,
who made us of one blood, has fixed the bounds of our habitations. I
love these Southerners as I never loved new acquaintances before. But I
prefer a state of society free from slavery: yet this makes me love
those to whom God has given a South country, and imposed upon it a
necessity, at present at least, to employ the African race as
cultivators of the soil. It has often disturbed my feelings to hear some
people inveigh reproachfully against the Southern country, as comparing
unfavorably with neighboring free states. Going up the Ohio River one
day, a Northern gentleman pointed to some poor-looking lands in Kentucky
on the one hand, and some flourishing fields of Ohio on the other.
"There, ladies and gentlemen," said he, "is slavery," pointing to
Kentucky, "and there," turning to the other side, "is freedom."

"Now," said an intelligent Ohioan, "if you will excuse me for saying
it, I regard that as clear humbug. What is cultivated on either side?
The products of Kentucky, if raised in Ohio, would give the same look to
her lands. It is not slavery and freedom that make the difference; it is
the difference between large staples sown over large territories, and
smaller staples raised on smaller fields. Kentucky's soil would be
exhausted just as fast under free labor, so long as she cultivated her
present crops."

I long to see some clear running water. Our streams and brooks in New
England are not appreciated till one comes to this part of the land. I
long to see some good grass. I yearn for some hills. I would sail again
along our rock-bound coast; Oh for a walk on its beaches, to see the
tunnellings of the sea in the rocks, and the spouting-horns. But what a
relief it is to be in a section where the Christian religion is so
generally accepted, and the swarms of errorists and sectarians which
abound elsewhere are comparatively unknown. Here, the lowest class, in
which error would be prolific, is under instruction, to a great degree.
I see now why it is that false views about slavery are a great stimulant
to heretical views and feelings;--they are a convenient substitute for
the love and zeal which true Christianity supplies. The human mind,
where it is accustomed to act freely, must be impelled by some
master-passion; and when true religion does not supply it, error stands
ready to satisfy the demand.

On the whole, I am persuaded that our Northern people behave full as
well under the anti-slavery excitement as Sou