for sale. A sense of the misery and suffering of the unfortunate
slaves, who have been from time to time confined there--of their
separation from home and kindred--and of the dreary prospect
before them of a life of unrequited toil in the South and South
West--rested heavily upon me. I could there realize the true
nature of the system of slavery. I was in a market-house for
human flesh, where humanity is degraded to a level with the
brute; and where children of our common Father in Heaven, and
for whom our blessed Redeemer offered up the atoning sacrifice
of his blood, were bargained for and sold like beasts that
perish. And when I regarded thee as the merchant in this
dreadful traffic, and heard thee offer remarks, which might in
some degree be considered as an apology for thy business,
calling our attention to the cleanly state of the apartments,
the wholesome provisions, et cet.; and especially when I heard
thee declare that thou hadst been educated by a pious
mother--that thou wast never addicted to swearing or other
immoralities--and that thy business was a legalized one--that
thou didst nothing contrary to law--and that, while in thy
possession, the poor creatures were treated kindly--that
families were not separated,[A] et cet.,--I was glad to perceive
some evidence that the nature of thy employment had not
extinguished the voice of conscience within thee. In thy
sentiments, and in the manner of their utterance, I thought I
could see that truth had not left itself without a witness in
thy breast, and that a sense of the wrongfulness of thy
occupation still disturbed thee.

[Footnote A: "The latter remark, of course, applies only to the
time they remained with thee. For, on the day we visited thy