PRESENTED 11Y '■/■/. ■paaai , THE HISTORY L ..V . linxfrll 1 2.v iV . y SLAVERY AND THE SLAVE TRADE. ANCIENT AND MODERN. THE FORMS OF SLAVERY THAT PREVAILED IN ANCIENT NATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN GREECE AND ROME. THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE AND THE POLITICAL HISTOEY OF SLAVERY UNITED STATES. COMPILED FROM AUTHENTIC MATERIALS BY W. 0. BLAKE. COLUMBUS, OHIO: PUBLISHED AND SOLD EXCLUSIVELY BY SUBSCRIPTION BY H. MILLER. 3 S 6 . Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1857, BY J. & H. MILLER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Ohio. St™. STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY OSGOOD k PEAECB, COLUMBUS, O CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Preliminary Sketch. — Ancient Slavery. Early existence of Slavery in the wnrlil. — Tl *■]• -titutions in regard to Slav- ery. — Hebrews, how reduced to servitude. — The Jubilee. — Distinction between native and foreign Slaves. — Voluntary Slaves : the Mercenarii of the Romans ; the Prodigals or debtor Slaves; the Delinquents ; the Enthusiasts. — Involuntary Slaves ; prisoners of war, and captives stolen in peace, with the children and de- scendants of both. — Voluntary Slavery introduced by decree of the Roman Sen- ate. — Slavery in Rome : condition of the Slaves ; cruelty to the old and sick ; prisons for Slaves; Sicily: servile war and breaking up of the prisons. — Piracy esteemed honorable by the early Greeks. — Piratical expeditions to procure Slaves. — Causes of the gradual extinction of Slavery in Europe. — Origin of the African Slave Trade by the Portuguese. — Followed by most of the maritime na- tions of Europe 17 CHAPTER II. Slavery in Greece. — Athenian Slaves. Inrly existence of Slavery in Greece. — Proportion of Slaves to Freemen. — Their numbers in Athens and Sparta. — Mild government of Slaves in Athens — the re- verse in Sparta. — Instances of noble conduct of Slaves towards their masters. — Probable origin of Slavery, prisoners of war. — Examples in history of whole cities and states being reduced to Slavery : Judea, Miletos, Thebes. — Slaves obtained by kidnapping and piracy. — The traffic supposed to be attended by a curse. — Certain nations sell their own people into Slavery. — Power of masters over their Slaves ; the power of Life and Death. — The Chians, the first Greeks who engaged in a regular Slave-trade. — Their fate in being themselves finally reduced to Slavery. — First type of the Maroon wars. — The Chian Slaves revolt. — The hero slave Dri- macos. — His history. — Honors paid to his memory.. — Servile war among the Sa- mians. — Athenian laws to protect Slaves from cruelty.. — Slaves entitled to bring an action for assault. — Death penalty for crimes against Slaves. — Slaves entitled to purchase freedom. — Privileges of Slaves in Athens. — Revolt of Slaves working in Mines.— The temples a privileged sanctuary for Slaves who were cruelly treated. Tyrannical masters compelled to sell their Slaves. — Slave auctions. — Diogenes.— Price of Slaves. — Public Slaves, their employment. — Educated by the State, and intrusted with important duties. — Domestic Slaves ; their food and treatment. — The Slaves partake in the general decline of morals. — History and Description of Athens 23 IV CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. Slaves of Sparta, Crete, Thessalt, &c. — The Helots. The Helots: — leading events of their History summed up. — Their Masters de- scribed. — The Spartans, their manners, customs and constitutions. — Distinguish- ing traits : severity, resolution and perseverance, treachery and craftiness. — Mar- riage. — Treatment of Infants. — Physical Education of Youth. — Their endurance of hardships. — The Helots : their origin ; supposed to belong to the State ; power of life and death over them ; how subsisted ; property acquired by them ; their military service. — Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Plutarch and other writers convict the Spartans of barbarity towards them ; the testimony of Myfon on this point ; instances of tyranny and cruelty. — Institution of the Crypteia ; annual massacre of the Helots. — Terrible instance of treachery. — Bloody servile wars. — Sparta en- gaged in contests with her own vassals. — Relies upon foreign aid. — Earthquake, and vengeance of the Helots. — Constant source of terror to their masters. — Other classes of Slaves. — Their privileges and advancement. — Slavery in Crete : classes and condition.— Mild treatment. — Strange privileges during certain Festivals. — Slaves of Syracuse rebel and triumph. — The Arcadians 38 CHAPTER IV. Slavery in Rome. Slavery nnder the kings and in the early ages of the Republic. — Its spread, and effect on the poorer class of Freemen. — The Lieinian law. — Prevalence of the two extremes, immense wealth and abject poverty. — Immense number of Slaves in Sicily. — They revolt. — Eunus, their leader. — Their arms. — Horrible atrocities committed by them. — The insurrection crushed. — Fate of Eunus. — Increase of Slaves in Rome. — Their employment in the arts. — Numbers trained for the Am- phitheatre. — The Gladiators rebel. — Spartacus, his history. — Laws passed to re- strain the cruelty of masters. — Effects of Christianity on their condition. — Their numbers increased by the invasion of northern hordes. — Sale of prisoners of war into slavery. — Slave-dealers follow the armies. — Foreign Slave-trade. — Slave auc- tions. — The Slave markets. — Value of Slaves at different periods. — Slaves owned by the State, and their condition and occupations. — Private Slaves, their grades and occupations. — Treatment of Slaves, publio and private.— Punishment of of- fenses. — Fugitives and Criminals. — Festival of Saturnus, their privileges. — Their dress. — Their sepulchres. — The Gladiators, their combats 46 CHAPTER V. Slavery in Rome. — Continued. Abstract of the laws in regard to Slavery. — Power of Life and Death. — Cruelty ol Masters. — Laws to protect the Slave. — Constitution of Antoninus : of Claudius. — Husband and Wife could not be separated ; nor parents and children. — Slave could not contract marriage, nor own property. — His peculium, or private prop- erty, held only by U3age. — Regulations in respect to it. — Master liable for damages for wrongful acts of his Slave. — The murderer of a Slave, liable for a capital offense, or for damages.— Fugitive Slaves, not lawfully harbored : to conceal them, theft. — Master entitled to pursue them. — Duties of the authorities. — Slave hunters. — Laws defining the condition of children born of Slaves. — Laws to reduce free comma. v person9 to Slavery. — How the state of Slavery might be terminated; L>y manu- mission ; by special enactments ; what Slaves entitled to freedom. — Practice of giving lil-erty to Slaves in times of civil tumult and revolution. — Effects of Slav- ery under th»- Republic, and under the Empire 5f CHAPTER VI. Christian Slavery in Northern Africa. Barbary — the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Vandals. — Northern Africa annexed to the Greek Empire. — Conquered by the Saracens. — The Spanish Moors pass over to Africa. — Their expeditions to plunder the coasts of Spain, and carry off the Christian Spaniards into Slavery. — Cardinal Ximenes invades Barbary, 1509, to release the captives. — Barbarossa, the sea-rover, becomes king of Algiers.— The Christian Slaves build the mole. — Expeditions of Charles V. against the Moors. — Insurrection of the Slaves. — Charles releases 20,000 Christians from Sla- very, and carries off 10,000 Mohammedans to be reduced to Slav rj in Spain. — The Moors retaliate by seizing 6000 Minorcans for Slaves. Second expedition of Charles — its disastrous termination — his army destroyed — | I 1 into Slavery. — The Algerines extend their depredations into the English Channel. — Condition of the Christian slaves in Barbary — treated with more humanity than African slaves among Christians. — Ransom of the Slaves by their countrymen. — British Parliament appropriates money for the purpose. — The French send bomb vessels in 1688. — Lord Exmouth in 1S16 releases 3000 captives, and puts an end to Christian Slave.-y in Barbary 68 CHAPTER VII. African Slave Trade from the Fifteenth to the Eighteenth Century. Negroland, or Nigritia, described. — Slavery among the Natives. — Mango Park's esti- mate of the number of Slaves. — The Portuguese navigators explore the African loast. — Natives first carried off in 1434. — Portuguese establish the Slave-Trade on '.he Western Coast — followed by the Spaniards. — America discovered — colonized by the Spaniards, who reduce the Natives to Slavery — they die by thousands in consequence. — The Dominican priests intercede for them. — Negroes from Africa substituted as Slaves, 1510. — Cardinal Ximenes remonstrates. — Charles V. en- courages the trade. — Insurrection of the Slaves at Segovia. — Other nations colo- nize America. — First recognition of the Slave-Trade by the English government in 1562, reign of Elizabeth. — First Negroes imported into Virginia in a Dutch ves- sel in 1620. — The French and other commericial notions engage in the traffic. — The great demand for Slaves on the African coast. — Negroes fighting and kidnap- ping each other. — Slave factories established by the English, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese. — Slave factory described. — How Slaves were procured in the interior 93 CHAPTER VIII. Slave Traffic of the Levant — N jbtan Slaves. The Mohammedan slave-trade. — Nubian slaves captured for the slave market of tl Levant. — Mohammed Ali. — Grand expeditions for hunting. — Annua! tribute of VI CONTENTS. slaves. — The encampment. — Attack upon the villages. — Courage of the Natives. — Their heroic resistance. — Cruelty of the victors. — Destruction of villages. — The oaptives sold into slavery 102 CHAPTER IX. African Slave Trade in the Eighteenth Century. England first engages in the Slave-Trade in 1562 — Sir John Hawkins' voyages. — British first establish a regular trade in 1618. — Second charter granted in 1631. — Third charter in 1662. — Capture of the Dutch Forts. — Retaken hyDe Ruyter. —Fourth charter in 1672; the King and Duke of York shareholders.