[Little Rock] Old-Line Democrat, April 5, 1860
Thirteen slaves belonging to Gov. Fitzpatrick of Alabama, recently received $900, the proceeds of cotton raised by them in the odd hours they were allowed by their master to work for themselves.—[Ex.
We do not publish the above for our own benefit, or for the benefit of southerners, for we all know that slaves have time enough given to them to enable them to earn and lay up many dollars yearly, if they are so disposed. But our object is to convince our northern friends that our statements while in the North during the past winter, in relation to slaves having and holding their own earnings, were correct. Indeed, there are thousands of poor white families in the North who would be looked down upon by the slaves of the wealthy planter.