now have adopted some preliminary means? I have instanced them, because they were undoubtedly the parties, by whose influence the obnoxious bill to extend slavery, was carried through Congress. So far are they from having adopted any means, that they resolutely contend that the general emancipation of the slaves, even if brought about gradually, would be a pernicious thing, destructive of the peace and and well-being of society. Their argument is, that the slaves are so degraded, so ignorant, so brutalized, that it is totally unsafe to trust them with freedom; for that if they were manumitted, they would avail themselves of their liberty to destroy the whites and become masters of the country. There can be no doubt that to be capable of making a right use of liberty, it is needful to be enlightened. And if the slaves, instead of being enlightened, are so ignorant as to be incapable of enjoying liberty, it would be well for the planters to ascertain, who it is that are chargeable with their present degraded condition. Have the slaveholders established schools for the instruction of the slaves? On the contrary, the legislatures of several of the States have enacted laws prohibitory of education. The real state of the case then is this. The slave-holders having no wish to put an end to slavery, and knowing that if

knowledge be communicated to the slaves, the difficulty of continuing slavery must be increased, have exerted themselves to prevent the establishment of schools, or the communication of any learning to them. By this line of conduct, and by other abominable ways, they have succeeded in degrading the slaves to the utmost of their wishes. And then, when they are asked why they do not institute an emancipation law, they reply by saying, that a people in such a state of degradation as the slaves are, are unfit for freedom. They first degrade them, and then urge their degradation as a reason for not granting them those rights to which nature entitles them. And what is to be said in justification of the law, which throws impediments in the way of any benevolent master who is desirous of liberating his slaves? To tell us that like impediments were sanctioned by the laws of Lycurgus and of the Romans can avail nothing. The Virginian Bill of Rights declares, that "all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain rights of which they cannot deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring or possessing property." And yet if a citizen of that State wishes to do all in his power towards the fulfilment of this declaration, by giving freedom

to a slave, the expense of it is a bar to this act of justice. Unless therefore it can be shown, that the Greeks and Romans had a similar declaration of the rights of man, the example of their laws is neither a justification nor palliation of the Virginians. But as certain religionists profess to believe that faith independent of works is sufficient for salvation, so the Virginians think that their public declaration of the natural liberty and equality of mankind, exempts them from the observance of it.

The degradation of the slaves is not occasioned solely by the want of education. That, though injurious, is far less operative than other causes, a few of which it is right to mention. The nonestablishment of marriage amongst them tends to produce that laxity of chastity for which they are so conspicuous. Doubtless on some estates, marriage is instituted; but I believe that on by far the greater number, the marriage compact if made at all, is made to be broken at pleasure. Very few masters would think of punishing a man who should separate from his wife, and the law has no provision to meet the case. If a master himself desires the company of a negress, be she married or single she has no alternative but compliance for resistance would be resent

ed and force used, and no where could she obtain redress. Such is the unhappy condition of these miserable beings! It generally happens, that they become victims at a very early age, to the lust of either the master, his sons, or the overseer. So little regard is paid to decency and the common feelings of mankind, that incest is a crime of by no means rare occurrence. Who does not shudder at the horrid evils of slavery! Charity is doubly blest, and slavery is doubly cursed.

The slaves are not allowed the benefit of trial by jury. This perhaps may signify little to them, for where prejudice is so strong as it is against them, there is but a slender probability of justice being rendered. The magistrates decide on their cases without the intervention of a third party. One hardship and indeed cruelty to which the slaves are subjected, and which tends materially to debase them and keep them in debasement, is their not being allowed to give evidence against a white man. If their evidence be totally unworthy of credence, why are they permitted to testify against a fellow-slave? If some value be attached to it, why are they not allowed to give it? Bolinbroke in his account of Demerara, gives it as his opinion that the evidence

of slaves ought to be received in all cases precisely as that of other men. His opinion is at least worthy of regard, as he is an advocate not only for slavery but the slave-trade.

But of all the degrading measures, scarcely any one appears to me so bad, as that of selling men and women by public auction in a market-place. Look at a poor creature elevated on a table to be seen by the purchasers, having to hear the scoff of one, the reviling of another, and the jokes of a third, and then to be disposed of to the highest bidder like a horse or an ox. Can any thing make such a one feel his own debased condition more than this? When men are placed on a level with the brutes, it is no wonder if they become like them.

As to the general treatment of the slaves employed in domestic service, it is as may be supposed, superior to that of the field labourers. But of the latter I can report, and it is with pleasure that I do so, that they are decently clothed, 'well fed, and not overworked. I questioned many of them respecting their condition, all of whom assured me that they had nothing to complain of, except their being kept in bondage. I did not witness a single act of cruelty to any one