— Monopoly abolished, and free trade in Slaves declared. — Flourishing condition of the Trade. — Numbers annually exported. — Public sentimeDt aroused against the Slave-Trade in England. — Parliament resolve to hear Evidence upon the subject. — Abstract of the Evidence taken before a Select Committee of the House of Commons in 1790 and 1791. — Revealing the Enormities committed by the Natives on the persons of one another to procure Slaves for the Europeans. — War and Kidnapping — imput- ed Crimes. — Villages attacked and burned, and inhabitants seized and sold. — African chiefs excited by intoxication to sell their subjects 106 CHAPTER X. African Slave Trade in the Eighteenth Century, continued. — The Middle Passage. Abstract of Evidence before House of Commons, continued. — The enslaved Africans on board the Ships — their dejection. — Methods of confining, airing, feeding and exercising them. — Mode of stowing them, and its horrible consequences. — Inci- dents of the terrible Middle Passage — shackles, chains, whips, filth, foul air, dis- ease, suffocation. — Suicides by drowning, by starvation, by wounds, by strang- ling. — Insanity and Death. — Manner of selling them when arrived at their desti- nation. — Deplorable situation of the refuse or sickly Slaves. — Mortality among Seamen engaged in the Slave-Trade. — Their miserable condition and sufferings from disease,, and cruel treatment 126 CHAPTER XI. Slavery in the West Indies, 1750 to 1790. Abstract of Evidence continued. — Slavery in the West Indies from 1750 to 1790. — General estimation and treatment of the Slaves. — Labor of Plantation Slaves — their days of rest, food, clothing, property. — Ordinary punishment by the whip and cowskin. — Frequency and severity of these Punishments. — Extraordinary Punishments of various kinds, for nominal offenses. — Capital offenses and Pun- ishments. — Slaves turned off to steal, beg, or starve, when incapable of labor. — Slaves had little or no redress against ill usage 143 CHAPTER XII. Early Opponents of African Slavery in England and America. Period from 1660 to 1760 ; Godwin, Richard Baxter, Atkins, Hughes, Bishop War- CONTENTS. VH burton. — Planters accustomed to take their Slaves to England, and to carry them back into slavery by force. — Important case of James Somerset decided, 1772. — John Wesley. — Motion in House of Commons against Slave-Trade, 177(5. — Case of ship Zong. — Bridgwater Petitions. — The Quakers in England oppose Slavery. — Resolutions of the Quakers, from 1727 .o 1760. — They Petition House of Com- mons. — First Society formed, 1783. — Thu Quakers and others in America. — Ao- tion of the Quakers of Pennsylvania froni 1S88 to 178S. — Benezet writes tracts against Slavery. — His letter to the Queen. - Sentiment in America favorable to Africans, 1772. — House of Burgesses of Vbgl. ia addresses the King. — Original draft of Declaration of Independence. — First Society formed in America "for Pro- moting Abolition of Slavery," 1774. — Opposition to the SUve-Trade in America.. 158 CHAPTER XIII. Movements in England to Abolish the Slave Trade. Thomas Clarkson, the historian of the Abolition of the Slave-Trade. — Devotes his life to the cause, 1785.— Publishes his Essay on Slavery. — His coadjutors. — Wil- liam Wilberforce, parliamentary leader in the cause. — Middleton, Dr. Porteus, Lord Scarsdale, Granville Sharp. — Clarkson's first visit to a slave-ship. — Associa- tion formed — Correspondence opened in Europe and America. — Petitions sent to Parliament. — Committee of Privy Council ordered by the King, 1788. — Great ex- ertions of the friends of the cause. — Clarkson's interview with Pitt 179 CHAPTER XIV. Parliamentary History. — The Twenty Years' Struggle. Mr. Pitt introduces the subject of the Abolition of the Slave-Trade into the House of Commons, May 9, 1788. — Speech of Mr. Pitt on the occasion. — Parliamentary action in 1789. — Debate of 12th of May. — Speech of William Wilberforce. — Trav- els and exertions of Clarkson. — Sessions of 1791 and 1792. — Debates in the Com- mons. — Speeches of Wilberforce, Pitt, Fox, Bailie, Thornton, Whitbread, Dundas, and Jenkinson. — Gradual abolition agreed upon by House of Commons 188 CHAPTER XV. Parliamentary History. — Slave Trade Rendered Illegal. Action of the House of Lords in 1792. — Clarkson retires from the field from ill health, in 1794. — Mr. Wilberforce's annual motion. — Session of 1799. — Speech of Canning. — Sessions of 1S04 and 1805. — Clarkson resumes his labors. — Death of Mr. Pitt, January, 1806. — Administration of Granville and Fox. — Session of 1806. — Debate in the House of Lords. — Speeches of Lord Granville, Erskine, Dr. Por- teus, Earls Stanhope and Spencer, Lords Holland and Ellenborough. — Death of Fox, October, 1806. — Contest and triumph in 1807. — Final passage of the Bill for the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade. — Slave-trade declared felony in 1811, and declared piracy in 1824, by England. — England abolishes slavery in her colonies, 1833. — Prohibition of Slave-Trade by European governments. — Slavery abolished in Mexico, 1829 — In Guatemala and Colombia 237 VU1 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVI. Indian and African Slavery in St. Domingo. — The Insurrections. Discovery and settlement of the island by the Spaniards. — The natives reduced to slavery. — Cruelty of the Spaniards towards them.— Great mortality in conse- quence. — Their numbers replenished from the Bahamas. — The Dominicans be- come interested for them. — Las Casas appeals to Cardinal Ximenes, who sends commissioners. — They set the natives at liberty. — The colonists remonstrate against the measure, and the Indians again reduced to slavery. — Las Casas seeks a remedy. — The Emperor allows the introduction of Africans. — Guinea slave- trade established. — The buccaneers. — The French Colony. — Its condition in 1789. — Enormous slave-population. — The Mulattoes. — The French Revolution — its ef- fect on the Colonists. — First Insurrection. — Terrible execution of the leaders. — Second Insurrection — massacre and conflagration — unparalleled horrors. — Burn- ing of Port-au-Prince. — L'Ouverture appears, the spirit and ruler of the storm. — French expedition of 25,000 men sent to suppress the Insurrection. — Toussaint sent prisoner to France — dies in prison. — The slaves establish their freedom. — In- dependence of Hayti acknowledged by France 252 CHAPTER XVII. African Slave Trade after its Nominal Abolition. State of the slave-trade since its nominal abolition. — Numbers imported and losses on the passage. — Increased horrors of the trade. — Scenes on board a captured slaver in Sierra Leone. — The Progresso. — Walsh's description of a slaver in 1829. — The trade in 1S20. — The slave-trade in Cuba — officers of government interested in it. — Efforts of Spain insincere. — Slave barracoons near Governor's palace — con- duct of the inmates. — The Bozals. — Bryan Edwards' description of natives of Gold Coast — their courage and endurance. — Number of slaves landed at Rio in 1838 — barracoons at Rio — government tax. — Slave-trade Insurance — Courts of Mixed Commission — their proceedings at Sierra Leone in 1838. — Joint stock slave-trade companies at Rio.— The Cruisers — intercepted letters. — Mortality of the trade. — Abuses of the American flag. — Consul Trist and British commissioners. — Corre- spondence of American Ministers to Brazil, Mr. Todd, Mr. Proffit, Mr. Wise. — Ex- tracts from Parliamentary papers. — Full list of Conventions and Treaties made by Eugland for suppression of Slave-trade 280 CHAPTER XVIII. Efforts to Suppress the Slave-Trade. — Operations of the Cruisers Treaty between England and the United States, signed at Washington in 1842. — U. S. African Squadron under the treaty. — The Truxton captures an American slaver, the Spitfire, of New Orleans. — The Yorktown captures the Am. bark Pons, with 896 slaves on board. — Commander Bell's description of the sufferings of the slaves — they are landed at Monrovia and taken care of. — Squadron of 1846. — Capture of the Chancellor. — Slave establishment destroyed by the English and natives. — A slaver's history — embarkation and treatment of slaves. — How disposed of in Cuba. — Natural scenery of Africa. — Excnrsion to procure slaves — their horror at the prospeot of slavery. — Passage from Mozambique — the small-pox on board. — More horrors of the Middle Passage. — The Estrella — revolt of negroes on board. . 303 CHAPTER XIX. Operations op the Cruisers under the Ashburton Treaty. The American Squadrons from 1847 to 1861. — More captures. — U. S. brig Ferry cruises off the southern coast. — Capture of a slayer with 800 slaves, by an Eng- lish cruiser. — Abuses of the American flag. — The Lucy Ann captured. — Case of the Navarre. — Capture by the Perry of the Martha of New York — her condemna- tion. — Case of the Chatsworth — of the Louisa Beaton. — The Chatsworth seized and sent to Baltimore — is condemned as a slaver. State of the slave-trade on the southern coast. — Importance of the squadron. — -The Brazilian slave-trade dimin- ishes 344 ' CHAPTER XX. Historical Sketch of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Colony of Sierra Leone founded by the English, 1787. — Free negroes colonized. — Present extent and condition of the colony. — Establishment of English factories on the slave coast. — Treaties with the African chiefs. — Scheme of African Coloniza- tion agitated in 17S3 — by Jefferson and others. — Movements in Va., in 1800 and 1805. — Formation of the American Colonization Society in 1816. — Its object "to colonize the free people of color." — Cape Mesurado purchased and colonized in X821. — Defense of the infant settlement from an attack by the natives. — Mortality among the early settlers. — Increase of the colony in 1835. — State colonization societies establish settlements. — Consolidation of the state colonies, and estab- lishment of the Commonwealth. — Governor Buchanan's efforts to suppress the slave-trade. — His death, 1841. — Republic of Liberia established in 1S47. — Joseph J. Roberts (colored) first President. — Its independence acknowledged by European powers. — The Republic attacks the slave establishments. — Natural resources of Liberia — its climate, soil, productions, exports, schools, churches, &c. — Settle- ments and population. — The Maryland settlement at Cape Paknas 358 CHAPTER XXI. History of Slavery in the North American Colonies. Early existence of Slavery in England. — Its forms. — The Feudal System. — Serf- dom. — Its extinction. — African Slavery introduced into the North American Colo- nies, 1620. — Slavery in Virginia. — Massachusetts sanctions Negro and Indian slavery, 1641: Kidnapping declared unlawful, 1645. — Negro and Indian slavery authorized in Connecticut, 1650. — Decree against perpetual slavery in Rhode Isl- and, 1652. — Slavery in New Netherland among the Dutch, 1650 — Its mild form. — First slavery statute of Virginia, 1662. — In Maryland, 1663, against amalgama- tion. Statute of Virginia, conversion and baptism not to confer freedom ; other provisions, 1667. — Maryland encourages slave-trade. — Slave code of Virginia, 1682, fugitives may be killed. — New anti-amalgamation act of Maryland, 1681. — Set- tlement of South Carolina, 1660. — Absolute power conferred on masters. — Law of Slavery in New York, 1665. — Slave code of Virginia, 1692: offenses of slaves, how punishable. — Revision of Virginia code, 1705: slaves made real estate. — Pennsylvania protests against importation of Indian slaves from Carolina, 1705. — New act of 1712 to stop importation of negroes and slaves, prohibition duty of ,£20. — Act repealed by Queen. — First slave law of, Carolina, 1712. — Its remarka- X CONTENTS. We provisions. — Census of 1715. — Maryland code of 1715 — baptism not to confer freedom. — Georgia colonized, 1732 : rum and slavery prohibited. — Cruel delusion in New York: plot falsely imputed to negroes to burn the city, 1741. — Slavery legalized in Georgia, 1750. — Review of the state of Slavery in all the colonies in 1750. — Period of the Revolution. — Controversy in Massachusetts on the subject of slavery, 1766 to 1773. — Slaves gain their freedom in the courts of Massachu- setts. — Court of King's Bench decision. — Mansfield declares the law of England, 1772. — Continental Congress declares against African slave-trade, 1784 369 CHAPTER XXII. Slavery under the Confederation. — Emancipation by the States Number of Slaves in the United States at the period of the declaration of