CHAP. XXV.] LAW AGAINST BLACK MECHANICS. 97 



It had previously been imagined that an impassable 

 gulf separated the two races ; but now it is proved 

 that more than half that space can, in a few gene 

 rations, be successfully passed over, and the humble 

 negro of the coast of Guinea has shown himself to 

 be one of the most imitative and improvable of human 

 beings. Yet the experiment may still be defeated, 

 not so much by the fanaticism of abolitionists, or the 

 prejudices of those slave-owners who are called per- 

 petualists, who maintain that slavery should be per 

 manent, and that it is a blessing in itself to the negro, 

 but by the jealousy of an unscrupulous democracy 

 invested with political power. Of the imminent na 

 ture of this peril, I was never fully aware, until I 

 was startled by the publication of an act passed by 

 the Legislature of Georgia during my visit to that 

 State, December 27. 1845. The following is the 

 preamble and one of the clauses : 



&quot; An act to prohibit coloured mechanics and ma 

 sons, being slaves, or free persons of colour, being 

 mechanics or masons, from making contracts for the 

 erection of buildings, or for the repair of buildings, 

 and declaring the white person or persons directly or 

 indirectly contracting with or&quot; employing them, as 

 well as the master, employer, manager, or agent for 

 said slave, or guardian for said free person of colour, 

 authorising or permitting the same, guilty of a mis 

 demeanor,&quot; and prescribing punishment for the vio 

 lation of this act. 



&quot; Section 1. Beit enacted by the Senate and House 

 of Representatives of the State of Georgia in General 

 Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the au- 



VOL. II. F 



