1849.] 
SLAVERY. 
121 
very is perhaps seen under its most favourable aspect, 
and, in a mere physical point of view, the slave may be 
said to be better off than many a freeman. This how- 
ever is merely one particular case, — it is by no means 
a necessary consequence of slavery, and, from what we 
know of human nature, can be but a rare occurrence. 
But looking at it in this, its most favourable light, can 
we say that slavery is good or justifiable ? Can it be 
right to keep a number of our fellow-creatures in a state 
of adult infancy, — of unthinking childhood ? It is the 
responsibility and self-dependence of manhood that calls 
forth the highest powers and energies of our race. It 
is the struggle for existence, the battle of life,’' which 
exercises the moral faculties and calls forth the latent 
sparks of genius. The hope of gain, the love of power, 
the desire of fame and approbation, excite to noble deeds, 
and call into action all those faculties which are the dis- 
tinctive attributes of man. 
Childhood is the animal part of man’s existence, man- 
hood the intellectual ; and when the weakness and im- 
becility of childhood remain, without its simplicity and 
piueness, its grace and beauty, how degrading is the 
spectacle 1 And this is the state of the slave when slavery 
is the best that it can be. He has no care of providing 
food for his family, no provision to make for old age. 
He has nothing to incite him to labour but the fear of 
punishment, no hope of bettering his condition, no 
future to look forward to of a brighter aspect. Every- 
thing he receives is a favour ; he has no rights, — what 
can he know therefore of duties ? Every desire beyond 
the narrow circle of his daily labours is shut out from 