Independ- , ;,,,.. — Proportion in each of the thirteen States. — Declaration against slavery in the State Constitution of Delaware. — Constitutions of Massachusetts and New Hampshire held to prohibit slavery, by Supreme Courts, 1783. — Act of Pennsyl- vania Assembly, 17S0, forbids introduction of slaves, and gives freedom to all persons thereafter bom in that State. — A similar law enacted in Connecticut and Rhode Island, 1784. — Virginia Assembly prohibits further introduction of slaves, 1778, and emancipation encouraged, 1782. — Maryland enacts similar laws, 1783. — Opinions of Washington, Jefferson, and Patrick Henry. — New York and New Jer- sey prohibit further introduction of slaves. — North Carolina declares further in- troduction of slaves highly impolitic, 1786. — Example of other States not followed by Georgia and South Carolina. — Action of Congress on the subject of the Terri- tories, 1784. — Jefferson's provision excluding slavery, struck out of ordinance. — Proceedings of 1787. — Ordinance for the government of the territory north-west of the Ohio, including Jefferson's provision prohibiting slavery, passed by un^n* mous vote 388 CHAPTER XXIII. Formation of the Constitution — Slavery Compromises. Convention assembles at Philadelphia, 1787. — Proceedings in reference to the slav» basis of representation, the second compromise of the Constitution. — Debate. — Remarks of Patterson, Wilson, King, Gouverneur Morris, and Sherman. — Debate on the Importation of slaves, by Rutledge, Ellsworth, Sherman, C. Pinckney. — Denunciation of slavery by Mason of Virginia. — The third Compromise, the con- tinuance of the African slave-trade for twenty years, and the unrestricted power of Congress to enact Navigation laws 392 CHAPTER XXIV. Political History of Slavery in the United States from 1789 to 1800. First session of First Congress, 17S9. — Tariff bill — duty imposed on imported slaves. — The Debate — views of Roger Sherman, Fisher Ames, Madison, &c. — Review of the state of slavery in the States in 1790. — Second session. — Petitions from the Quakers of Pennsylvania, Deleware, and New York. — Petition of Pennsylvania Society, signed by Franklin. — Exciting debate — power of Congress over slavery. — Census of 1790. — Slave population. — Vermont the first State to abolish and pro- CONTENTS. XI hibit slavery. — Constitution of Kentucky — provisions in respect to slavery. — Ses- sion of 1791. — Memorials for suppression of slave-trade, from Virginia, Maryland, New York, &c. — The Right of Petition discussed. — First fugitive slave law, 1793. First law to suppress African Slave Trade, 1794. — The Quakers again, 1797 — their emancipated slaves reduced again to slavery, under expost facto law of North Carolina. — Mississippi territory — slavery clause debated.— Foreign slaves prohi- bited. — Constitution of Georgia — importation of slaves prohibited, 1798— provi- sions against cruelty to slaves. — New York provides for gradual extinguishment of slavery, 1799. — Failure of similar attempt in Kentucky. — Colored citizens of Pennsylvania petition Congress against Fugitive Slave law and slave-trade — their petition referred to a committee ; bill reported and passed, 1800 403 CHAPTER XXV. Political History of Slavery in the United States, from 1800 to 1807. Slave population in 1800. — Georgia cedes territory — slavery clause. — Territory of Indiana — attempt to introduce Slavery in 1803 — Petition Congress — Com. of H. R. report against it. — Session of 1804, committee report in favor of it, limited to ten years. — No action on report. — Foreign slave-trade prohibited with Orleans Terri- tory, 1804. — South Carolina revives slave-trade ; the subject before Congress. — New Jersey provides for gradual extinction of slavery, 1804. — Attempt to gradu- ally abolish slavery in District of Columbia, unsuccessful in Congress. — Renewed attempt to introduce slavery into Territory of Indiana, 1806, unsuccessful. — Leg- islature of Territory in favor of it, 1807 — Congressional committee report against it. — Jefferson's Message — recommendation to abolish African slave-trade — the subject before Congress — bill reported — the debate — Speeches of members — Act passed 1807, its provisions 430 CHAPTER XXVI. Political History of Slavery in the United States from 1807 to 1820. Slave population in 1810.— Period of the war. — John Randolph's denunciations. — Proclamation of Admiral Cochrane to the slaves. — Treaty of Peace — arbitration on slave property. — Opinions of the domestic slave-trade by southern statesmen. —Constitution of Mississippi — slave provisions. — The African slave-trade and fugitive law. — Missouri applies for admission — proviso to prohibit slavery. — De- bate — speeches of Fuller, Tallmadge, Scott, Cobb, and Livermore. — Proceedings, 1820. — Bill for organizing Arkansas Territory — proviso to prohibit slavery lost. — Excitement in the North.— Public meetings. — Massachusetts memorial. — Resolu- tions of state legislatures of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Kentuoky. — Congress — the Missouri struggle renewed. — The. compromise. — Proviso to exclude slavery in territory north of 36° 30' carried. — Proviso to pro- hibit slavery in Missouri lost.— Opinions of Monroe's cabinet. — Reflections of J. Q. Adams. — State Constitution of Missouri — final struggle. — Missouri admitted as a slave state 447 CHAPTER XXVII. Period from 1820 to 1825. — Political History of Slavery. Cemsus of 1S20. — Session of 1824-5. — Gov. Troup's demonstrations. — Georgia legia- Xii CONTENTS. lature— Secession threatened.— Slaves in Canada— their surrender refused by Eng- land. Citizens of District of Columbia petition for gradual abolition.— Census of 183£) Anti-slavery societies formed in the north — counter movements north and south.— The mail troubles.— Manifesto of American Anti-slavery Society.— Peti- tions to congress — Discussion on the disposal of them. — Bill to prohibit the circu- lation of Anti-slavery publications through the mails. — Calhoun's report — Meas- ure opposed by Webster, Clay, Benton, and others.— Buchanan, Tallmadge, &c, favor it — Bill lost. — Atherton's gag resolutions passed 498 CHAPTER XXVIII. Period from 1835 to 1842.— Political History. Free territory annexed to Missouri, 1836.— Texas applies for annexation. — Remon- strances.— Preston's resolution in 1838, in favor of it, debated by Preston, John Quincy Adams and Henry A. Wise.— The Amistad— Captives liberated.— Census of 1840. Session of 1841-2. — Mr. Adams presents petition for dissolution of the Union. — Excitement in the house. — Resolutions of censure, advocated by Mar- shall.— Remarks of Mr. Wise and Mr. Adams.— Resolutions opposed by Under- wood, of Kentucky, Botts, of Virginia, Arnold, of Tennessee, and others. — Mr. Giddings, of Ohio, presents a petition for amicable division of the Union — resolu- tion of censure not received. — Case of the Creole. — Censure of Mr. Giddings ; he resigns, is re-elected GU CHAPTER XXIX. Period from 1842 to 1849. — Annexation of Texas. Object of the acquisition set forth by Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee legisla- tures, and by Mr. Wise and Mr. Gilmer, 1842.— Tyler's treaty of annexation— re- jected by the senate.— Presidential campaign of 1844.— Clay and Van Buren on annexation.— Calhoun's Letter.— Session of 1844-5 ; joint resolution passed, and approved March 1, 1845.— Mexican minister protests.— War with Mexico.— The $2,000,000 bill.— Wilmot Proviso.— Session of 1847-8.— Bill to organize Oregon territory.— Power of Congress over slavery in the territories discussed,— Dix and Calhoun.— Mr. Calhoun controverts the doctrines of the Declaration of Indepen- dence. — Cass' Nicholson letter 531 CHAPTER XXX. Political History of Slavery.— -Compromises of 1850. Message of President Taylor— Sam. Houston's propositions— Taylor's Special Message. —Mr. Clay's propositions for arrangement of slavery controversy .—His resolutions. Resolutions of Mr. Bell.— The debate on Clay's resolutions, by Rusk, Foote, of Mis- sissippi, Mason, Jefferson Davis, King, Clay, and Butler.— Remarks of Benton, Calhoun, Webster, Seward, and Cass.— Resolutions referred.— Report of Com- mittee.— The omnibus bill.— California admitted.— New Mexico organized.— Tex- as boundary established.— Utah organized.— Slave-trade in the District of Co- lumbia abolished.— Fugitive Slave law passed 663 CONTENTS. XU1 CHAPTER XXXI. Repeal of Missouri Compromise. — Kansas and Nebraska Organized The platforms, slavery agitation repudiated by both parties.- — Mr. Pierce's Inaugu- ral and Message denounce agitation. — Session of 1853-4 : — the storm bursts forth. — Proposition to repeal the Missouri Compromise. — Kansas-Nebraska bill. — Mr. Douglas' defense of the bill — Mr. Chase's reply— Remarks of Houston, Cass, Seward, and others. — Passage of the bill in the house. — Passed by senate, and approved. — The territories organized 608 CHAPTER XXXII. Affairs of Kansas. — Congressional Proceedings. Session of 1S55-6. — The President's special message referred. — Report of committee by Mr. Douglas. — Emigrant Aid Societies. — Minority report by Mr. Collamer. — Special Committee of the House sent to Kansas to investigate affairs. — Report of the Committee. — Armed Missourians enter the territory and control the elections. — Second foray of armed Missourians. — Purposes of Aid Societies defended. — Mob violence. — Legislature assembles at Pawnee. — Its acts. — Topeka Constitutional Convention.- -Free State Constitution framed. — Adopted by the people. — Election for State officers. — Topeka legislature. — The Wakarusa war. — Outrages upon the citizens. — Robberies and murders. — Lawrence attacked. — Free state constitution submitted to Congress. — Bill to admit Kansas under free state constitution passes the house. — Douglas' bill before the senate. — Trumbull's propositions rejected. — Amendments proposed by Foster, Collamer, Wilson and Seward, rejected. — Bill passed by senate. — Dunn's bill passed by house. — Appropriation bills. — Proviso to army bill. — Session terminates. — Extra session. — President stands firm, house firmer, ««wte firmest. — The army bill passed without the proviso 643 CHAPTER XXXIII. History of td.e Troubles in Kansas, continued. Judge Lncompte's charge to Grand Jury — Presentments. — Official correspondence. — Attack on Lawrence. — Free State bands organized — attack pro-slavery set- tlements. — Fights at Palmyra, Franklin, and Ossawattamie. — Murders. — Shannon removed. — -Atchison's army retreat. — Geary appointed governor. — Deplorable condition of the territory. — Letter to Secretary Marcy. — Inaugural address and pro- clamations. — -Atchison's call upon the South. — Woodson's proclamation. — Armed bands enter the territory. — Lawrence doomed to destruction. — Gov. Geary's deci- sive measures. — Army dispersed and Lawrence saved. — Hickory Point — capture of Free State company.— Dispatch to Secretary Marcy. — Mnrder of Buffum. — Geary and Lecompte in collision. — Official documents. — The Judiciary.