nounced upon the "poor in spirit,” that “ no man can ena ter the kingdom of heaven." 2. A marble-hearted insensibility is the second natural effect which slavery produces uponslave-holders. To expect feeling, compunction, commiseration, mercy, benevolence, and their correct kindred qualities from slaveholders, is a self-evident absurdity. There may be partial or temporary exhibitions of something like these mental and moral exercises, but they are only sudden and casual excitements; which are never displayed in their appropriate sphere. We frequently hear of liberality and kindness developed by slave-holders, but it is toward their own associates; and obviously more for show and fame, or from the force of example, than from principle; because they are not manifested in the proper form, and in favour of the legitimate objects. Slave-holders are often eulogized for their hospitality; and the fact implied is true, if by hospitality is intended a willingness to feast with those who are of similar character, habits, and principles. They make dinners and suppers, and call their friends, their brethren, their kinsmen, and their rich neighbours, who bid them again, and make recompense to them,"-but who ever heard of a slave-driver's obedience to the Lord's admonition, Luke 14: 12-14, to "make a feast, and call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind" enslaved descendants of the kidnapped Africans, who till his lands, and honestly can claim the reward of their unintermitting fatigue and toil? It is manifestly impossible, that genuine religious, moral, or even merely human sensibility can exist in the same heart where the arrogance of slavery reigns. Selfishness is an essential ingredient in that overweening estimate of his own importance, which is inseparable from a slave-holder's principles; and an unfeeling indifference, or a contemptuous disregard of the necessities and anguish of others; especially when the haughty notions of characteristic superiority, which slave-holders imbibe and cultivate, are combined with them; is as indissolubly united with slavery, as in his view, a coloured skin is conjoined with degradation. The children of slave-holders observe all these proceedings from their youth; and having no other examples before their eyes, and no counteracting instructions either from the literary preceptor, or from the professed minister of Jesus Christ; most awful and condemnable silence! they grow up in a reckless unconcern to all the miseries which they behold; until the softer emotions of humanity are absorbed in the unholy conviction, that they are authorized to treat their slaves without any of those attachments, and sympathies, and reciprocities, which belong to man in his social relations: and thus according to the natural progress of evil, the mind and heart and conscience become callous to every idea of rectitude and feeling, when the subject refers to the situation and claim of the despised and afflicted slave. The contradictory character of slave-holders in this respect is aptly illustrated by a descriptive phrase, which is common in the slave states. "He is a very kind and gentlemanly man at home; or he is a good Christian in his house and at the church; but he is a devil on his plantation." This account of slave-holders may be heard, in every direction, from Philadelphia to the gulf of Mexico; and it unfolds the abhorrent qualities of slavery, and its pernicious influence upon those who are engaged in it. Slave-driving transforms men into monsters, and leaves the large mass of that portion of society to be ranked among the unaccountables, who for one hour claim our respect, as valuable associates; and for the rest of the day, demand our execration as ruthless barbarians. Such however is the invariable consequence of man stealing; and to it may be imputed all the misery which that ungodly contrivance inflicts: because to endeavour to unite slavery and benevolence, and tenderness, and "bowels of mercies, and brotherly kindness, and charity," is just as preposterous, as it would be to strive to change an Ethiopian's skin, or a leopard's spots." 66 3. The third natural effect of slavery upon slave-holders is this. They become sensual; and lose that instinctive pudicity which God, for the wisest and holiest purposes, has implanted in the hearts of mankind. In the houses of slave-holders, you behold young ladies elegantly attired and attended by their coloured sisters, children of the same father, and yet slaves. You recognise the driver of the carriage, the footman, and other domestics as manifestly the planter's own offspring. What effect this must have upon unrestrained youth, no person can doubt; especially when it is recollected that no relationship is admitted to exist between the coloured attendant upon the sister, and her brother, who either forces or coaxes the girl to submit to his lawless desires. All the relations of life are thus confounded in one bestial indiscriminate mixture, for the matrimonial covenant cannot exist among slaves. Coloured boys and girls grow up together in nakedness, until they arrive at almost mature age; and in the most exposed condition, wait upon visiters, in the presence of youth, when the smallest sense of propriety would urge their exclusion; and where they remain in attendance, without any apparent idea on the part even of the females, of the glaring, shameless indecorum which every moment meets their eyes. Young coloured women, stripped to a thin, scanty body garment, after the most offensively indecent examination, are publicly placed in scales, weighed, and sold by the pound. 66 Breeding wenches," as they are shockingly termed in the slave-holder's ungodly and impure phraseology, are as regularly nurtured and trafficked, expressly to supply the human flesh-market, as a northern farmer endeavours to improve and enlarge his stock of horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep. On many plantations bribes are offered expressly to encourage the utmost licentiousness that children may be born; who are always for sale, provided rapacity can be satisfied; and thus all maternal and parental and pure domestic feelings wither and die. With comparatively few exceptions, the slave plantations are a scene of promiscuous uncleanness, of the most abhorrent character, which defies all attempts to preserve the existence of decency, personal or social. The child of |