“’In preparation for this, I say, God may keep these Africans here much longer.  He may need more territory on which to educate still larger numbers; and we may see Him extending slavery still further in our land and on our continent.  So that there may be one other way in which the purposes of God will manifest themselves with regard to the colored race here, and that is by EXTENSION.

“’It may be that still greater portions of this land and continent are to be used, for ages to come, in the multiplication of the black race.  I feel entirely calm with regard to the subject, believing that God has a plan in all this, and that it is wise and benevolent toward all who fear Him.  While our relation to this people remains, the law of love, the golden rule, must preside over it.  That does not require us to place the blacks on a level with us in our parlors, nor in our halls of legislation; and there may be disabilities properly attaching to them which, though they seem hard, are the inevitable consequence of a dependent, inferior condition.  All this, however, has a benign effect upon us, if we will but act in a Christian manner, to make us gentle, kind, generous; and when this is the case, no state of society is happier than ours.  Let Jacobinical principles, such as some of our Northern brethren inculcate, prevail here, and they at once destroy this benevolent relation.  This relation will improve under the influence of the Gospel; it has wonderfully improved since Jefferson’s day; and though the time may be long deferred, we shall no doubt see this colored race fulfilling some great purpose in the earth.  I trust that our Northern friends will not precipitate things and destroy both whites and blacks; for a servile war would be one of extermination.  Many of the Northern people I fear would acquiesce in it, provided especially, that we should be the exterminated party.  This is clear, if words and actions are to be fairly interpreted.’

“‘The colored people here, as a race,’ said a planter, ’are under obligations to us as partakers in our civilization.  No matter, for the present, how their ancestors came here;—­that does not at all affect their present obligations to us for benefits received.  Now it is not a matter of course that, having been thus benefited by us, they are at liberty to go away when they please.  This we assert respecting them as a whole.  Are not the blacks, as a race, so indebted to us that we ought to be consulted as to the time and manner of their departure?  We say that they are.  They do not morally possess the right, we think, to sever the relation when they please.’

“Said an elderly, venerable man, ’A white woman in the cars, in Pennsylvania, begged me to hold her infant child for her, while she fetched something for it.  She ran off, leaving the child to me.  My wife and I took the child home, and have been at pains and expense with it.  I question the child’s right to say, whenever it pleases, Sir, I propose to leave you.  I have invested a good deal in him, have increased his value by his being with me, and he has no right to run off with it.’