Slave letter From Fla. Senator Much About Cotton and Health of Slaves. Incredible

In this chatty letter, newly elected U.S. Senator Jackson Morton writes to his friend and fellow Virginia native Presley N. Smith about renting out some of Smith's slaves in Mobile, Alabama.

Morton's brother Jeremiah Morton Jr. (1799-1878) was involved in the slave trade in Virginia and in Mobile, Alabama, among other investments.

[SLAVERY.] Jackson Morton, Autograph Letter Signed, to Presley N. Smith, January 24, 1849, Pensacola, Florida. 2 pp., 7.5" x 12.25". Expected fold; tear on opening not affecting text; very good.

Excerpts
"Whilst in Mobile, I enquired of Jackson Stanard whether he was disposed to purchase your servants. He replied he was in want of some, having established a saw mill across the Bay about 12 miles from Mobile He has written me the enclosed letter, containing his proposition. The character of his paper is unquestionable, as good as any firm in Va. LeBaron is his father-inlaw and one of the most judicious men in the South, and of as safe credit."

"My Brother arrived from his yard; informs me your boy Wm, has fattened up, but does not think he would be safe to send back immediately to the heated atmosphere of the cotton press. He thinks the cotton presses very unfavourable for the health of servants. He has Wm at light work, as he informs me. I shall leave in a day or so for N. Orleans and hope to find a letter on my return to Mobile."

"Stanard would be as good a master as any in the South, and his situation is entirely healthy. I enquired if he was disposed to hire them...."

"Let my proposition in my last go for nothing; the difficulty of finding an agent who will give that attention in sickness and health which a man would to his own; the heavy doctor's fees &c, with the loss occasionally of a hand, renders it unwise. If I were here personally, I could see my interest in it, but, my wife, is as much a man of business as yours and I know she would condemn it."

Jackson Morton (1794-1874) was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and graduated from Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) in 1814 and the College of William and Mary in 1815. He moved to Pensacola, Florida, in 1820, where he engaged in the lumber business. He served on the Florida Territorial Legislative Council in 1836 and 1837. He was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Whig in 1848 and served from 1849 to 1855. He returned to his lumber business after serving in the Senate. He served as a delegate to the Florida secession convention in 1860-1861, helped construct the Confederate government, and signed both the provisional and final Confederate States Constitution. He also represented Florida in the Confederate Congress (1862-1865), after which he returned to the lumber business.

Presley N. Smith (ca. 1792-1850) was born in Virginia. In 1819, he married widow Nancy Conner (ca. 1776-1860) in Culpeper County, Virginia. In 1840, he lived in Madison County, Virginia, where he was a farmer. He died in April 1850 in Madison County, Virginia, from "Deep cold."

Jackson M. Stanard (1819-1853) was born In Virginia. In 1840, he married Margaret Ann LeBaron (1824-1849), the eldest daughter of Charles and Margaret Ann LeBaron, and they had four children before her death. In partnership with Charles W. Dorrance, Stanard was an auction and commission merchant. In 1850, he was a merchant living alone in Mobile, Alabama.

Charles LeBaron (1804-1881) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but soon moved with his family to Pensacola, Florida. He returned to New Orleans at age ten and was educated at Orleans College. He married Margaret Ann McVoy (1803-1885) in 1822. In 1827, he moved to Tampa Bay, where he acted as sutler for the U.S. Army. In 1831, he returned to Pensacola, where he was a merchant and won election as mayor in 1840. In 1841, he moved to Mobile, where he was a merchant and died four decades later.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.