Transcriber's Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
The work which the writer here presents to the public is one which hasbeen written with no pleasure, and with much pain.
In fictitious writing, it is possible to find refuge from the hard and theterrible, by inventing scenes and characters of a more pleasing nature. Nosuch resource is open in a work of fact; and the subject of this work is oneon which the truth, if told at all, must needs be very dreadful. There is nobright side to slavery, as such. Those scenes which are made bright by thegenerosity and kindness of masters and mistresses, would be brighter still ifthe element of slavery were withdrawn. There is nothing picturesque orbeautiful, in the family attachment of old servants, which is not to be foundin countries where these servants are legally free. The tenants on an Englishestate are often more fond and faithful than if they were slaves. Slavery,therefore, is not the element which forms the picturesque and beautiful ofSouthern life. What is peculiar to slavery, and distinguishes it from freeservitude, is evil, and only evil, and that continually.
In preparing this work, it has grown much beyond the author’s originaldesign. It has so far overrun its limits that she has been obliged to omitone whole department;—that of the characteristics and developments ofthe colored race in various countries and circumstances. This is moreproperly the subject for a volume; and she hopes that such an one willsoon be prepared by a friend to whom she has transferred her materials.
The author desires to express her thanks particularly to those legalgentlemen who have given her their assistance and support in the legal partof the discussion. She also desires to thank those, at the North and at theSouth, who have kindly furnished materials for her use. Many more havebeen supplied than could possibly be used. The book is actually selectedout of a mountain of materials.
The great object of the author in writing has been to bring this subject ofslavery, as a moral and religious question