r themselves, or be provided for, it is well; otherwise,
the South, and their present relation to the white race, are the bounds
of their habitation fixed for them by an all-wise God, till his purpose
concerning them as a race shall be made manifest. The people of the Free
States ought to thank God that the South is willing to keep the colored
people. Instead of inflaming our passions against the abstract
wrongfulness of holding fellow-men in bondage, we should consider that
theoretical justice to the slaves as a whole would be practical
inhumanity. The destiny of the colored race here is a dark problem. But
it is not for us to penetrate the future. When God is ready to finish
his purposes with regard to their continuance with us, He will open a
way for their liberation; in the mean time it is our duty to protect
them from their own improvidence and from the neglect and degradation
which they would suffer at the hands of the Free States. Instead of
aiding slaves to escape, or rejoicing when we hear of runaways, I say we
should feel grateful, on our own account, and for the slaves, that the
South is willing to harbor them, and we ought to consider that the very
best thing to be done for them is to encourage the South in treating
them well, mitigating their trials and sorrows, and, in short, complying
with the Apostle's doctrine and exhortations as to the duty of masters.

But we have a way, at the North, of delivering over our Southern
brethren to supposed terrible liabilities in their relation to the
slaves. "They are sleeping on a volcano;" "they keep weapons under their
pillows;" "they are always in fear." And when a servile insurrection
takes place, many close their eyes and lift their hands, and say,
"Perhaps the day of retribution is come! They have been 'sinning against
the Northern conscience;' they have been resisting our well-meant
efforts for their good; we would not stir up the slaves against them,"
(some kindly say,) "but if they rise, did not Jefferson say, 'There is
not an attribute of the Almighty that would take part with the whites?'"
Thus we prefer to take Jefferson's opinion on this subject, though
hundreds as good and wise as he, and quite as decided in their
acceptance of the Christian religion, differ totally from him. In
strictly political matters, many of the same people who love to quote
Jefferson against modern slave-holders, are of opinion that time and
experience give modern statesmen some adv