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Show 48 DESPOTISM SECTION V. Means of resistance on the pm·t of the slaves. Vie come now more minutely to consider, with what feelings the slaves look upon their own lot,_ and what resistance they make to the usurped authon ty of thCJr masters. For by the very constitution of human nature, it happens of necessity, that such an authority mus t be resisted, in some shape or other. As to escaping from a condition to which they seem to have been born, and in which they arc held by the joint interest, real or supposed, of all the members of the privileged class, that is, of all those who make and enforce the Ia ws and who alone possess knowledge, wealth and infl~ence in the community ;- such a deliverance appears impossible, and ra rely enters into their thoughts. It is true that running away is extremely frequent ; but in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the runaway is speedily retaken and severely punished ; and the attempt is generally made, not with any hope of ultimate escape, but as a means of eluding for the moment some threatened misery, which the unhappy fugitive has not the courage_ to face. . However, if a door were opened for thc1r escape; ~f by any circums tance they were induced to entertam the ideo. of it, and if that idea budded into hope, it is not to be supposed that they would stici<lc, or hesitate at any means, however horrible, that seemed necessary or convenient, towards the accomplishment of th~t great end. Prisoners of war, if they can but take thCif guards at unawares, are accustomed to s tab them w1th their own bayonets, and by that bloody means, to break away. Captives, such as slaves arc, must be expected to act upon the same ideas ; but with a promputude the readier, and a hate the more earnest, in propor~10n to their longer restraint and their greater provocauon. When has the master respected the person of his slaves1 Would he hesitate one moment to stab, shoot, hang, or TN Al\IERIGA. 49 burn the bc~t beloved of his servants, if he supposed that se1 vant s IJfc mcons1stent with his 8 [. t · the security of that tyrannic·ll empire 11 ao 0 y,h~r ~vdth pends his ~ondition.of mastc; 1 Let tf-1efe ~e ';h~cwhi:= pe! of an msurrectw~, and the old trees of the plantation, shall ?ance with dying men strung thick as acorns. Th1s the slaves know; and knowing it, what w~nder, when the desper~te project of insurrection is resorted to, what wonder, 1f they grant no mercy where they can e~pect none? What wonder, if with the torture of death by a slow fire, or by some other means equally cruel, before their eyes, they feel no clemency 1 What wonder, If they_ steel their hearts to pity, and emulate their masters m bloody cruelties and barbarot~ s revenge 1 In so domg,they merely practise a lesso. t they have been all their lives learning; all their hves, the sword has been l'ointed at their hearts, and If they m any way succeed m grasping it by the hilt - what wonder If they use it 1 ' If It were possible to speak otherwise than seriously upon so grave a matter, it wou!J be difficult to point out anY: thmg more ridiculous than the frantic fear t:le pamc terror, the ineffable alarm spread throughout t le South, by the slightest suspicion of insurrection amons the sl~vcs .. T hat the women and children shoul te ternfied, IS natural enough · but that men ~~n o V!Oien~e and blood, accustot~ed to o theil: ~utly rounds With the pistol in one hand and tl~e whi . he .other, l~en who have every advanta e on thei~ ~~~~With th~ SI!ngle exception of justice,-ai~ exception that ever,_ w lC 1 they a llect to deny and disre ard ·- such men should stagger and turn paleg t th ~ere report.of a distant insurrection can only ~e b e r~:D!~~ a gmlty C?nscience disturbs 1hcir reason 'an~ st away thou courage. ' Hav o t?ey not know the stake for which they Ia 1 Wh:t !~b~~~ considered the conditions of the g~rn~ 1 eternal war ey ~ntertam the puenle notion, that an thrusts, the c~~~ tie wagedd, and all the blows, the 5 ' le woun s, the danger, be only on |