This idea would be exploited by whites as they would make up debts and force blacks to stay longer to pay off the debt. Here are some examples of the peonage act. "In the cases of Joe Patterson and Jim Caldwell, Pace testified that he "notified the whites that these boys" were under his control and that their freedom could be purchased by repaying the $70 he paid for them. (p.187 )" Here we see that these poor men were held against their will until their "purchase price" was paid. "Turner told the jury he was enraged when he later learned that each of the three black men had been fined only $5 or $6 at the time of their arrest. Turner said he told the young men they could leave after four months on the job instead of a year. (page . 189)" Here we see where a man made some blacks work for four months to pay off a debt of 5-6 dollars they owed. "Cosby said he had nothing to do with slavery, forced labor or servitude. He said he had been a faithful friend to blacks, paying their debts and providing jobs with kindness and good intentions. His version of events was that he paid a $10 debt to Pace on behalf of "a negro" named Elbert Carmichael in January or February 1901. Afterward, he "allowed" Carmichael to live on his farm (page 189)" Here we see that a Mr. Cosby had to pay a fine to free an Elbert Carmichael. Just as a slave could be purchased for a certain price before slavery was outlawed. It is