Under such a law a white man may with perfect impunity defraud or abuse a negro to any extent, provided that he is careful to avoid the presence of any of his own caste at the execution of his contract, or the commission of his crime!

To these “black laws” Governor Bebb has avowed an uncompromising hostility; but the first session of the State Legislature after his election had just closed, and the black laws were still in force.  Mr. Bebb was not sufficiently supported in his just and humane intentions to enable him to carry those intentions out.  I was assured, however, by those who knew him well, that he was only “biding his time,” being as determined as ever to wipe away from the statute-book every remnant of these foul enactments.  If he succeed, the poor old Welsh-woman, in her obscurity and widowhood, will have rendered an important service to the cause of humanity and justice.  Let mothers think of this, and be encouraged!

The day after our arrival in Cincinnati, being the 22nd of February, we obtained, by the aid of Dr. Weed (one of Mr. Boynton’s deacons), a suitable private lodging.  Dr. Weed in early life studied for the medical profession, and graduated in physic.  Afterwards he spent some years as a missionary among the Indians.  Now he is a bookseller, publisher, and stationer in Cincinnati, affording an illustration of that versatility for which the Americans are distinguished.  “Men are to be met with,” says M. de Tocqueville, (and the present writer has himself seen many instances,) “who have successively been barristers, farmers, merchants, ministers of the Gospel, and physicians.  If the American be less perfect in each craft than the European, at least there is scarcely any trade with which he is utterly unacquainted.”  I have heard of a man in New York, who, having tried the ministry and completely failed, wisely judged that that was not the way in which he could best serve God, and turned to commerce.  He is now a substantial merchant, and supports five other men to preach the Gospel; each of whom, he is wont to say, does it much better than he could ever have done.

The lodging which Dr. Weed kindly found us was at the house of the Misses M’Pherson, five Quaker sisters, living together.  It was clean and respectable,—­the cheapest and most comfortable lodging we had hitherto met with.  The table was bountifully supplied with excellent and well-cooked provisions; for which the charge was only 4 dollars each per week, and half-a-dollar for fuel, making altogether only 9 dollars for us both.  Of the kindness and hospitality of these ladies we shall always retain a grateful remembrance.

In the afternoon I had the honour of being introduced to Dr. Beecher, Dr. Stowe, Professor Allen, and several other Presbyterian ministers of the New School.  They were assembled for fraternal intercourse in the vestry of one of the “churches.”  I was struck with the sallowness of their complexions, and the want of polish in their manners.  Dr. Beecher invited me to go up some day to see Lane Seminary, about two miles off.  To this invitation I readily acceded.  I was greatly interested in this veteran, of whose fame I had so often heard.