slaves, but he specifically
stated that they were to be for his own use and that he wanted them to
be "in families."[257] The same attitude appears in the case of a
house servant for sale with the reasons for such specifically stated:

FOR SALE

I wish to sell a negro woman, who has been accustomed to house
work. She is an excellent cook, washes and scours, and is in
every respect, an active and intelligent servant. I do not
require her services, which is my only reason for wishing to
dispose of her.

MASLIN SMITH[258]

The prevalence of statements giving the reasons for and the
restrictions upon these sales should show beyond any reasonable doubt
that public opinion would not tolerate any suspicion of a heartless
traffic in slaves. These sentiments were especially prevalent in the
central portion of the State. The only case known to the writer where
a large number of slaves were sold without any qualification was near
Harrodsburg in August, 1845; but in this instance all the man's
property, including 450 acres of land, was sold at the same time.[259]

There were, naturally, some unscrupulous masters who cared little for
the fate of their slaves when sold. They placed no restrictions upon
the sale, either in destination or in the break-up of family ties. We
will cite only two, one for the earlier and one for the later period,
noticeable chiefly for the lack of regard for Negro family life.

NEGROES FOR SALE

The subscriber has for sale a negro man and woman, each about 24
years of age, both are excellent plantation hands, together with
two children. They will be sold separately or altogether.

LUIDORES LUCAS[260]

FOR SALE

I wish to sell a negro woman and four children. The woman is 22
years old, of good character, a good cook and washer. The
children are very likely, from 6 years down to 1-1/2. I will sell
them together or separately to suit purchasers.

J. T. UNDERWOOD.[261]

The aggregate of all these causes was sufficient to bring about a
supply for the southern market. The question now arises as to how the
demand was met commercially. To what extent were there slave traders
in Kentucky? George Prentice, the famous editor of the _Louisville
Journal_, himself a loyal exponent of slavery, early pointed out that
Kentucky had