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• 1 2021-10-28T01:18:46+00:00 Fire-Illicit Trade 16 plain 2021-11-28T22:38:19+00:00

  The more significant part of theft was that enslaved people could harm the slaveholders’ reputation by stealing from a neighboring plantation, and what was worse was the habit of enslaved persons taking and selling the items or livestock.

  Beyond labor, enslaved people were never confined in the plantation or their place of labor. This is illustrated by the fact that enslaved people were known for trading goods with other slaves, free Black people, and whites, including slaveholders. The goods sold or traded could either be their own, grown from their own garden, or the livestock or fowls they raised, or they also sold things they made, such as hats. 

  Sometimes, the goods were not theirs, and they sold items that they stole from their owners. The enslaved people had to be very careful about selling because it was illegal for an enslaved person to have any possession. Nevertheless, owing to the dangers inherent in the process of selling items, especially stolen items, enslaved people "knew where to sell them." As one historian writes, "There was always some poor white would either buy the goods or sell them for the benefit of the slaves—for a consideration. As this man generally lived some distance from this plantation, the stolen goods would have to be taken to him secretly, and in the night.” See this petition for example, HERE
  

  It must be made clear; enslaved people were often slighted in negotiated sales. This is because the goods were stolen. They had to take whatever was offered to them or possibly be arrested and punished. Nevertheless, enslaved persons and whites often worked together to secure goods. Throughout North Carolina and other southern states, Stores depended on the trade between an enslaved person and non-slaveholding whites.
  
  See attempt to stop this illegal market in opinions of State v. Hart

  (June Term, 1844.)

  1. A person is indictable for buying from or selling to a slave, on his own account, even if the owner of the slave has given his permission for that purpose, unless that permission be in writing.
  
  2. An authority cannot be given by any person to the slave of another to sell an article, though that article be the property of the person giving the permission.
  
  3. Where an indictment charges both a selling by a slave and a selling to a slave in the same count, advantage cannot be taken of this, though not strictly proper, by a motion in arrest of judgment. After trial, at least, such a defect in form is cured by our statute of amendment (Rev. Stat., chap. 35, sec. 12.

  Slaveowners and citizens complained about enslaved underground commerce activities. Citizens of Craven County, near New Bern, petitioned the court to prevent Black people, who visited New Bern in boats, from buying, selling, trafficking, and fishing in their neighborhoods. The citizens noted that such activities interrupted the daily flow of life, encouraged their slaves to run away by employing them to fish, and stole from farms to make a sale. The citizens also hoped to reduce the ability of slaves to hire out their time to prevent them from engaging in these activities. petition

  One justice of the peace was removed from his seat for trading with enslaved people: ‘Nine Franklin County Justices of the Peace represent John Webb, the “at present and acting Justice of the peace ... Stands charged with vices and crimes So immoral and unbecoming the Dignity of a Magistrate, that they cannot with a Suitable Degree of Respect for themselves and the office they hold continue to act in concert with him.”’ They accused Webb of "Seducing & Trading with Slaves, prevailing with them to plunder their Masters and turning this to his own advantage." They, therefore, prayed that Webb should be prevented “from acting in his Said Capacity of Justice of the Peace until time is given for him either to acquit himself of this charge or that he may be convicted thereof.” petition

  Most notably, non-slaveholding whites were often among the unfree markets, buying from and selling to enslaved and free Black people; however, their participation was allowed regardless of ramifications. 
  Black people often used non-slaveholding whites and trading relations to gain items they would usually be forbidden to buy on their own, such as books, clothing, or alcohol. Some traded with non-slaveholding whites to make trading partners, which the slaveholding class envied and disdained in some cases. 

  Some of the relationships Black people developed with some whites evolved into more than mere trade and eventually developed into friendship. This friendship was dangerous, as they often led to instances of whites vouching for enslaved people, buying property for enslaved persons, or providing protection and comfort beyond the slaveholders' authority. Such relationships were forged as acts of confrontation, as they challenged the entire system of control. See an example of vouching HERE and HERE

  Slave codes forbade whites from harboring runaway slaves or slaves without the permission of the slaveholder; however, North Carolina slave advertisement suggests that whites were suspected of occasionally harboring several runaway slaves despite the mandates of law. 

  The friend of Harriet Jacobs’ grandmother, a white lady they called Aunt Martha, hid Harriet away in her attic for many months before eventually hiding away in a pent roof, crawl space, in her grandmother’s house.

  It cannot be understated that some harbored enslaved Black people were used to exploit their labor, but others tried to help and sometimes suffered for it. For example, William B. Murchie harbored a slave and was convicted and imprisoned. Moreover, he lost his good name and credit for doing so. Because of his actions, no one would loan money to him. See the petition HERE and continue HERE Enslaved people sustained markets that sometimes divided whites—the fact that the enslaved used to their advantage. Petitions in North Carolina are littered with examples of white trying to prevent Black people from participating in commercial activity. See example HERE