ecurity
against cruelty. The relation of master and slave, when there is no
mischievous interference between them, is, as the experience of all the
world declares, naturally one of kindness. As to the fact, we should be
held interested witnesses, but we appeal to universal nature. Is it not
natural that a man should be attached to that which is _his own_, and
which has contributed to his convenience, his enjoyment, or his vanity?
This is felt even toward animals and inanimate objects. How much more
toward a being of superior intelligence and usefulness, who can
appreciate our feelings towards him, and return them? Is it not natural
that we should be interested in that which is dependent on us for
protection and support? Do not men everywhere contract kind feelings
toward their dependents? Is it not natural that men should be more
attached to those whom they have long known,--whom, perhaps, they have
reared or been associated with from infancy--than to one with whom their
connection has been casual and temporary? What is there in our
atmosphere or institutions, to produce a perversion of the general
feelings of nature? To be sure, in this as in all other relations, there
is frequent cause of offense or excitement--on one side, for some
omission of duty, on the other, on account of reproof or punishment
inflicted. But this is common to the relation of parent and child; and I
will venture to say, that if punishment be justly inflicted--and there
is no temptation to inflict it unjustly--it is as little likely to
occasion permanent estrangement or resentment as in that case. Slaves
are perpetual children. It is not the common nature of man, unless it be
depraved by his own misery, to delight in witnessing pain. It is more
grateful to behold contented and cheerful beings, than sullen and
wretched ones. That men are sometimes wayward, depraved and brutal, we
know. That atrocious and brutal cruelties have been perpetrated on
slaves, and on those who were not slaves, by such wretches, we also
know. But that the institution of slavery has a natural tendency to form
such a character, that such crimes are more common, or more aggravated
than in other states of society, or produce among us less surprise and
horror, we utterly deny, and challenge the comparison. Indeed, I have
little hesitation in saying, that if full evidence could be obtained,
the comparison would result in our favor, and that the tendency of
slavery is rather to hu