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during my whole journey. One old man told me that when he was a boy, great cruelties were frequently inflicted, but that of late years, he had heard of scarcely a single instance. I speak of the parts that came under my own observation, for I was assured that in Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana, shameful is the treatment. In Virginia, there is not only a milder treatment than formerly was the case, but the severity of the laws has been much mitigated. It was enacted in 1669, that if a master punished a slave who resisted his authority, to such an extremity as to cause death, it should not be accounted a felony. In 1672, it was declared lawful for any person in pursuit of a runaway slave, to kill him in case of resistance, without being questioned for the act. In 1705, two justices might by proclamation, outlaw runaways who might then be killed by any one in any manner, without being impeached for so doing. In 1723, a person indicted for the murder of a slave, was not liable to any punishment, if the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter. And in the same year, a slave going abroad by night, if notoriously guilty of the of fence, might be punished by dismembering, or in any other manner not touching life. Whoever will take the trouble to compare these horrible laws with those now in force, will see the great

amendment that has taken place. We may therefore reasonably hope that the remaining unjust laws will be repealed one after the other.

But neither the repeal of these laws, nor the amelioration of the slaves, will be adequate to the establishment of happiness and security without the total abolition of slavery itself. To that object the efforts of every American patriot should be directed. Already symptoms of rebellion have shown themselves in South Carolina. And though they were soon extinguished, it does not follow that in all future cases, a similar result may take place. Something also should be considered of the spirit of the times. Can the Americans rejoice at the successful struggle made by the Greeks to free themselves from Turkish thraldom, and suppose that the rest of mankind would contemplate a similar struggle of their slaves with indifference? If they do suppose so, they know little of the feelings of Europeans. Whether tyranny be practised at Constantinople or at Washington, at Algiers or at New Orleans, mankind will manifest their abhorrence at it, and sympathize with its victims. And when the yoke is snapped asunder, and the slave walks erect in freedom, joy and exultation will be felt by millions.

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The longer slavery is continued, the more difficult it becomes to remove it. Certainly the dangers to posterity are great, for by some means or other it will cease. To suppose that slavery will endure for ever in an enlightened land, is as absurd as to imagine that mankind will relapse into primitive barbarism. In the language of Campbell, a poet who is admired on each side of the Atlantic, we may truly exclaim,

"Yes, thy proud lords, America, shall see
That man hath yet a soul, and dare be free.
A little while along thy saddening plains,
The starless night of desolation reigns.
Truth shall restore the light by nature given,
And like Prometheus bring the fire of heaven.
Prone to the dust Oppression shall be hurled,
Her name, her nature, blotted from the world.”

The horrors attendant on a general convulsion may be avoided by timely expedients. It is clear that slavery may be safely abolished if done gradually. The energies of the country can ⚫ never be fully shown so long as it remains. Justice, policy and patriotism call loudly upon the Americans to purge their country of this deadly sin. May the call not be in vain! May the generous spirit of Washington and Franklin animate some qualified person to commence the work. Let him never relax in his labour till he has completely succeeded. Let every real friend

to liberty aid him, and perhaps the wishes of the most sanguine may then be realized. Finally, I say to the Americans in the words of another poet;

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From forth your camp the accursed thing,
Consign it to remorseless fire,

Watch till the latest spark expire,

Then cast the ashes on the wind,

Nor leave one atom wreck behind."

But I really fear from the present feeling on the subject, that nothing effectual will be attempted. It appears likely that slavery and its concomitant evils will be continued, till in some agitated time, the flame long pent will burst out like a volcano, and spread death and destruction around.

CHAPTER XX.

THE SLAVE TRADE.

CONGRESS has enacted that the African slave trade shall be considered piracy as far as American citizens are concerned in it. It is to be hoped that the example set by the Americans in this particular, will be followed by the European governments, for surely piracy itself cannot be more wicked or barbarous. The only two governments which have hitherto manifested a sincere desire to prevent a continuance of that diabolical traffic are the English and American, . both of which have used strong endeavours; and, as we see, the Americans have taken one step further than the English, by declaring the trade to be piracy. This does them credit. But while they have been laudably endeavouring to put an end to the African slave trade, what have they done to check the American slave trade? To understand what I mean by this, I must mention that thousands and tens of thousands of slaves are purchased in Maryland and Virginia for sale in Georgia, Louisiana and other States. Agents are stationed at Norfolk, Richmond,

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