- — Rumors of Lane's army. — Redpath's company captured — released by governor. — Capture of Eldridge's company. — Official correspondence. — Assembling of Topeka legisla- ture — Members arrested. — Territorial Legislative Assembly convened. — Inaugural — Vetoes of the governor. — The "Census Bill"— its provisions for forming State Constitution. — Constitution not to be submitted to the people. — Gov. Geary's prop- osition rejected. — He vetoes the bill- — Bill passed. — Disturbances in the capital. — Geary's requisition for XJ. S. troops refused. — His application for money refusod. — Difficulties of his situation — he resigns — his farewell address. — Robert J. XIV CONTENTS. Walker appointed his successor. — Secretary Stanton. — Fraudulent apportion- ment. — Walker's Inaugural — his recommendation to have Constitution submitted to the people. — This measure denounced at the South. — Convention assembles September, 1857.— Adjourns to October 26th, 1857 719 CHAPTER XXXIV. Statistical Tables constructed from the Census of 1850. Territory— Area of Free States ; area of Slave States. — Population— Free colored in Free States; Free colored in Slave States ; Slaves. — Amalgamation ; Mulattoes of Free States; Mulattoes of Slave States ; Proportion to Whites. — Manumitted Slaves ; Fugitive Slaves ; Occupation of Slaves ; Number of Slave Holders ; Proportion to Non-Slave Holders. — Representation — Number of Representatives from Slave States. — Number of Representatives from Free States ; Basis in numbers and classes. — Moral and Social — Churches, Church Property, Colleges, Public Schools, Private Schools ; Number of Pupils ; Annual Expenditure ; Persons who cannot read and write ; Lands appropriated by General Government for Education ; Peri- odical Press ; Libraries. — Charities — Pauperism in Free States ; in Slave States. — Criminals — Number of Prisoners. — Agriculture — Value of Farms and Imple- ments in Free and Slave States. — Manufactures, Mining, Mechanic Arts — Cap- ital invested; Annual Product. — Rail Roads and Canals — Number of Miles; Cost. — Total Real and Personal Estate. — Value of Real Estate in Free States ; in Slave States; value of Personal in Free States; in Slave States, including and excluding Slaves. — Miscellaneous 809 Appendix — Died Scott decision 807 PREFACE. This book is intended for general reading, and may also serve as a book of reference. It is an attempt to compile and present in one volume the histori- cal records of slavery in ancient and modern times — the laws of Greece and Rome and the legislation of England and America upon the subject — and to exhibit some of its effects upon the destinies of nations. It is compiled from what are conceded to be authentic and reliable books, documents, and records. In looking up material for that portion of the book which treats of slavery in the nations of antiquity, the compiler found small encouragement among the historians. " There is no class so abject and despised upon which the fate of nations may not sometimes turn;" and it is strange that a system which per- vaded and weakened, if it did not ruin, the republics of Greece and the empire of the Caesars, should not be more frequently noticed by historical writers. They refer, only incidentally, to the existence of slavery. An insurrection or other remarkable event with which the slaves are connected, occasionally re- minds the reader of history of the existence of a servile class. The historian of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire devotes but two pages to what he describes as " that unhappy condition of men who existed in every province and every family, exposed to the wanton rigor of despotism," and who, accord- ing to his own account, numbered, in the age of the Antonines, sixty millions ! Yet " slavery was the chief and most direct cause of the ruin of the Roman Empire," if we may credit the assertions made in the legislature of Virginia shortly after an insurrection in that state. How few of the historians of Eng- land refer to the existence in that country of a system of unmitigated, hope- less, hereditary slavery. Yet it prevailed throughout England in Saxon and Norman times. In the time of the Heptarchy, slaves were an article of ex- port. " Great numbers were exported, like cattle, from the British coasts." The Roman market was partially supplied with slaves from the shores of Brit- ain. Pope Gregory the Great, struck with the blooming complexions and fair hair of some Saxon children in the slave market, sent over St. Augustine from Rome to convert the islanders to Christianity. In the time of Alfred, slaves were so numerous that their sale was regulated by law. As a general thing, however, feudalism strangled the old forms of slavery, and both disappeared in England in the advancing light of Christianity. The historians of the United States, also, with the exception of Hildreth, seldom refer to the sub- ject of slavery. They perhaps imagine that they descend below the dignity of history if they treat of any thing but " battles and seiges, and the rise and fall of administrations." Yet the printed annals of congress, from the foun- dation of the government to the present time, are filled with controversies upon XVI PREFACE. the ever prominent "slavery question"; and every important measure seems to have had a " slavery issue " involved in it. Meantime, and while awaiting the advent of a regular " philosophical " historian of slavery, we present an imperfect, but, we trust, useful compilation. The greater part of the volume is devoted to the Political History of Slavery in the United States. The legislation of congress upon subjects embracing questions of slavery extension or prohibition, has been faithfully rendered from the record ; and the arguments used on both sides of controverted ques- tions have been impartially presented. The parliamentary history of the abolition of the African slave-trade has been made to occupy considerable space, chiefly in order to lay before the reader the views upon the subject of slavery entertained by that class of unrivaled statesmen which embraced the names of Pitt, Fox, Burke, and others not unknown to fame. The history of the legislation of our own country upon subjects in which slavery issues were involved, will also bring before the reader another array of eminent. statesmen, with whose familiar names he is accustomed to associate the idea of intellectual power. Chapters upon slavery in Greece and Florae have been introduced into the book, as various opinions seem to prevail in regard to the forms, features, laws, extent and eft'ects of ancient slavery. Some point with exultation 1 to the prosperity of imperial Rome with her millions of slaves; others with equal exultation point to her decay as the work of the avenging spirit of slavery. Others, again, contend that slavery was confined to but a small portion of the empire, and had small effect upon its prosperity or ad- versity. To gratify a class of readers to whom the relation of exciting incidents is of more interest than the details of legislative action, we have devoted a space to the abominations of the old legalized slave traffic, and to the increased hor- rors of the trade after it had been declared piracy by Christian nations. It is a fearful chapter of wrong, violence and crime. "According to an enlightened philosophy," we quote from the Conversations Lexicon, "each human being retains inherently the right to his own person, and can neither sell himself, nor be legally bound by any act of aggression on his natural liberty. Slavery, therefore, cau never be a legal relation. It rests entirely on force. The slave being treated as property, and not allowed legal rights, cannot be under legal obligations. Slavery is also inconsistent with the moral nature of man. Each man has an individual worth, significance, and responsibility ; is bound to the work of self-improvement, and to labor in a sphere for svhich his capacity is adapted. To give up this individual liberty is to disqualify himself for fulfilling the great objects of his being. Hence, political societies which have made a considerable degree of advancement do not allow any one to resign his liberty any more than his life, to the pleasure of another. In fact, the great object of political institutions in civilized na- tions is to enable man to fulfill most perfectly the ends of his individual be- ing. Christianity, moreover, lays down the doctrine of doing as we would be done by, as one of its fundamental maxims, which is wholly opposed to the idea of "one man becoming the property of another. These two principles of mutual obligation, and the worth of the individual, were beyond the compre- hension of the states of antiquity, but are now at the basis of morals, politics, and religion." HISTORY OE SLAVERY. CHAPTER I. Preliminary Sketch. — Ancient Slavery. Early existence of Slavery in the world. — The Mosaic institutions in regard to Slavery. — Hebrews, how reduced to servitude. — The Jubilee. — Distinction between native and for- eign Slaves. — Voluntary Slaves : the Mercenarii of the Romans ; the Prodigals or debtor blaves ; the Delinquents ; the Enthusiasts. — Involuntary Slaves : prisoners of war, and captives stolen in peace, with the children and descendants of both. — Voluntary Slavery introduced by decree of the Roman Senate. — Slavery in Rome : condition of the Slaves ; cruelty to the old and sick ; prisons for Slaves ; Sicily : servile war and breaking up of the prisons. — Piracy esteemed honorable by the early Greeks. — Pirati- cal expeditions to procure Slaves. — Causes of the gradual extinction of Slavery in Europe. — Origin of the African Slave Trade by the Portuguese. — Followed by most of the maritime nations of Europe. J.T is certainly a curious fact, that so far as we can trace back the history of the human race, we discover the existence of Slavery. One of the most obvi- ous causes of this, is to be found in the almost incessant wars which were car- ried on in the early periods of the world, between tribes and nations, in which the prisoners taken were either slain or reduced to slavery. The Mosaic institutions were rather predicated upon the previous existence of slavery in the surrounding nations, than designed to establish it for the first time ; and the provisions of the Jewish law upon this subject, effected changes and modifications which must have improved the condition of slaves among that peculiar people. There were various modes by which the Hebrews might be reduced to servitude. A poor man might sell himself ; a father might sell his children ; debtors might be delivered as slaves to their creditors ; thieves, who were unable to make restitution for the property stolen, were sold for the benefit of the sufferers. Prisoners of war were subjected to servitude ; and if a Hebrew captive was redeemed by another Hebrew from a Gentile, he might be sold by his deliverer to another Israelite. At the return of the year of jubilee all Jewish captives were set free. However, by some writers it is stated that this did not apply to foreign slaves held in bondage ; as over these the master had entire control. He might sell them, judge them, and even pun- ish them capitally without any form of legal process. The law of Moses pro- vides that "if a man smite his servant or his maid with a rod, and he die under I 18 ANCIENT SLAVERY. his hand, he shall be surely punished ; notwithstanding if he continue a day 01 two he shall not be punished, for he is his money." This restriction is said, by some, to have applied only to Hebrew slaves, and not to foreign captives who were owned by Jews. In general, if any one purchased a Hebrew slave, he could hold him only six years. Among