and dispersion of his property. In all
such cases, however, every reasonable effort is made to keep the parties
together, if they desire it. And the negroes forming these connections,
knowing the chances of their premature dissolution, rarely complain more
than we all do of the inevitable strokes of fate. Sometimes it happens
that a negro prefers to give up his family rather than separate from his
master. I have known such instances. As to willfully selling off a
husband, or wife, or child, I believe it is rarely, very rarely done,
except when some offense has been committed demanding "transportation."
At sales of estates, and even at sheriff's sales, they are always, if
possible, sold in families. On the whole, notwithstanding the migratory
character of our population, I believe there are more families among our
slaves, who have lived and died together without losing a single member
from their circle, except by the process of nature, and in the enjoyment
of constant, uninterrupted communion, than have flourished in the same
space of time, and among the same number of civilized people in modern
times. And to sum up all, if pleasure is correctly defined to be the
absence of pain--which, so far as the great body of mankind is
concerned, is undoubtedly its true definition--I believe our slaves are
the happiest three millions of human beings on whom the sun shines. Into
their Eden is coming Satan in the guise of an abolitionist.

As regards their religious condition, it is well known that a majority
of the communicants of the Methodist and Baptist churches of the South
are colored. Almost everywhere they have precisely the same
opportunities of attending worship that the whites have, and, beside
special occasions for themselves exclusively, which they prefer. In many
places not so accessible to clergymen in ordinary, missionaries are
sent, and mainly supported by their masters, for the particular benefit
of the slaves. There are none I imagine who may not, if they like, hear
the gospel preached at least once a month--most of them twice a month,
and very many every week. In our thinly settled country the whites fare
no better. But in addition to this, on plantations of any size, the
slaves who have joined the church are formed into a class, at the head
of which is placed one of their number, acting as deacon or leader, who
is also sometimes a licensed preacher. This class assembles for
religious exercises weekly, semi-weekly,