the case
of the slave, would not, at all times, suffice for the master's
happiness and comfort.

Here is a fact which is not understood in the free States. Slaves are
happy and content under circumstances in which a white man would be
miserable. They are satisfied and content with food, on which the
better portion of the white race can hardly subsist. Nor would soft
beds and fine houses conduce to their comfort. There are many of them,
who, if they were provided with downy beds, would prefer to repose on
the hearth or the floor. They are by nature a happier people than the
Anglo-Saxon race, and of course, less will suffice for their happiness
and comfort. All that I contend for is, that the health, comfort and
convenience of the slave, should be amply provided for by the master;
or at least as far as practicable. I wish here, as well as elsewhere,
to avoid the error of asking too much, for I have generally observed
through life, that those who ask too much are likely to get nothing. I
shall, therefore, contend for nothing more than the clear, obvious,
and indisputable duty of slaveholders.

Slaves do not, as a general rule, receive that attention in sickness
from their masters, to which they are entitled. Humanity, as well as
interest, should prompt their masters to be a little more attentive to
them, under the afflictive dispensations of Providence. And the
necessity is more apparent from the consideration of the fact, that
slaves are ignorant, and universally entertain opinions in regard to
dieting the sick, which, if practically carried out, will in all
cases, endanger their lives. I allude to the notion prevalent among
them, that the sick are in no danger, so long as they can by any means
induce them to take food. The same error is common among the more
ignorant class of white people; and it constitutes the worst
difficulty that the physician encounters in the treatment of disease.
I once remarked to an ignorant, drunken, degraded son of Belial, that
if he was not a little more cautious in the use of certain articles of
food, he would sooner or later destroy himself. "Oh! there is no
danger," said he, "I shall never die while I can get plenty of fat
'possum to eat, and whiskey to drink." So it is with ignorant persons;
they know that food sustains life, and for that reason they believe,
that as long as they are able to cram it down their throats, there is
no danger.

It is a little remarkable that the proprietor