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Show 40 DESPOTISM driven, by an invincible necessity, to disregard the wellbeing of his slaves, and to cons1~er. solely l11s own proftt. Whether indeed that profit IS best promoted by retaining the character of master at all; whetl.ler the master's interest, upon a full and comprch ~n s1ve view of it miaht not best be advanced hy ccasmg to be a mast~r: i:' a question not now under discussion. But in communities where all are free, how many are there, who regard any in teres~ except their_ own.? And whereitl is the partiCular ev1l of slavery m thts respect? . . . The peculiar ev1l of slavery cons1sts m the very fact, that the slaves do not stand in this particular on a level with other men; they are not allowed to pursue their own in~crcst. Not only is the well_-~inO' of the slaves disregarded by the masters, 1t IS deliberately sacrificed. Left to themselves, like other men, they would pursue their o\yn happines~, wit_h success, less or greater. B ut their own happ~ue~s IS a thing they arc not suffered to pnrsuc; and 1f ylClding to the instinctive impulses of nature, they make the attempt, they are thwarted and driven back at every turn. Their own comfort or pleasure is a thing they are not allowed to think of at all; or to think of only at the risk of the lash. In free communities, selfishness itself is enlisted into the service of benevolence. In order to obtain favors, it is necessary to confer them. Mutual services are seemed by the attraction of mutual interest. But mutuality is a thing which slavery knows not. The master does not say, "Work for me, and I will give you in return wherewith to feed and clothe yourself and family." " 'Vork for me," he says, "or I will torture you with the lash!" If the master supplies the slave with food and clothes, he docs not do it by way of compensation for labor. It is a necessary expenditure, grudgingly laid out, in orde .. r to keep these human machines in motion. So far trom being in the natnre of a bargain or contract, slavery is nothing but violence upon one side, and compuls1ve obedience upon the other. IN Al\IERICA. 41 SECTION IV. Means of enforcing t!te Master's Empire. To sustain an empire of the kind above described, .t is evident that the most vigorous means must be essential. The means employed are chiefly three, to wit: force, terror,jraud; and according to the different tempers, tb.lents, habits and notions of the master, one or the other of these three means, is made the key of his system. I. FoncE. 'l"'hose masters whose tempers are harsh, violent, and brutal, especially those who have never been softened by education, and who are strangers to the refinements of cultivated life, and others who are endowed with a firm, decided vigor that moves directly to the point, and by the shortest way, rely principally upon force. Is the slave late in coming into the field 1 Twenty lashes. Is he idle 1 Thirty lashes. Does he disobey or neglect an order1_ Forty lashes. Does he negligently waste or destroy hts master's property) Fifty lashes. Is he detected in a lie 1 Sixty lashes. Is he strongly suspected of theft? Seventy lashes. Does he say or do any thmg that can be construed into insolence? E1ghty lashes. Is he guilty of the slightest act of msubordmatton ? One hundred lashes. Does he venture to. run away? Let him be pursued by men and dogs, dtsabled by small shot, and so soon as he is taken, be flogged ti ll he faints, then be worked in chains locked up every night, and kept on half allowance, tid h1s spmts arc broken, hnd he becomes obedient and contente.ct. Should he dare, upon any occasion to offer any res1st~nce? Let him be shot , stabbed, bo~t Jo the ground wtth n club, and should he not be ki lled in the process, as soon as he is so far recovered as to be able to stand, let him be subjected to all the discipline mentioned m the precedmg sentence and in addition be flogged every night, for thirty day' s in succession ' 4* . |