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Show 64 DESPOTISl\1 ficu 1 t to manage. r_r0 extort the services of such a slave by mere severity, would always be_ hazardo~ts, and ~ftcn impossible .. Drive him to -~espa_tr, of whlC~ such a man in such c1rcumstanccs, ~s castly su~ccpuble, and he might violently end a hfe from wh1ch.he deri vcd no enjoyment, and court. a death. wh 1~h oficred him, at least, the pleasu_rc of thwartmg t_hc hopes of a too greedy master. W 1th such slaves, tt has always been found necessary, to ente: mt? a sor~ of compromisc,-a treaty of peace, in w:lnch, tf the clatms of the conqueror were_ largely pr.ov1ded for, some r<:"" spect has also been paid to the nghts and the happiness of the conquered. The clauns of the master have been commuted for a monthly or d~IIy tnbutej and what else the slave could make or gam, has been relinquished to his own use. He has been furt.her c~couraged by the pros]Ject of presently purchasmg hiS freedom · or of obtammg 1t by the free g1ft of a master well ~atisfied with his services . But though such slaves a rc very profitable, they nrc also as has been above observed, very dangerous. Put thn~ upon a level with their masters, in all th~t constitutes the moral strength of men ; keenly sensitive to the injustice that is done them, a~d to the unfair advantacre that has been taken of thClr weakness, -they have0 ever been ready to burst into rebellion, have sometimes succeeded in overpowermg thctr mas· ters, and have often maintained a long, a bloody, and a rlonbtfnl contest. All this is perfectly well understood at the south. A slave who can read is valuable on many accounts, and will selt for more money than one who cannot. A slave who can read, write, and compute, and wh.o hy reason of these accomplishments is able to fulfil the duties of a merchant's clerk, IS plamly far more valuable· than a mere ficl<l hand. One who understands the art of printing, an armorer, an apothecar), arc evidently capable of performmg more profitab e operations, than he who knows only how to handle a hoe. IN Al\IERICA. 65 But well aware how dangerous such slaves would be, the privileged order liave preferred to sacri fice profit to safety. In most of the slave holding states it is specially en ::toted that no slave shall be tauoh t t~ read. 'rhis inability to read, disqualifies them at' once for all the highe• occupations. Some few arc rudely mstructed 111 those stmplc hand1crafts md!spensablc ~tpon every planta.tion; .but custom and public opinion, 1! not the Jaw, tmpenously forbid, that any slave should be bred up to the knowledge or practice of any ?f the superior ~rt~. Some pub~ishers of newspapers, m ~efect of white ]Otuneymen, mtroduced slaves into thetr offices as compositors; but the experiment was pronounced too dangerous, and they were obliged to relinquish it. With the exception of those employed in domestic 8erviCe, and 111 the few mechanic arts above mention~ ed, the great mass of the slaves are occupied in aO'ri~ culture, which, for the most part, is prosecuted in ~he rudest possible way. This is a subject which will be more fully considered in a subsequent chapter. Every thmg IS done by mam strength, and under the di recllon of an overseer. The slaves are confined to the constant .repetition of a few simple mechanical acts i and contmually employed as they are in this constant round of stupefying labor, which is not enlivened by hardly a smgle glimpse of art or intellect; thus shut o~tt from the ~1eans and opportunity of exercising their h1gher faculties, no wonder that the sonl falls into a deep and death-like slumber. Drugged with such a stupcfy1~g cup, so artfully administered, the soul murder 1f notcomplete, is closely approximated. 'l'he ~~an loses h1s manhood, and is a man no Jonoer. li~osc mental and moral capabilities which arc 0his h~Ide ~nil glory, fa!~ into abeyance, and apparently e dwmdl.es down mto something little better than a more am mal. u 'fh d . 0 ° ~mesllc slaves, b.eing constantly attendant v~ 11 .thmr masters, and hsteners to their daily conrsahon, cannot but pick up some crumbs of knowl~ G* |