other provisions, the Mosaic laws declared the terms upon which a Hebrew, who had been sold, could redeem himself, or be redeemed by his friends, and his right to take with him his wife and children, when discharged from bondage. Among those who were denominated slaves in the more lax or general use jf the term, we may reckon those who were distinguished among the Romans by the appellation of " mercenarii," so called from the circumstances of their hire. These were free-born citizens, who, from the various contingencies of fortune, were under the necessity of recurring for support to the service of the rich. A contract subsisted between the parties, and most of the dependents had the right to demand and obtain their discharge, if they were ill-used by their mas- ters. Among the ancients there was another class of servants, which consisted wholly of those who had suffered the loss of libeity from their own imprudence. Such were the Grecian prodigals, who were detained in the service of their creditors, until the fruits of their labor were equivalent to their debts ; the delinquents, who were sentenced to the oar; and the German enthusiasts, mentioned by Tacitus, who were so addicted to gaming, that when they had parted with every thing else, they staked their liberty and their persons. "The loser," says the historian, " goes into a voluntary servitude ; and though younger and stronger than the person with whom he played, patiently suffers himself to be bound and sold. Their perseverance in so bad a custom is styled honor. The slaves thus obtained are immediately exchanged away in commerce, that the winner may get rid of the scandal of his victory." The two classes now enumerated comprehend those that may be called the Voluntary Slaves, and they are distinguished from those denominated Involuntary Slaves, who were forced, without any previous condition or choice, into a situation, which, as it tended to degrade a part of the human species, and to class it with the brutal, must have been, of all situations, the most wretched and insupportable. The class of involuntary slaves included those who were " prisoners of war," and these were more ancient than the voluntary slaves, who are first mentioned in the time of Pharaoh. The practice of reducing prisoners of war to the condi- tion of slaves existed both among the eastern nations and the people of the west ; for as the Helots became the slaves of the Spartans merely from the right of conquest, so prisoners of war were reduced to the same situation by the other inhabitants of Greece. The Romans, also, were actuated by the same principle; and all those nations which contributed to overturn the empire, adopted a similar custom ; so that it was a general maxim in their polity that those who fell under their power as prisoners of war, should immediately be reduced to the condition of slaves. The slaves of the Greeks wore gener- ally barbarians, and imported from foreign countries. ANCIENT SLAVERY. 19 " By the civil law the power of making slaves is esteemed a right of nations, and follows, as a natural consequence of captivity in war." This is the first origin of the right of slavery assigned by Justinian. The conqueror, say the civilians, had the right to the life of his captive ; and having spared that, has the right to deal with him as he pleases. This position, taken generally, is deuied by Blackstone, who observes that a man has a right to kill his enemy, only in cases of absolute necessity for self-defense ; and it is plain this absolute necessity did not exist, since the victior did not kill him, but made him prison- er. Since, therefore, the right of making slaves by captivity depends on a supposed right of slaughter, that foundation failing, the consequence drawn from it must fail likewise. Farther, it is said, slavery may begin "jure civili," when one man sells himself to another; but this, when applied to strict slavery, in the sense of the laws of old Rome or modern Barbary, is also impossible. Every sale implies a price, an equivalent given to the seller in lieu of what he transfers to the buyer; but what equivalent can be given for life and liberty, both of which, in absolute slavery, are held to be at the master's disposal? His property, also, the very price he seems to receive, devolves to his master the instant he becomes his slave : and besides, if it be not lawful for a man to kill himself, because he robs his country of his person, for the same reason he is not allowed to barter his freedom ; — the freedom of every citizen constitutes a part of the public liberty. In this case, therefore, the buyer gives nothing, and the seller receives nothing ; of what validity, then, can a sale be, which destroys the very principle upon which all sales are founded ? Lastly, we are told, that besides these two ways, by which slaves may be acquired, they may also be hereditary; the children of acquired slaves being, by a negative kind of birthright, slaves also; but this being founded on the two former rights, must fall together with them. If neither captivity, nor the sale of one's self, can, by the law of nature and reason, reduce the parent to slavery, much less can they reduce the offspring.* Voluntary slavery was first introduced in Rome by a decree of the senate in the time of the emperor Claudius, and at length was abrogated by Leo. The Romans had the power of life and death over their slaves ; which no other nations had. This severity was afterwards modified by the laws of the emper- ors ; and by one of Adrian it was made capital to kill a slave without a cause. The slaves were esteemed the proper goods oftMif- masters, and all they got belonged to them ; but if the master wasjjJPBBel in his domestic corrections, he was obliged to sell his slave at a nioirerate price. The custom of exposing old, useless or sick slaves, in an island of the Tiber, there to starve, seems to have been very common in Rome ; and whoever recovered, after having been so exposed, had his liberty given him, by an edict of the emperor Claudius, iu which it was likewise forbidden to kill any slave merely for old age or sickness. Nevertheless, it was a professed maxim of the elder Cato, to sell his superaunu- * Blackstone 's Com. : Montesquieu's Spirit of Laws. 20 AXCEENT SLAVERY. ated slaves at any price, rather than maintain what he deemed a useless burden. The dungeons, where slaves in chains were forced to work, were common all over Italy. Columella advises that they be built under ground ; and recom- mends the duty of having a careful overseer to call over the names of the slaves, in order to know when any of them had deserted. Sicily was full of these dungeons, and the soil was cultivated by laborers in chains. Eunus and Athenio excited the servile war, by breaking up these monstrous prisons, and giving liberty to 60,000 slaves. In the ancient and uncivilized ages of the world, "Piracy" was regarded as an honorable profession ; and this was supposed to give a right of making slaves. " The Grecians," says Thucydides, " in their primitive state, as well as the cotemporary barbarians who inhabited the sea coast and islands, addicted themselves wholly to it ; it was, in short, their only profession and support." The writings of Homer establish this account, as they show that this was a common practice at so early a period as that of the Trojan war. The reputa- tion which piracy seems to have acquired among the ancients, was owing to the skill, strength, agility and valor which were necessary for conducting it with success ; and these erroneous notions led to other consequences immediately connected with the slavery of the human species. Avarice and ambition availed themselves of these mistaken notions ; and people were robbed, stolen, and even murdered, under the pretended idea that these were reputable adven- tures. But in proportion as men's sentiments and manners became more refined, the practice of piracy lost its reputation, and began gradually to disappear. The practice, however, was found to be lucrative ; and it was continued with a view to the emolument attending it, long after it ceased to be thought honora- able, and when it was sinking into disgrace. The profits arising from the sale of slaves presented a temptation which avarice could not resist ; many were stolen bv their own countrymen and sold for slaves ; and merchants traded on the different coasts in order to facilitate the disposal of this article of com- merce. The merchants of Thessaly, — according to Aristophanes, who never spared the vices of the times, — were particularly infamous for this latter kind of depredation ; the Athenians were notorious for the former ; for they had practiced these robberies to such an extent, that it was found necessary to enact a law to punish kidnappers with death. From the above statement it appears that there were among the ancients two classes of involuntary slaves :• captives taken in war, and those who were privately stolen in peace ; to which might be added, a third class, comprehend- ing the children and descendants of the two former. The condition of slaves and their personal treatment were sufficiently humiliating and grievous, and may well excite our pity and abhorrence. They were beaten, starved, tortured, and murdered at discretion ; they were dead in a civil sense ; they had neither name nor tribe ; they were incapable of judicial process ; and they were, in short, without appeal. To this cruel treatment, however, there were some exceptions. The Egyptian slave, though perhaps a ANCIENT SLAVERY. 21 greater drudge than any other, yet if he had time to reach the temple of Her- cules found a certain retreat from the persecution of his master ; and he derived additional comfort from the reflection that his life could not be taken with im- punity.* But no place seems to have been so favorable to slaves as Atheus. Here they were allowed a greater liberty of speech; they had their convivial meetings, their amours, their hours of relaxation, pleasantry and mirth ; and here, if persecution exceeded the bounds of lenity, they had their temple, like the Egyptians, for refuge. The legislature were so attentive as to examine into their complaints, and if founded in justice, they were ordered to be sold to another master. They were allowed an opportunity of working for themselves ; and if they earned the price of their ransom, they could demand their freedom forever. To the honor of Athens and Egypt, and the cities of the Jews, their slaves were considered with some humanity. The inhabitants of other parts of the world seemed to vie with each other in the oppression and debasement of this unfortunate class. A modern writer, to whom the cause of humanity is under inexpressible obligations, proceeds to inquire by what circumstances the barbarous and in- human treatment of slaves were produced. The first of these circumstances which he mentions, was "commerce;" for if men could be considered as possessions, if like cattle they might be bought and sold, it will be natural to suppose that they would be regarded and treated in the same manner. This kind of commerce, which began in the primitive ages of the world, depressed the human species in the general estimation ; and they were tamed like brutes by hunger and the lash, and the treatment of them so conducted as to render them docile instruments of labor for their possessors. This degradation of course depressed their minds ; restricted the expansion of their faculties ; stifled almost every effort of genius, and exhibited them to the world as beings endued with inferior capacities to the rest of mankind. But for this opinion of them there seems to have been no foundation in truth and justice. Equal to their fellow men in natural talents, and alike capable of improvement, any apparent, or even real difference between them and others, must have been owing to the treatment they received, and the rank they were doomed to occupy. This commerce of the human species commenced at an early period. The history of Joseph points to a remote era for its introduction. Egypt seems to have been, at this time, the principal market for the sale of human beings. It was indeed so famous as to have been known, within a few centuries from the time of Pharaoh, to the Grecian colonies in Asia and to the Grecian islands. Homer mentions Cyprus and Egypt as the common markets for slaves, about the time of the Trojan war. Egypt is represented in the book of Genesis as a market for slaves, and in Exodus as famous for the severity of its servitude. 