III. Intellectual and Moral Condition of the Slaves.
The benefits of education are withheld from the slave.
No provisions are made in any of the slave states for the education of the slaves, and in many they have absolutely prohibited instruction of any kind.
So long ago as 1740, South Carolina enacted, “That all, and every person and persons whatever, who shall hereafter teach, or cause any slave or slaves to be taught, to write, or shall use or employ any slave as a scribe in any manner of writing whatsoever hereafter taught, to write, every such person or persons, shall, for every such offence forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds current money.” This prohibition has since been extended to all kinds of knowledge, and enforced by pains and penalties much more severe. The same is true in Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana. Virginia and North Carolina, also, have laws which amount to a prohibition of instruction.
No provision is made for the moral and religious instruction of the slave. Public sentiment is generally unfavorable, although believed to be becoming more favorable to the spiritual interests of the slave. Many regard the slaves as incapable of religious exercises, and therefore consider all efforts to give them religious instruction unnecessary. Since they may not be taught to read, they cannot become acquainted with the Scriptures, except as auditors; their opportunities for hearing are so few and unfavorable, that they can never be expected to profit by them. In many of the slave states, they are forbidden to assemble by themselves for the purpose of religious worship. In Virginia, “All meetings of slaves, &c. at any meeting house in the night, under any pretext whatsoever, are declared to be unlawful assemblies. Mississippi has adopted the law of Virginia in this respect. In Alabama they are not permitted to assemble by themselves for worship at all, nor to have a white minister preach to them unless three slave holders are present. Similar laws exist in several other states.
CONDITION OF THE FREE BLACKS.
The following statements have respect to the present condition of the free blacks in the United States. They are all derived from authentic sources, and may be relied upon as substantially correct.
I. Population and Increase of the Free Blacks.
In the following tabular view, which is taken from the census of 1830, and that of 1820, the first column gives the name of the State; the second, the aggregate of the free colored population; and the third, the increase of the same, during the ten years which intervened between 1820 and 1830.