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Show 26 be said. I refer to the common apology for slavery' by which the whole South and not a few at the North, conceal from themselves ~he true character of this evil, ~nd repel as unwarrantable our efforts for its destructiOn. Whenever the subject is discussed, we are told, that throurrh the lenity of the master, the slave sufl'ers less than the taborer in mo~t other countries. He has more comforts, we hear. He is happier. To this refuge the slaveholder always flies. My next object, therefore, and one intimately connected with the preceding, Will be to examme this po3ition. . I begin with observing, that it is honorable to o~r ttmes, that such a defence ns this is urged and reqmred. It shows the progress of civilization and Christianity, th~t the master holds himself bound to maintain, that h1s VICtim 15 happier for his bondage. An ancient Roman never thought of seeking a justification of slavery m 1ts blessmgs, never took the ground of his being a benefactor to tbose whom he oppressed. We have here a sign of the great moral revolution which is making its way through soCJety ; and we may be assured, that, when slavery can on~y stand on the footing of its beneficence, it is not far from 1ts fall. I have never been disposed to deny, that at the South slavery wore a ·milder aspect than in other countnes, though by some this is strenuously denied. I concede the fact ; and still more, I cannot doubt, that the cond1hon of the slave continues to improve. The cry, that the slave is treated more severely on account of the abolition movement at the North, cannot be true on the whol~, though particular restraints may be increased. He IS and must be treated more kindly. We have here better evidence than rumor. A master was never made more severe, by having the eyes of the world turned upon him, especially when the world, as at present, IS more than ever penetrated with the spirit of humamty. Slavery 27 exists at this moment under the broad light of Heaven. The sound of the lash resounds through the free States, and through nil nations. The master is held responsible to his race for his power. Can this make him more severe ? The defences which we hear from the South, set us at ease on this point. The anxiety of the planter to show the northern visiter the comforts of his slaves, sets us at ease. Within a short time, more than one gentle voice of woman from the South has spoken to me of the happiness of fhe slave. The master feels, that he can only keep himself within the pale of civilized society, by practising kindness to a certain extent. All his defenders at the North plead his kindness. Who does not see, that, under these influences, the severities of the system must be mitiaated and that the advocates of freedom are doing immedia~e go~d to the poor creatures whose cause they espouse ? , I believe, too, that not only is the general treatment of the slaves improved, but that their religious means are increased, in consequence of the Agitation at the North. We are told, that they are now denied instruction in reading. But ministers, churches, masters, arc waked up, as never before, to the obligation of giving to the slaves the blessings of Christianity, and have a new anxiety to roll away the reproach of bringing up hordes of heathens within their borders. I must say, however, that whilst we must give credit to the South for increased religious attention to the slave, I expect little good from it. And I thus speak, not merely from the reports of intelligent witnesses, but from immutable moral principles. It is hard to graft good on what is essentially evil and corrupt; hard for the man who oppresses to exalt his victim. There is always a tendency to unity in the various influences which a man exerts. To enslave a human being, is to war against his religious, as truly as his social and physical nature. The African is, indeed, very susceptible, and easily puts on the |