22 ANCIENT SLAVERY. Tyre and Sidon, as wc learn from the book of Joel, were notorious for the pro- secution of this trade. This custom appears also to have existed in other States. It traveled all over Asia. It spread through the Grecian and Roman world. It was in use among the barbarous nations that overturned the Roman empire ; and was therefore practised at the same period throughout Europe. However, as the northern nations were settled in their conquests, the slavery and commerce of the human species began to decline, and were finally abolished. Some writers have ascribed this result to the prevalence of the feudal system ; while others, a much more numerous class, have maintained that it was the natural effect of Christianity. The advocates of the former opinion allege, that "the multitude of little states which sprung up from one great one at this era occasioned in- finite bickerings and matter for contention. There was not a state or seignory that did not want all the men it could muster, either to defend their own right or to dispute that of their neighbors. Thus every man was taken into service : whom they armed they must trust ; and there could be no trust but in free men. Thus the barrier between the two classes was thrown down, and slavery was no more heard of in the west." On the other hand, it must be allowed that Christianity was admirably adapted to this purpose. It taught "that all men were originally equal ; that the Deity was no respecter of persons ; and that, as all men were to give an account of their actions hereafter, it was necessary that they should be free." These doctrines could not fail of having their proper iufluence upon those who first embraced Christianity from a conviction of its truth. We find them ac- cordingly actuated by these principles. The greatest part of the charters which were granted for the freedom of slaves, many of which are still extant, were granted "pro amore Dei, pro mercede animas." They were founded in short on religious considerations, " that they might procure the favor of the Deity, which they had forfeited by the subjugation of those who were the objects of divine benevolence and attention equally with themselves." These considerations began to produce their effects, as the different nations were con- verted to Christianity, and procured that general liberty at last, which at the close of the twelfth century was conspicuous in the west of Europe. But still we find that within two centuries after the suppression of slavery in Europe, the Portuguese, in close imitation of those piracies which we have mentioned as existing in the uncivilized ages of the world, made their descents upon Africa, and committing depredations upon the coast, first carried the wretched inhabitants into slavery. This practice, thus inconsiderable in its commencement, soon became general, and we find most of the maritime Chris- tian nations of Europe following the piratical example. Thus did the Europeans, in their eternal infamy, revive a custom, which their own ancestors had so lately exploded from a consciousness of its impiety. The unfortunate Africans fled from the coast, and sought in the interior part of the country a retreat from the persecution of their invaders. But the Europeans still pursued them ; they ery ix entered their rivers, sailed up into the heart of the country, surprised the Africans in their recesses, and carried them into slavery. The next step which the Europeans found it necessary to take, was that of settling in the country ; of securing themselves by fortified posts ; of changing their system of force into that of pretended liberality ; and of opening, by every species of bribery and corruption, a communication with the natives. Accordingly they erected their forts and factories ; landed their merchandize, and endeavored by a peaceable deportment, by presents, and by every appearance of munificence, to allure the attachment and confidence of the Africans. The Portuguese erected their first fort in 1481, about forty years after Alonzo Gonzales had pointed out to his countrymen, as articles of commerce, the southern Africans. The scheme succeeded. An intercourse took place between the Europeans and Africans, attended with a confidence highly favorable to the views of am- bition and avarice. In order to render this intercourse permanent as well as lucrative, the Europeans paid their court to the African chiefs, and a treaty of peace and commerce was concluded, in which it was agreed that the kings, on their part, should sentence prisoners of war, and convicts, to European servi- tude ; and that the Europeans should in return supply them with the luxuries of the north. Thus were laid the foundations of that nefarious commerce, of which, in subsequent chapters, we intend to give the details. * CHAPTER II. Slavery in Greece. — Athenian Slaves. Early existence of Slavery in Greece. — Proportion of Slaves to Freemen. — Their numbers in Athens and Sparta. — Mild government of Slaves in Athens — the reverse in Sparta. Instances of noble conduct of Slaves towards their masters. — Probable origin of Slavery, prisoners of war. — Examples in history of whole cities and states being reduced to Slavery : Judea, Miletos, Thebes. — Slaves obtained by kidnapping and piracy. — The traffic supposed to be attended by a curse. — Certain nations sell their own people into Slavery. — Power of masters over their Slaves ; the power of Life and Death. — The Chians, the first Greeks who engaged in a regular Slave-trade. — Their fate in being themselves finally reduced to Slavery. — First type of the Maroon wars. — The Chian Slaves revolt. — The hero slave Drimacos. — His history. — Honors paid to his memory. Servile war among the Samians. — Athenian laws to protect Slaves from cruelty.— Slaves entitled to bring an action for assault. — Death penalty for crimes against slaves. Slaves entitled to purchase freedom. — Privileges of Slaves in Athens. — Revolt of Slaves working in Mines. — The temples a privileged sanctuary for Slaves who were cruelly treated. — Tyrannical masters compelled to sell their Slaves. — Slave auctions. — Diogenes. Price of Slaves. — Public Slaves, their employment. — Educated by the State, and in- trusted with important duties. — Domestic Slaves : their food and treatment. — The Slaves partake in the general decline of morals. — History and Description of Athens. J_N Greece, slavery existed from the earliest period of her history. Before the days of Ilomer it generally prevailed. The various states of Greece had ♦Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species : Encyclopedia Britt.: Antiquities of Greece and Rome. # > 24 SLAVERY IN ATHENS. different codes of laws, but in all of them the slaves were a majority of the people. The proportion of slaves to freemen probably varied in different states, and in the same state at different times. A historian states the propor- tion to have been at one period as 400 to 30. In Athens, another writer states, there were three slaves to one freeman. In Sparta, the proportion of slaves was much greater than in Athens. The greatest writers of antiquity were, on this subject, perplexed and un- decided. They appear to have comprehended the extent of the evil, but to have been themselves too much the slaves of habit and prejudice to discover that no form or modification of slavery is consistent with justice. Most per- plexing of all, however, was the Laeonian Heloteia ; because in that case the comparatively great number of the servile class rendered it necessary, in the opinion of some, to break their spirit and bring them down to their condition by a system of severity which constitutes the infamy of Sparta. * The discredit of subsisting on slave labor was, to a certain extent, shared by all the states of Greece, even by Athens. But in the treatment of that unfortunate class, there was as much variation as from the differences of national character might have been inferred. The Athenians, in this respect, as in most others, are represented as the antipodes of the Spartans ; inasmuch as they treated their slaves with humanity, and even indulgence, f We read, accordingly, of slaves whose love for their masters exceeded the love of broth- ers ; they have toiled, fought, and died for them ; they have sometimes sur- passed them in courage, and taught them, in situations of imminent danger, how to die. An example is recorded of a slave, who put on the disguise of his lord, that he might be slain in his stead. These examples, however, do not prove that there is any thing ennobling in servitude. On the contrary, the inference is, that great and noble souls had been' dealt with unjustly by fortune. ( As soon as men began to give quarter in war, and became possessed of prisoners, the idea of employing them and rendering their labors profitable, naturally suggested itself. When it was found that advantages could be de- rived from captured 1 enemies instead of butchering them in the field, their lives were spared. At the outset, therefore, it is argued, slavery sprung from feel- ings of humanity. A distinguished historian remarks : " When warlike peo- ple, emerging from the savage state, first set about agriculture, the ideS ot sparing the lives of prisoners, on condition of their becoming useful to the conquerors by labor, was an obvious improvement upon the practice of former times, when conquered enemies were constantly put to death, not from a spirit of cruelty, but from necessity, for the conquerors were unable to maintain them in captivity, and dared not set them free. "J * Manners and Customs of Ancient Greece. fHerodes Atticus lamented the death of his Slaves as if they had been his relatives, and erected statui-s to their memory in woods, or fields, or beside fountains. X Mitford's History of Greece. X * SLAVERY IN ATHENS 25 Possibly the practice was borrowed from the East, where the mention of slaves occurs in the remotest ages. In later times, the Queen of Persia is represented to have urged Darius into the Grecian war, that she might possess Athenian, Spartan, Argive and Corinthian slaves. The practice was, when a number o' prifoners had been taken, to make a division of them among the chiefs, generally