Travels Through North America 



and much given to convivial pleasures. In conse- 

 quence of this, they seldom show any spirit of enter- 

 prise, or expose themselves willingly to fatigue. 

 Their authority over their slaves renders them vain 

 and imperious, and entire strangers to that elegance 

 of sentiment, which is so peculiarly characteristic 

 of refined and polished nations. Their ignorance 

 of mankind and of learning, exposes them to many 

 errors and prejudices, especially in regard to In- 

 dians and negroes, whom they scarcely consider as 

 of the human species; so that it is almost impossible, 

 in cases of violence, or even murder, committed upon 

 those unhappy people by any of the planters, to 

 have the delinquents brought to justice: for either 

 the grand jury refuse to find the bill, or the petit 

 jury bring in their verdict, not guilty.* 



* There are two laws in this colony, which make it almost im- 

 possible to convict a planter, or white man, of the death of a negro 

 or Indian. By the first it is enacted, that "if any slave shall die 

 'by reason of any stroke or blow, given in correction by his or her 

 'owner, or by reason of any accidental blow whatsoever, given 

 'by such owner; no person concerned in such correction, or acci- 

 ' dental homicide, shall undergo any prosecution or punishment 

 'for the same; unless, upon examination before the county court, 

 'it shall be proved by the oath of one lawful and credible witness, 

 'at least, that such slave was killed wilfully, maliciously, and de- 

 'signedly; nor shall any person indicted for the murder of a slave, 

 ' and upon trial found guilty only of manslaughter, incur any for- 

 'feiture or punishment for such offence or misfortune." See 

 Vlercer's Abridgment, p. 345. By the second, "No negro, 

 'mulatto, or Indian, can be admitted into any court, or before 

 'any magistrate, to be sworn as a witness, or give evidence in any 

 'cause whatsoever, except upon the trial of a slave for a capital 

 'offence." Mercer's Abridgment, p. 419. 



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