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aps； will wonder at such inhuman transactions： particularly in the Southern States of America； where I believe there is a greater want of humanity and high principle amongst the whites； than among any other civilized people in the world。
I know that those who are not familiar with the working of 〃the peculiar institution；〃 can scarcely imagine any one so totally devoid of all natural affection as to sell his own offspring into returnless bondage。 But Shakespeare； that great observer of human nature； says：
〃With caution judge of probabilities。 Things deemed unlikely； e'en impossible； Experience often shews us to be true。〃
My wife's new mistress was decidedly more humane than the majority of her class。 My wife has always given her credit for not exposing her to many of the worst features of slavery。 For instance； it is a common practice in the slave States for ladies； when angry with their maids； to send them to the calybuce sugar…house； or to some other place established for the purpose of punishing slaves； and have them severely flogged； and I am sorry it is a fact； that the villains to whom those de… fenceless creatures are sent； not only flog them as they are ordered； but frequently compel them to submit to the greatest indignity。 Oh！ if there is any one thing under the wide canopy of heaven； horrible enough to stir a man's soul； and to make his very blood boil； it is the thought of his dear wife； his unprotected sister； or his young and virtuous daughters； struggling to save themselves from falling a prey to such demons！
It always appears strange to me that any one who was not born a slaveholder； and steeped to the very core in the demoralizing atmosphere of the Southern States； can in any way palliate slavery。 It is still more surprising to see virtuous ladies looking with patience upon； and remaining indif… ferent to； the existence of a system that exposes nearly two millions of their own sex in the manner I have mentioned； and that too in a professedly free and Christian country。 There is； however； great consolation in knowing that God is just； and will not let the oppressor of the weak； and the spoiler of the virtuous； escape unpunished here and hereafter。
I believe a similar retribution to that which destroyed Sodom is hanging over the slaveholders。 My sincere prayer is that they may not provoke God； by persisting in a reckless course of wicked… ness； to pour out his consuming wrath upon them。
I must now return to our history。
My old master had the reputation of being a very humane and Christian man； but he thought nothing of selling my poor old father； and dear aged mother； at separate times； to different persons； to be dragged off never to behold each other again； till summoned to appear before the great tribunal of heaven。 But； oh！ what a happy meeting it will be on that day for those faithful souls。 I say a happy meeting； because I never saw persons more devoted to the service of God than they。 But how will the case stand with those reckless traffickers in human flesh and blood； who plunged the poisonous dagger of separation into those loving hearts which God had for so many years closely joined togethernay； sealed as it were with his own hands for the eternal courts of heaven？ It is not for me to say what will become of those heartless tyrants。 I must leave them in the hands of an all…wise and just God； who will； in his own good time； and in his own way； avenge the wrongs of his oppressed people。
My old master also sold a dear brother and a sister； in the same manner as he did my father and mother。 The reason he assigned for disposing of my parents； as well as of several other aged slaves； was； that 〃they were getting old； and would soon become valueless in the market； and therefore he intended to sell off all the old stock； and buy in a young lot。〃 A most disgraceful conclusion for a man to come to； who made such great professions of religion！
This shameful conduct gave me a thorough hatred； not for true Christianity； but for slave… holding piety。
My old master； then； wishing to make the most of the rest of his slaves； apprenticed a brother and myself out to learn trades： he to a black… smith； and myself to a cabinet…maker。 If a slave has a good trade； he will let or sell for more than a person without one； and many slave… holders have their slaves taught trades on this account。 But before our time expired； my old master wanted money； so he sold my brother； and then mortgaged my sister； a dear girl about four… teen years of age； and myself； then about sixteen； to one of the banks； to get money to speculate in cotton。 This we knew nothing of at the moment； but time rolled on； the money became due； my master was unable to meet his payments； so the bank had us placed upon the auction stand and sold to the highest bidder。
My poor sister was sold first： she was knocked down to a planter who resided at some distance in the country。 Then I was called upon the stand。 While the auctioneer was crying the bids； I saw the man that had purchased my sister getting her into a cart； to take her to his home。 I at once asked a slave friend who was standing near the platform； to run and ask the gentleman if he would please to wait till I was sold； in order that I might have an opportunity of bidding her good…bye。 He sent me word back that he had some distance to go； and could not wait。
I then turned to the auctioneer； fell upon my knees； and humbly prayed him to let me just step down and bid my last sister farewell。 But； instead of granting me this request； he grasped me by the neck； and in a commanding tone of voice； and with a violent oath； exclaimed； 〃Get up！ You can do the wench no good； therefore there is no use in your seeing her。〃
On rising； I saw the cart in which she sat moving slowly off； and； as she clasped her hands with a grasp that indicated despair； and looked pitifully round towards me； I also saw the large silent tears trickling down her cheeks。 She made a farewell bow； and buried her face in her lap。 This seemed more than I could bear。 It appeared to swell my aching heart to its utmost。 But before I could fairly recover； the poor girl was gone；gone； and I have never had the good for… tune to see her from that day to this！ Perhaps I should have never heard of her again； had it not been for the untiring efforts of my good old mother； who became free a few years ago by pur… chase； and； after a great deal of difficulty； found my sister residing with a family in Mississippi。 My mother at once wrote to me； informing me of the fact； and requesting me to do something to get her free； and I am happy to say that； partly by lecturing occasionally； and through the sale of an engraving of my wife in the disguise in which she escaped； together with the extreme kind… ness and generosity of Miss Burdett Coutts； Mr。 George Richardson of Plymouth； and a few other friends； I have nearly accomplished this。 It would be to me a great and ever…glorious achievement to restore my sister to our dear mother； from whom she was forcibly driven in early life。
I was knocked down to the cashier of the bank to which we were mortgaged； and ordered to return to the cabinet shop where I previously worked。
But the thought of the harsh auctioneer not allowing me to bid my dear sister farewell； sent red…hot indignation darting like lightning through every vein。 It quenched my tears； and appeared to set my brain on fire； and made me crave for power to avenge our wrongs！ But alas！ we were only slaves； and had no legal rights； consequently we were compelled to smother our wounded feel… ings； and crouch beneath the iron heel of des… potism。
I must now give the account of our escape； but； before doing so； it may be well to quote a few passages from the fundamental laws of slavery； in order to give some idea of the legal as well as the social tyranny from which we fled。
According to the law of Louisiana； 〃A slave is one who is in the power of a master to whom he belongs。 The master may sell him； dispose of his person； his industry； and his labour； he can do nothing； possess nothing； nor acquire anything but what must belong to his master。〃Civil Code； art。 35。
In South Carolina it is expressed in the following language：〃Slaves shall be deemed； sold； taken； reputed and judged in law to be chattels personal in the hands of their owners and possessors； and their executors； administrators； and assigns； to all intents； constructions； and purposes whatsoever。 2 Brevard's Digest； 229。
The Constitution of Georgia has the following （Art。 4； sec。 12）：〃Any person who shall mali… ciously dismember or deprive a slave of life； shall suffer such punishment as would be inflicted in case the like offence had been committed on a free white person； and on the like proof； except in case of insurrection of such slave； and unless SUCH DEATH SHOULD HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT IN GIVING SUCH SLAVE MODERATE CORRECTION。〃Prince's Digest； 559。
I have known slaves to be beaten to death； but as they died under 〃moderate correction；〃 it was quite lawful； and of course the murderers were not interfered with。
〃If any slave； who shall be out of the house or plantation where such slave shall live； or shall be usually emplo