turn they got hold of a little money, and purchased a few negroes.
These _mock_ lords are the most cruel masters, and the most pompous
gentlemen in all the sunny South. Such men are universally dreaded by
the African race in the South. I wish here to impress the reader's
mind with the fact, that a native semi-savage African, must
necessarily be a cruel master. We need but reflect on their ignorance,
barbarism and brutality, to satisfy ourselves of the truth of the
remark. I have alluded to the fact in Chapter 8, that one portion of
the African race have been slaves to another, ever since the earliest
dawn of history; and it is said that by far the larger portion are
slaves. It is then certain, that most of the native Africans who were
originally enslaved in the United States, would have been slaves in
their own country, if they had not been transported to this country.
Wretched as the condition of slaves may be in this country, what is
American, to African slavery? Slavery in the United States was but an
exchange of African, for American slavery. The condition of the slaves
of the South is better than the native African, formerly, or now; yes,
it is better than that of African masters, and it must be infinitely
better than the condition of African slaves. As a general rule, the
native Africans who were originally subjected to slavery in this
country; were not, as is generally supposed, deprived of their
liberties; for they were for the most part captives, or slaves, when
they were sold to the slave dealers. The reader will please recollect,
that I am not justifying the slave trade. I am simply stating facts;
and I deem it essential that these facts should be understood. Those
who wish to know what my views are on the subject of slavery, will be
under the necessity of reading this volume through.

[1] The reader will see Chapter 8; where the subject of slavery
in Africa is treated at length.