ow something of nature. Now ye
may note it as clear as the north star, prisons in slave countries a'n't
fit for dogs. They may tell about their fine, fat, slick, saucy niggers,
but a slave's a slave--his master's property, a piece of merchandise,
his chattel, or his football-thankful for what his master may please to
give him, and inured to suffer the want of what he withholds. Yes,
he must have his thinking stopped by law, and his back lashed at his
master's will, if he don't toe the mark in work. Men's habits and
associations form their feelings and character, and it's just so with
them fellers; they've become so accustomed to looking upon a nigger as
a mere tool of labor--lordin' it over him, starving him, and lashing
him-that they associate the exercise of the same feelings and actions
with every thing connected with labor, without paying any respect to a
poor white man's feelings," continued the mate, addressing himself to
his second, as they sat upon the companion, waiting for the Captain to
come on board and give further orders.

Never were words spoken with more truth. The negro is reduced to the
lowest and worst restrictions, even by those who are considered wealthy
planters and good masters. We say nothing of those whose abuse of their
negroes by starvation and punishment forms the theme of complaint among
slaveholders themselves. His food is not only the coarsest that can, be
procured, but inadequate to support the system for the amount of labor
required. Recourse to other means becomes necessary. This is supplied by
giving the slave his task, which, so far as our observation extends, is
quite sufficient for any common, laborer's day's-work. This done, his
master is served; and as an act of kindness, (which Sambo is taught to
appreciate as such,) he is allowed to work on his own little cultivated
patch to raise a few things, which mass'r (in many cases) very
condescendingly sells in the market, and returns those little comforts,
which are so much appreciated by slaves on a plantation-tea, molasses,
coffee, and tobacco-and now and then a little wet of whiskey. This is
the allowance of a good man doing a good week's work, and getting two
pounds of bacon and a peck of corn as his compensation. But, in grateful
consideration, his good master allows him to work nights and Sundays to
maintain himself. In this way was "Bob's bale of cotton" raised, which
that anxious child of popular favor, the editor of the "Savanna