ent is the reward of attachment. It is wise,
too, in relation to the civilized world around us, to avoid giving
occasion to the odium which is so industriously excited against
ourselves and our institutions. For this reason, public opinion should,
if possible, bear even more strongly and indignantly than it does at
present, on masters who practice any wanton cruelty on their slaves. The
miscreant who is guilty of this, not only violates the law of God and of
humanity, but as far as in him lies, by bringing odium upon, endangers
the institutions of his country, and the safety of his countrymen. He
casts a shade upon the character of every individual of his
fellow-citizens, and does every one of them a personal injury. So of him
who indulges in any odious excess of intemperate or licentious passion.
It is detached instances of this sort, of which the existence is,
perhaps, hardly known among ourselves, that, collected with pertinacious
and malevolent industry, affords the most formidable weapons to the
mischievous zealots, who array them as being characteristic of our
general manners and state of society.

I would by no means be understood to intimate, that a vigorous, as well
as just government, should not be exercised over slaves. This is part of
our duty toward them, no less obligatory than any other duty, and no
less necessary toward their well-being than to ours. I believe that at
least as much injury has been done and suffering inflicted by weak and
injudicious indulgence, as by inordinate severity. He whose business is
to labor, should be made to labor, and that with due diligence, and
should be vigorously restrained from excess or vice. This is no less
necessary to his happiness than to his usefulness. The master who
neglects this, not only makes his slaves unprofitable to himself, but
discontented and wretched--a nuisance to his neighbors and to society.

I have said that the tendency of our institution is to elevate the
female character, as well as that of the other sex, and for similar
reasons. In other states of society, there is no well-defined limit to
separate virtue and vice. There are degrees of vice, from the most
flagrant and odious, to that which scarcely incurs the censure of
society. Many individuals occupy an unequivocal position and as society
becomes accustomed to this, there will be a less peremptory requirement
of purity in female manners and conduct, and often the whole of the
society will be