y Illu

PRINCIPLE

trade in moral turpitude fully equaling it; which, in a land of free institutions, holds in galling chains more than three millions of our dear fellow creatures; annually robs a hundred thousand American mothers of

universally believed that a sound education is conducive to good morals, the spread of civilization, the preservation of liberty and the progress of Christianity, even here nothing is done for the education of slaves. While millions of free children are annually gathered into schools and diligently instructed, the children of slaves, although equally capable, are permitted to grow up without the least atten

n the night; or at any school or schools for teaching them reading or writing either in the day or night, under whatsoever pretext, shall be deemed and considered an UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY; and any justice of a county wherein such assemblage shall be, shall issue his warrant, directed to any sworn officer or officers, auth

$100 and six months imprisonment. It may be thought that these laws are not now enforced and stand as a dead letter upon the statute book. Bu

ether with their sable pupils, were taken before his Honor. They acknowledged their guilt, but pleaded ignorance of the law, and were discharged, on a promise to do so no more; a very convenient way of ge

eligious tract, a spelling book or the bible, he may be imprisoned or take thirty-nine lashes! I

d at the discretion of the Court; if the offender be a colored man, bond or free, he may be fi

teaching slaves to read and wr

very negro house for books or prints of every kind. Bibl

f we could extinguish the capacity to see the light, our work would be completed; they would then be on a level with the beasts of the f

ling her among other things, that it was unlawful, as well as unsafe to teach a slave to read. To use his own words further he said, 'If you give a nigger an inch he will take an ell. A nigger should know nothing but to obey his master-to do as he is told to do. Learning would spoil the best negro in the world. Now, s

in constant unrest-active, elastic, aspiring. A benevolent friend engages to instruct him at night in the rudiments of learning, but while engaged in this good work the law seizes them, and hurries the slave to the whipping-post and the friend to prison. Twenty, thirty o

venue of light from the slave's mind-to debase him as low as possible-and thus pu

language his word for the comfort and guidance of all his creatures. They interpose a barrier between the slave and his Maker and thus hinder his salvation.

other property" the slave code with singular meanness, but perfect consistency, refuses to the slave a lawful marriage, subjects him t

ilst in a state of slavery it cannot produce any civil effect, b

es and is called marriage, being properly designated by the word contubernium, a rela

tion against the violator of his be

s of matrimony, and therefore they had no

endeth to decay, there cannot be any legal recognition of the marriage rite, or the enforcement of its consequent duties. For all the regulations on this subject would limit the master's absolute right of property in the slaves.

erest or passion of a master requires it, slaves are sold and scattered abroad without the slightest regard to those dear and sacred connections, which they regard, and which God, no doubt, regards as marriage. In newspaper advertisements for runaway slaves it is frequently stated that the fugitive property was bought at a certain place "where he has a wife," and the

ll forehead." "Ned," continues the notice, "was purchased

uggests that she may be lurking about "i

and if that wife escape from her unfeeling oppressors, who have carried her away to a distant State, it is quite natural that she should bend her steps toward the

y, it is quite natural that he should, impelled by a husband's love, seek out the hut where years before he had been suddenly separated from her. These advertisements for husband

will illustrate scenes which are being enacted contin

y of their feelings by a sigh or a stifled groan. As the boat was loosed from her moorings, they cast a distressed, lingering look to those on board, and turned away in silence. My eye now turned to those in the boat; and although I had tried to control my feelings amidst my sympathies for those on shore, I could conceal them no longer, and I found myself literally 'weeping with those that wept.' I stood near them, and when one of the husbands saw his wife upon the shore wave her hand for the last time, in token of her affection, his manly efforts to restrain his feelings gave way, and fixing his watery eyes upon her, he exclaimed, 'This is the most distressing thing of all! My dear wife and children, farewell!' The husband of the other wife stood weeping in silence, and with his manacled hands raised to his face, as he looked upon her for the last time. Of the poor women on board; three of them had husbands whom they left behind. One of them had three children, another had two, and the third had none. These husbands and fathers were among the throng upon the shore, witnessing the departure of their wives and children, and as they took their leave of them, they were sitting together upon the floor of the boat sobbing in silence, but giving utterance to no complaint. But the distressing scene was not yet ended. Sailing down the Cape Fear river twenty-five miles, we touched at the little village of Smithpo

ER EX

the slave and his new master soon arrested my attention. I drew near them to listen. The slave was begging his new master to purchase his wife. Said he, 'Master, if you will only buy Fanny I know you will get the worth of your money. She is a good cook, a good washer, and her mistress liked her very much. If you will only buy her how happy I will be!' The new master replied that he did not want her, but, if she sold cheap, he would purchase her. I watched the countenance of the man while the different persons were bidding on his wife. When his new master bid you could see the smile on his countenance, and the tears stop, but as another would, you could see the countenance change, and