Despotism in America: Or, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Results of the Slave-holding System in the United States |
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Page 35
... labor begins to be understood , it is presently dis- covered that to eat prisoners , is not the most profitable use to which they can be put . Accordingly their lives are spared ; and they are compelled to labor for the benefit of their ...
... labor begins to be understood , it is presently dis- covered that to eat prisoners , is not the most profitable use to which they can be put . Accordingly their lives are spared ; and they are compelled to labor for the benefit of their ...
Page 39
... labor . That is , it requires the complete cessation of the master's empire . But it is impossible for the same thing to be and not to be at the same time ; so that whoever wishes to retain the character of a master , and to exercise ...
... labor . That is , it requires the complete cessation of the master's empire . But it is impossible for the same thing to be and not to be at the same time ; so that whoever wishes to retain the character of a master , and to exercise ...
Page 40
... labor . It is a ne- cessary expenditure , grudgingly laid out , in order to keep these human machines in motion . So far from being in the nature of a bargain or contract , slavery ` is nothing but violence upon one side , and ...
... labor . It is a ne- cessary expenditure , grudgingly laid out , in order to keep these human machines in motion . So far from being in the nature of a bargain or contract , slavery ` is nothing but violence upon one side , and ...
Page 45
... labor in the shortest time . This contrivance works wonderfully well for a few days ; but as soon as it is discovered who are the ablest work- men , the emulation is confined to them , and the greater number , who have no chance to win ...
... labor in the shortest time . This contrivance works wonderfully well for a few days ; but as soon as it is discovered who are the ablest work- men , the emulation is confined to them , and the greater number , who have no chance to win ...
Page 50
... labor of the slave . The slave does not venture openly to resist this rob- bery ; but he attempts , by all the silent and quiet means in his power , to evade it , to escape the exactions , and to diminish the plunder of his master . He ...
... labor of the slave . The slave does not venture openly to resist this rob- bery ; but he attempts , by all the silent and quiet means in his power , to evade it , to escape the exactions , and to diminish the plunder of his master . He ...
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abolitionists agriculture aristocracy arts attempt authority becomes benevolence capital cause character citizens civilization condition considered cotton courage crop cultivation dangerous democracy democratic despotism duce emancipation emigration employed equality evil exercise existence extent fact favor fear feelings force freedom freemen gambling greater hands heart human idea idleness ignorant improvidence increase industry influence insurrection James River Jefferson Kentucky kind land lashes laws less liberty Louisiana Lynch law masters means ment miseries Mississippi Missouri moral nature necessary northern oligarchy operation opinion overseer party passion person plantation plunder political population portion possess presently principally privileged class privileged order produce profitable punishment regarded respect servitude slave labor slave trade slave-holding system slave-masters social social equality society soul South Carolina southern spirit suffer superior system of slavery thing tion tism tyranny unprivileged vice Virginia virtue wealth whole
Popular passages
Page 159 - Happy the man - and happy he alone He who can call today his own, He who, secure within, can say 'Tomorrow, do thy worst, for I have lived today: Be fair or foul or rain or shine, The joys I have possessed in spite of Fate are mine: Not Heaven itself upon the Past has power, But what has been has been, and I have had my hour.
Page 168 - Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear ; Robes, and furr'd gowns, hide all. Plate sin with gold, And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks : Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it.
Page 16 - The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other.
Page 3 - ... patriotism which the gentleman had resolved, out of his abundant generosity, gratuitously to bestow upon us? Mr. President, the impression which has gone abroad of the weakness of the South as connected with the slave question exposes us to such constant attacks, has done us so much injury, and is calculated to produce such infinite mischiefs...
Page 159 - Happy the man, and happy he alone, He, who can call to-day his own : He who, secure within, can say, To-morrow do thy worst, for I have lived today. Be fair or foul, or rain or shine, The joys I have possessed, in spite of fate, are mine. Not Heaven itself upon the past has power ; But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour.
Page 3 - ... national character — on the prosperity and greatness, either of the United States or of particular states. Sir, when arraigned before the bar of public opinion, on this charge of slavery, we can stand up with conscious rectitude, plead not guilty, and put ourselves upon God and our country.
Page 9 - On the other side, Satan, alarmed, Collecting all his might, dilated stood, Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved : His stature reached the sky, and on his crest Sat Horror plumed ; nor wanted in his grasp What seemed both spear and shield.
Page 62 - There are some people whose sympathies have been excited upon the subject of slavery, who if they can only be satisfied that the slaves have enough to eat, think it is all very well, and that nothing more is to be said, or done. If slaves were merely animals, whose only or chief enjoyment consisted in the gratification of their bodily appetites, there would be some show of sense in this conclusion. But in...
Page 62 - ... that the slaves have enough to eat, think it is all very well, and that nothing more is to be said or done. If slaves were merely animals, whose only or chief enjoyment consisted in the gratification of their bodily appetites, there would be some show of sense in this conclusion. But, in fact, however crushed and brutified, they are still men ; men whose bosoms beat with the same passions as our own ; whose hearts swell with the same aspirations, — the same ardent desire to improve their condition...
Page 37 - Consider too that this infliction is not limited to a single neighborhood, as in the case of an invading army, but is scattered and diffused over the whole extent of the country ; nor is it temporary as in the other case, but constant and perpetual.