young women, but more particularly what price for boys 10-12, or girls from 7 to 10 years old?" Young adds a little fan note as a postscript: "I was raised in Jefferson, knew you at Judge Latimer's in Warren in 1850, and have often voted for you." We don't know how Stephens responded, but he made a long note on the back of the letter in his own handwriting: "Wants to know the price of negroes in Va. Has some money to invest in negroes." with--an empty envelope addressed to Stephens, with a similar note on verso in a secretarial hand: "William Reese Esqr., Washington Ga., January 1 1862. . . . Mr. Stephens can have Jerry for $15.00. If this is too much, say what you will give and we won't disagree."