by lot, and then to sell them for slaves. Examples occur in antiquity of whole cities and states being at once sub- jected to servitude. Thus the inhabitants of Judea were twice carried away captive to Babylon, where their,m§Siters7not perhaps from mockery, required of them to sing some of their nationalNsongs ; to which, as we learn from the prophet, they replied, " How can w_e sina the songs of Zion in a strange land ? " The citizens of Miletos, after the unsuccessful revolt of Aristagoras, were carried into Persia, as were those also of other places. Like the Israelites, those Greeks long preserved in cap^vity'tbeii^jia.tional manners and language, though surrounded by strangers, and urged^-byevery Inducement to assimilate themselves to their conquerors. A similar fl^j overtook the inhabitants of Thebes, who were sold iato slavery by Alexander, As the supply produced- by war seldom efualed thie demand, the race of kidnappers alluded to»in a fpftner chapter, mrunjfup, who, partly merchants and partly pirates, roamed about the shores of the Mediterranean,. as similar miscreants now do about the slave coasts of A#ica. Neither war, however, nor piracy, sufficed at length to furnish that vast multitude oPslaves which the growing luxury of the times induced 'the Greeks to consider necessary. Com- merce, by degrees, conducted them to Caria 'and other parte of Asia Minor, particularly the southern coasts of the Black* j5ea, those great nurseries of slaves from that time until now. The first Greeks who engaged in this traffic, which even by the Pagans was supposed to be attended by a curse, are said to have been the^Chians: ^They purchased their slaves from the barbarians, among whom the Eydians, the Phrygians and the natives of Pontos, with many others, were^ accustomed, Jjke the modern-Circassians, to carry on a trade in their own people^ Before proceeding farther with the history of the traffic, it may be well to describe the power possessed by masters over their domestics during the heroic ages. Ever} man appears then to have been a king in his own house, and to have exercised his authority most regally. Power, generally, when unchecked by law, is fierce and inhuman ; and over their household, gentlemen, in those ages, exercised the greatest and most awful power, that of life and death, as they afterwards did at Rome. When supposed to deserve death, the slaves were executed ignominiously by hanging. This was regarded as an impure end. To die honorably was to perish by the sword. The Chians, as before observed, are said to have been the first Grecian peo- ple who engaged in a regular slave-trade. For although the Thessalians and Spartans possessed slaves at a period much anterior, they obtained them by different means ; the latter by reducing to subjection the ancient Achaean in- 26 SLAVERY IN ATHENS. habitants ; the former by their conquests over other nations. But the Chians possessed only such slaves as they had purchased with money ; in which they resembled the slave-holding nations of modern times. Other circumstances strongly suggest the parallel. We have here, perhaps, the first type of the Maroon wars, though on a smaller scale, and marked by fewer outbreaks of atrocity.* It is not, indeed, stated that the females were flogged, though throughout Greece the males were so corrected ; but whatever the nature of the severities practiced upon them may have been, the yoke of bondage was found too galling to be borne, and whole" gangs took refuge in the mountains. Fortunately for them, the interior of the island abounded in fastnesses, and was in those days covered with forest. Here, therefore, the fugitives, erecting themselves dwellings, or taking possession of caverns among the almost inaccessible cliffs, successfully defended themselves, subsisting on the pjjnder of their former owners. Shortly before the time of the writer, to whom 'we are indebted for these details, a bondsman named Drimacos, made his es#kpe from the city, and reached the mountains, where, by valor and conduct, he'soon placed himself at' the head of the servile insurgents, over whom he ruled|like a king. The Chians led several expedi- tions against him in vain. iHe defeated them in-the field with great slaughter ; but at length, to spare the useless effusion of human blood, invited them to a conference, wherein he observed, that the slaves being encouraged in their revolt by an oracle, would never, lay down their arms, or submit to the drudgery of servitude. Nevertheless, the war might be terminated, "for if my advice," said he, " be followed, and we be suffered to enjoy tranquility, numerous advantages will thence accrue to the state." There being little prospect of a satisfactory settlement of the matter by arms, the Chians consented to enter into a truce, as with a public enemy. Humbled by their losses and defeats, Drimacos found them submissive to reason. He therefore provided himself with weights, measures, and a signet, and exhibit- ing them to his former masters, said : " When, in future, our necessities require that I should supply myself from your stores, it shall always be by these weights and measures ; and having taken the necessary quantity of provisions, I shall be careful to seal your warehouses with this signet. With respect to such of your slaves as may fly and come to me, I will institute a«-igid exami- nation into their story, and if they have just grounds for complaint, I will pro- tect them — if not, they shall be sent back to their owners." To these conditions the magistrates readily acceded ; upon which the slaves *Maroons ; the name given to revolted negroes in the West Indies and in some parts of South America. The appellation is supposed to be derived from Marony, a liver sep- arating Dutch and French Guiana, where larges numbers of the fugitives resided. In many cases, by taking to the forests and mountains, they have rendered themselves formidable to the colonies, and sustained a long and brave resistance against the whites. When Jamaica was conquered by the English, in 1655, about 1500 slaves retreated te the mountains, and were called Maroons. The.y continued to harass the isl rid till the end of the last century, when they were te -u.c i, by tin aid oJ ! < I oun Is. (See Dallas's History of the M m . SLAVEKY IN ATHENS. 27 who still remained with their masters grew more obedient, and seldom took to flight, dreading the decision of Drimaeos. Over his own followers he exer- cised a despotic authority t They, in fact, stood far more in fear of him, than, when in bondage, of their lords ; and performed his bidding without question or murmur. lie was severe in the punishment of the unruly, and permitted no man to plunder and lay waste the country, or commit any act of injustice. The public festivals he was careful to observe, going round and collecting from the proprietors of the land, who bestowed upon him both wine and the finest vic- tims ; but if, on these occasions, he discovered that a plot was hatching, or any ambush laid for him, he would take speedy vengeance. Observing old age to be creeping upon Drimaeos, and rendered wanton ap- parently by prosperity, the government issued a proclamation, offering a great reward to any one who should capture him, or bring them his head. The old chief, discerning signals of treachery, or convinced that, at last, it must come to that, took aside a young man whom he loved, and said, " I have ever re- garded you with a stronger affection than any other man, and to me you have been a brother. But now the days of my life are at an end, nor would I have them prolonged. With you, however, it is not so. Youth, and the bloom of youth, are yours. What, then, is to be done ? You must prove yourself to possess valor and greatness of soul : and, since the state offers riches and free- dom to whomsoever shall slay me and bear them my head, let the reward be yours. Strike it off, and be happy !" At first the youth rejected the proposal, but ultimately Drimaeos prevailed. The old man fell, and his friend, on presenting his head, received the reward, together with his freedom ; and, after burying his benefactor's remains, he sailed away to his own country. The Chians, however, underwent the just punishment of their treachery. No longer guided by the wisdom and authority of Drimaeos, the fugitive slaves re- turned to their original habits of plunder and devastation ; whereupon, the Chians, remembering the moderation of the dead, erected an heroon upon his grave, and denominated hirn the propitious hero. The insurgents, also, hold- ing his memory in veneration, continued for generations to offer up the first fruits of their spoil upon his tomb. He was, in fact, honored with a kind of apotheosis, and canonized among the £ods of the island ; for it was believed that his shade often appeared to men in dreams, for the purpose of revealing some servile conspiracy, while yet in the bud ; and they to whom he vouchsafed these warning visits, never failed to proceed to his chapel, and offer sacrifice to his manes. In process of time the Chians themselves were compelled to drain the bitter cup of servitude. For, as we find recorded, they were subjugated by Mithri- dates, and were delivered up to their own slaves, to be carried away captive into Colchis. This, Athenseus considers the just punishment of their wicked- ness in having been the first who introduced the slave trade into Greece, when they might have been better served by freemen for hire. 28 SLAVERY IN ATHENS. The servile war which took place among the Saniians had a more fortunate issue, though but few particulars respecting it have come down to us. It was related, however, by Malacos in his annals of the Siphnians, that Ephesos was first founded by a number of Samian slaves, who, having retired to a mountain on the island to the number of a thousand, inflicted numerous evils on their former tyrants. These, in the sixth year of the war, having consulted the oracle, came to an understanding with their slaves, who were permitted to depart in safety from the island. They sailed away, and became the founders of the city and people of Ephesos. In Attica the institution of slavery, though attended by innumerable evils is said to have exhibited itself under the mildest form which it any where as- sumed in the ancient world. With their characteristic attention to the inter- ests of humanity, the Athenians enacted a law, in virtue of which, slaves could indict their masters for assault and battery. Hyperides observed in his oration against Mautitheos, " our laws, making no distinction in this respect between freemen and slaves, grant to all alike the privilege of bringing an action against those who insult or injure them." To the same effect spoke Lycurgus in his first oratiou against Lycophron. Plato was less just to them than the laws of their country. If, in his imaginary state, a slave killed a slave in self-defense, he was judged innocent ; if a freeman, he was put to death like a parricide. But Demosthenes has preserved the law which empowered any Athenian, not laboring under legal disability, to denounce to the Thesmothetas the person who offered violence to man, woman or child, whether slave or free. Such ac- tions were tried before the court of Heliiea, and numerous were the examples of men who suffered death for crimes committed against slaves. Another priv- ilege enjoyed by the slave class in Attica was that of purchasing their own freedom, as often as, by the careful management of the peculium secured them by law, they were enabled to offer their owners an equivalent for their services. At Athens, with some exceptions, every temple in the city appears to have been open to them. Occasionally, certain of their number were selected to accompany their masters to consult the oracle at Delphi, when they were per- mitted, like free citizens, to wear crowns upon then- heads, which, for the time, conferred upon them exemption from blows or stripes. Among their more se- rious grievances was their liability to personal chastisement ; which was too much left to the discretion of their owners. In time of war, however, this privilege was not practised, since the flogged slaves could go over to the ene- my, as sometimes happened. They are said, besides, to have worked the mines in fetters ; probably, however, only in consequence of a revolt, in which they slew the overseers of the mines, and taking possession of the acropolis of Su- niura, laid waste, for a time, the whole of the adjacent districts. This took place simultaneously with the second insurrection of the slaves in Sicily, in the quelling of which nearly a million of their number were destroyed. We find from contemporary writers, that except in cases of incorrigible perverseness, slaves were encouraged to marry ; it being supposed they would SLAVERY IN ATHENS. 