parts becoming more compact as the conflicting elements settle down in their proper places. The desire of happiness; the love of glory; the recollections of the past; the realities of the present; and the towering hopes of the future, constitute the cement of this confederation, and promise a duration only to be arrested by those silent yet irresistible changes which constitute the invisible instruments of Providence in governing the world.

Let not any peevish jealousy, or recollection of past times, operate on England to forget her best interests in the indulgence of her worst passions. The United States and England, as friends, may stand against the world; as foes, they will only become the prey of each other. But friends we can never be, while every one of the thousand ships that carry on the intercourse of the two countries, comes freighted with calumnies, or exaggerations that amount to calumnies, and there is not a wind that blows from the east but is tainted with the spirit of never dying hostility. The fires that were lighted up by two wars will never be extinguished, so long as fresh fuel is thus every day administered. The press of England, not less than the conflicting claims and interests of the two nations, has already contributed to produce one war, and while it perseveres in its hostility, the seeds of war will continue to vegetate to maturity.

As little will the United States be dismembered as conciliated, by bitter denunciations launched forth from behind the brazen shield of universal philanthropy.

These sentiments are those of every native born citizen of the United States, whatever may be the party he espouses, or the state to which he belongs. It is firmly believed that there is not an advocate of nullification, as it is usually termed, who would not, if the country were in danger, emulate the patriotism which inspired Marion, Sumpter, Pickens, the Rutledges and Pinckneys of yore, when they converted the solitudes of nature into the temples of freedom, and swamps into impregnable fortresses. The sentiment of patriotism and the love of liberty are equally indelible in the hearts of our people; each man feels himself a full sharer in the benefits of a mild and equal government; an inheritor of all she is, all she is destined to become hereafter. It is a joint stock company; and such is the feeling of a common interest which pervades the minds of all, that neither England nor any other power under heaven will gain anything but the eternal enmity of the people of the United States, by attempts to wound their good name, or scatter the firebrands of dissension and disunion among them.

CHAPTER VIII.

Of the Laws for the Government of Slaves.

ALL those who have written on the subject of slavery, and the advocates of immediate abolition most especially, have endeavoured to impose on the world an opinion that the slaves of the United States are entirely without the protection of the laws, and completely at the mercy of the will, the caprice, or the cruelty of their masters. With a view to dispel this delusion, and to enable the reader to estimate correctly their real situation, we give the following abstract of the laws of Virginia, furnished by a gentleman of the bar in that state, whose character and attainments are such as entitle him to unqualified belief in his statements. Originating, as they do, in a state of society common to all the South, it is presumed no material difference will be found between the regulations adopted for the same general purposes in other quarters.

Being property, slaves may be bought and sold by persons capable of buying and selling other

property. In relation, however, to free negroes and mulattoes, there is this qualification: that no free negro or mulatto shall be capable of purchasing or otherwise acquiring permanent ownership (except by descent) in any slave other than his or her husband, wife, or children.

*

They are held to be personal estate, and as such may be levied upon and sold for the debts of the owner. But these qualifications exist. No collec-. tor of taxes, levies, fines, forfeitures, amercements, or poor-rates, or officers' fees, is allowed to distrain upon slaves for the purpose of satisfying any such dues, if other sufficient distress can be had.† So in relation to executions. No officer is allowed to take slaves in execution for a debt of small amount, when other sufficient goods are shown to him.‡ When taken, however, under execution and attachment, the officer is required to support them until sold or discharged, for which an allowance is made him not exceeding twenty cents per `day for each slave.§

Upon the death of the owner, his personal representative is inhibited from selling the slaves, unless the other part of the personal estate (regard

* Rev. Code, vol. i. p. 431, § 47. ‡ Ibid. p. 532, § 21.

Ibid. p. 533, § 24; p. 480, § 18.

+ Ibid. p. 282, § 25.

being had to the privilege of specific legacies) shall be insufficient to pay the debts and expenses; and then only so many of the slaves are sold as will be sufficient to satisfy the debts and expenses. The residue are reserved in kind for the legatees or distributees. Sometimes there are so few slaves, and so many distributees, that an equal division thereof cannot be made in kind. In such case, a court of chancery for the purpose of division may direct a sale of the slaves and a distribution of the proceeds according to the rights of the parties.†

The kind of labour to be performed by the slave for his master and its extent, are regulated by the master. The master, however, is liable to a penalty if he employ his slaves on a Sabbath day, except it be in the ordinary household offices of daily occurrence, or other work of necessity or charity.‡ So, too, in relation to food and clothing. The kind and quality of each which the master is to furnish, depends generally upon himself. Where the slave is one capable of labour, and the master is deriving benefit from his work, the interest of the master and public opinion combined, generally furnish an adequate guarantee that what is reasonably sufficient will be provided. Humanity and sound policy,

*Rev. Code, vol. i. p. 387, § 49. Ibid. p. 555, § 5.

† Ibid. p. 432, § 50.