A Letter to the People of the United States Touching the Matter of Slavery

ribute of Persons only, not of Things. All that he enjoys therefore is but a Privilege. He may be damaged but not wronged. However ill treated he cannot of himself, in his own name and right, bring a formal action in any court; no more than an axe or a spade, though his master may bring an action for damages. The slave cannot appear as a witness when a freeman is on trial. His master can beat, maim, mutilate, or mangle him, and the slave has, theoretically, no complete and legal redress, practically, no redress at all. The master may force him to marry or forbid his marriage; can sell him away from wife and children. He can force the lo'ver to beat his beloved ; the husband his wife, the child his parent. " A slave is one who is inthe power of his master, to whom he belongs. The master may sell him, dispose of his person, his industry and his labor; he can do nothing, possess nothing, nor acquire anything but what must belong to his master." No contract between master and slave, however solemnly made and attested, is binding on the master. Is the freeborn child of the free man likewise theoretically subject to his father ? ? natural and instinctive affection prevent the abuse of that power. The connection between father and child is one of guardianship and reciprocal love, a mutual gain ; that of master and slave is founded only on the interest of the owner; the gain is only on the master's side. The relation of master and slave begins in violence ; it must be ...