29 thus become more attached to their masters, who, in return, would put more trust in slaves born and brought up in the house, than in such as were pur- chased. We have seen that slaves were protected by the laws from grievous insults and contumely ; but if, in spite of legal protection, their masters found means to render their lives a burden, the state provided them with an asylum in the temple of Theseus and the Eumenides. Having there taken sanctuary, their oppressors could not force them thence without incurring the guilt of sacrilege. Thus in a fragment of Aristophanes' Seasons, we find a slave deliberating whether he should take refuge in the Theseion, and there remain until he could procure his transfer to a new master ; for any one who conducted himself too harshly towards his slaves, was by law compelled to sell them. Not only so, but the slave could institute an action against his lord and master, or against any other citizen who behaved unjustly or injuriously towards him. The right of sanctuary was, however, limited, and extended from the time of the slave's flight to the next new moon, when a periodical slave auction appears to have been held. On this occasion the slaves were stationed in a circle in the market place, and the one whose turn it was to be sold, mounted a table, where he exhibited himself and was knocked down to the best bidder. The sales seem to have been conducted precisely like those of the present day in Richmond, Charles- ton, New Orleans and other cities of the south. The Greek auctioneer, or slave-broker, however, was answerable at law if the quality of the persons sold did not correspond with the description given of them in the catalogue. It appears that, sometimes, when the articles were lively, or witty, they made great sport for the company, as in the case of Diogenes, who bawled aloud — " whoever among you wants a master, let him buy me." Diogenes, of Sinope, flourished about the fourth century before Christ, and was the most famous of the Cynic philosophers. Having been banished from his native place with his father, who had been accused of coining false money, he went to Athens, and requested Antisthenes to admit him among his disci- ples. That philosopher in vain attempted to repel the importunate supplicant, even by blows, and finally granted his request. Diogenes devoted himself, with the greatest diligence, to the lessons of his master, whose doctrines he extended still further. He not only, like Antisthenes, despised all philosophi- cal speculations, and opposed the corrupt morals of his time, but also carried the application of his doctrines, in his own person, to the extreme. The stern austerity of Antisthenes was repulsive ; but Diogenes exposed the follies of his contemporaries with wit and humor, and was, therefore, better adapted to be the censor and instructer of the people, though he really accomplished little in the way of reforming them. At the same time, he applied, in its fullest extent, his principle of divesting himself of all superfluities. He taught that a wise man, in order to be happy, must endeavor to preserve himself independent of fortune, of men, and of himself: in order to do this, he must despise riches, 30 SLAVERY IN ATHENS. power, honor, arts and sciences, and all the enjoyments of life. He endeavor ed to exhibit, in his own person, a model of Cynic virtue. For this purpose he subjected himself to the severest trials, and disregarded all the forms of polite society. He often struggled to overcome his appetite, or satisfied it with the coarsest food ; practised the most rigid temperance, even at feasts, in the midst of the greatest abundance, and did not even consider it beneath his dignity to ask alms. By day, he walked through the streets of Athens bare- foot, without any coat, with a long beard, a stick in his hand, and a wallet on his shoulders ; by night, he slept in a tub, though this has been doubted. He defied the inclemency of the weather, and bore the scoffs and insults of the people with the greatest equanimity. Seeing a boy draw water with his hand, he threw away his wooden goblet as an unnecessary utensil. He never spared the follies of men, but openly and loudly inveighed against vice and corruption, attacking them with satire and irony. The people, and even the higher classes, heard him with pleasure, and tried their wit upon him. When he made them feel his superiority, they often had recourse to abuse, by which, however, he was little moved. He rebuked them for expressions and actions which violated decency and modesty, and therefore it is not credible that he was guilty of the excesses with which his enemies have reproached him. His rudeness offended the laws of good breeding rather than the principles of morality. Many anecdotes, however, related of this singular person, are mere fictions. On a voyage to iEgina, he fell into the hands of pirates, who sold him as a slave to the Corinthian Xeniades in Crete. The latter emancipated him, and intrusted him with the education of his children. He attended to the duties of his new employment with the greatest care, commonly living in summer at Corinth, and in winter at Athens. It was at the former place that Alexander found him on the road-side, basking in the sun, and, astonished at the indifference with which the ragged beggar regarded him, entered into conversation with him, and finally gave him permission to ask for a boon. " I ask nothing." answered the philosopher, "but that thou wonldst get out of my sunshine." Surprised at this proof of content, the king is said to have exclaimed, " Were I not Alexander, I would be Diogenes." At another time, he was carrying a lantern through the streets of Athens, in the daytime : on being asked what he was looking for, he answered, " I am seeking a man." Thinking he had found, in the Spartans, the greatest capacity for becoming such men as he wished, he said, " Men I have found nowhere ; but children, at least, I have seen at Lace- dsemon." Being asked, " What is the most dangerous animal?" his answei was, " Among wild animals, the slanderer; among tame, the flatterer." He died 324 B. C, at a great age. When he felt death approaching, he seated himself on the road leading to Olympia, where he died with philosophical calmness, in the presence of a great number of people, who were collected around him. Slaves of little or no value, were contemptuously called " salt bought," from a custom prevalent among the inland Tnracians, of bartering their captives foi SLAVERY IN ATHENS* 31 gait ; whence it may be inferred that domestics from tnax part of the world were considered inferior. Respecting the price of slaves, a passage occurs in the Memorabilia, where Socrates inquires whether friends were to be valued at so much per head, like slaves ; some of whom, he says, were not worth a demimina, while others would fetch two, five, or even ten minae ; that is, the price varied from ten to two hundred dollars. Nicias bought an overseer for his silver mines at the price of a talent, or about twelve hundred dollars. Exclusively of the fluctuations caused by the variations in the supply and demand, the market price of slaves was affected by their age, health, strength, beauty, natural abilities, mechanical ingenuity, and moral qualities. The mean- est and cheapest class were those who worked in the mills, where mere bodily strength was required. A low value was set upon slaves who worked in the mines — a sum equal to about eight dollars. In the age of Demosthenes, ordi- nary house slaves, male or female, were valued at about the same price. De- mosthenes considered two minae and a half, fifty dollars, a large sum for a person of this class. Of the sword cutlers possessed by the orator's father, some were valued at six nrina:, others at five, while the lowest were worth above three. Chairmakers sold for about two ininte, forty dollars. The wages of slaves, when let out for hire by their masters, varied greatly, as did the profit derived from them. Expert manufacturers of fine goods produced their own- ers much larger returns than miners. Slaves at Athens were divided into two classes, private and public. The latter, who were the property of the state, performed several kinds of < supposed to be unworthy of freemen. They were, for example, employed as vergers, messengers, scribes, clerks of public works, and inferior servants of the gods. Most of the temples of Greece possessed a great number of ' or serfs, who cultivated the sacred domains, exercised various humbler offi religion, and were ready on all occasions to execute the orders of the pries:.-. At Corinth, where the worship of Aphrodite chiefly prevailed, these slaves con- sisted almost exclusively of women, who, having on certain occasions burn: frankincense, and offered up public prayers to the goddess, were sumptuously feasted within the precincts of her fane.* Among the Athenians, the slaves of the republic, generally captives taken hi war, received a careful education, and were sometimes intrusted with im- portant duties. Out of their number were selected the secretaries, who, in timo of war, accompanied the generals and treasurers of the army, and made exait minutes of the expenditure, in order that, when, on their return, these officers should come to render an account of their proceedings, their books mio-ht be compared with those of the secretaries. In cases of difficulty, these unfortu- * Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love among the Greeks, synonymous with Aphroneneii that is. born of the foam of the sea. Aphrodisia was a festival sacred to Venus was celebrated in various parts of Greece, but with the ereatest solemnity in the island of Cyprus. hi SLAVERY IN ATHENS. nate individuals were subjected to torture, in order to obtain that kind of evi- dence which the ancients deemed most satisfactory, but which the moderns regard with extreme uncertainty. -