260 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



I was lately told by an intelligent gentleman, that he 

 knew three of them on one plantation in the West Indies, 

 who never could be learned to perform any labor, and 

 their whole employment was catching rats; which they 

 did in their own way; and the strongest incitement to 

 which was the fact that they were allowed the privilege 

 of living most luxuriantly upon all they caught — actually 

 rejecting their regular allowance of good bread and meat 

 for the more palatable dish of roasted rats. So much for 

 taste. 



Another instance was related to me by a very kind 

 hearted friend of mine, now residing in Illinois, of an 

 attempt which he made some years ago in Florida, to 

 tame one of these wild negroes, by treating and feeding 

 him with great care and kindness, but before he had 

 fairly accomplished the task, his ward escaped his care 

 and was not seen again for several weeks, when he was 

 found naked as in his native wilds, basking in the broil- 

 ing sun upon the burning sandy beach, where he had been 

 holding a feast upon the stinking carcass of a porpoise 

 that had drifted up in a storm. So much again for taste. 



Can such beings be civilized — christianized — rational- 

 ized? Is it sinning against the light of knowledge and 

 truth that illuminates the nineteenth century, to compel 

 such beings to be clothed, and fed, and instructed, and to 

 perform useful labor, in civilized society? 



I hope I shall not be accused by any of my abolition 

 friends, many of whom I much esteem — although I must 

 think that their minds are a little morbid upon this sub- 

 ject — as being an advocate of slavery. I am only stating 

 facts and asking questions. Let those answer them who 

 can — I do not intend to try. 



I have often been asked whether I believed that all the 

 varieties of the human family, known to exist at this 

 time, sprung from one source. That is another question 

 I do not intend to answer. Let all think for themselves — 

 and whatever conclusion they may come to on this point, 

 it cannot in anywise affect the question as to the com- 



