se common parlance), a curse, or an evil, to be
physically, mentally, and morally disqualified to enjoy the rights,
privileges and immunities of a free man; but if such be the condition
of the individual, slavery to him is a blessing. It is, at least the
only condition or station in life, adapted to his peculiar
circumstances, and the only one in which he would be likely to enjoy
happiness. I have shown in chapter eight, that African slavery
originated in the inferiority of the African race, and that their
inferiority originated in the transgression of God's laws.

Hence, the evils of slavery have their origin in its abuses. They have
resulted from the cupidity, cruelty and inhumanity of masters, and the
disobedience and perverseness of servants. Under the circumstances
that the African race became servants to the citizens of the United
States, servitude to them would have been a blessing, and not a curse,
if both masters and servants had obeyed the commands of God. I have
alluded to this elsewhere, to which I must refer the reader.

But in order to clearly comprehend the argument, we must contemplate
the African in his native state, and survey the peculiar circumstances
under which he became a slave. A large portion of the negroes that
were transported to the United States, and sold as slaves, were
captives taken in war, and if they had not been transported to the
United States, they would have been subjected to slavery in their
native country.[1] Was it not better for those poor captives to have
become the servants of intelligent and humane men, in the United
States, than to have become the slaves of barbarians of their own
race? It certainly was, for I observed while a resident of the South,
that negro overseers were the most cruel, barbarous wretches, that
ever were clothed with a little brief authority. Yes, they are the
most barbarous relentless demons, that ever flourished a rod over a
fellow being's back. Men in an ignorant, semi-savage state, when
clothed with authority, (or otherwise when they have others in their
power,) are universally cruel. Where we find most ignorance, there
will we, as a general rule, find least humanity, for I observed while
in the South, that intelligent men were seldom cruel to their slaves.
Cruel masters in the South, are generally individuals of low birth,
who, in early life, were white servants themselves; but by some lucky
turn they got hold of a little money, and purchased a few