UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

"
Just
242
KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN.
dress for thoseinflictedby any other person,
unless the injuryimpair his property value.
and equal !
Under thishead it is distinctly
as follows :
"
There can be no offence againsthe
of a
circumstances
or an intent to kill and murder.
The peace of the state isnot thereby broken."
peace of the state,by the mere beating
slave,unaccompanied by any
of cruelty,
(State Maner, v. 2 Hill'sRep.S. Just 0.)"
and equal !
If a slave strikea white,he is to be condemned
to death; but if a master killhis slave
takes it out
asserted
bytorture, no white witnesses beingpresent,
he may
clear himself by his own oath. If any
man or woman runs
away from
"
(Louisiana.) Just and equal !
this state of things,
The law decrees fine and imprisonment to
of
the person who shallreleasethe servant of the peace may delare them outlawed,and
another from the torture of the iron collar.
(Louisiana. and equal !
"
) Just
It decrees a much smaller fine,without
imprisonment, to the man who shall torture
him with red-hot irons,cut out his tongue,
"
"
put out his eyes, and scald or maim him.
(Ibid.) Just and equal !
defended by Christian ministersas an eminently
It decrees the same punishmento him benign institution.
"whoteaches him to write as to him who puts In this manner Christianlegislators have
out his eyes. Just and equal!
expressed their understanding of the text,
As it might be expected that onlyvery "Masters,give unto your servants that
ignorant and brutal people could be kept in which is just and equal."and of the text.
a condition like this,especially in a country
ye would that men
"
All things whatsoever
where every book and every newspaper
are
full of dissertationson
theytherefore enact
the rights of man,
laws that neither he nor
his children, to
to read and write." Just and equal !
receiving on the bare back twenty-five stripes
with a whip șwitch or cowskin." (Law of
Georgia, Prince's 447.)"
Digest,p. Just
and equal!
And yet. Christian republicans, who,with
Thoughthe servant is thus kept in ignorance,
full power to repeal this law,are dailysustaining
neverthelessin his ignorance he is it țalk about there beingno harm
punishedmore severely for the same crimes in slavery, if theyregulateit according to
than "
freemen. Just and equal!
the apostle's directions,and give unto their
of protecting him from over-work, servants that which is just and equal. Do
By way
theyenact that he shallnot labor more than
fivehours longerthan convictsat hard labor
in a
penitentiary !
of rules as
They also enact that the,master or overseer,
If any master,compassionating thiscondition
of the slave,desires to better it țhe law
of his power, by the following
decisions:
1. That allhis earningsshallbelongto
his master, notwithstanding his
promise to
master's
the contrary; thus making them
liable for his master's debts." Just and
equal !
2. That if his master allow him to keep
cattlefor his own use, itshall be lawful for
any man to take them away, and enjoyhalf
the profits
of the seizure." Just and equal !
3. If his master sets him free,he shall
be taken up
and sold "
again. Just
not the slave șhall decide when he is proper exposition of what he meant
too sick to Just and work." equal !
and equal7
and equal !
and,after proclamation
made,does not return,any two justices
givepermission to any person in the community
to killthem by any ways
or means
and equal !
"
theythink fit. Just
Such are the laws of that system of slavery
which has been made up by Christianmasters
late in the Christian era, and is now
should do to yon io ye
even so to them."
It certain]v presentsthe most extraordinary
view= 0f justice and equity, and is the
all generations, shall learn most remarkable exposition of the principle
of doingto others as we would others should
And as, if allowed to meet for religious do to us, that it has ever been the good
worship,theymightconcert some planof fortune of the civilizedworld to observe.
escape or redress,they enact that " no congregationThis
being the institution, let any
one conjecture
of negroes, under pretenceof divine
what itsabuses must be ; for we are
worship, shall assemble themselves ; and that gravelytold,by learned clergymen, that they
every slave found at such meeting shall do not feelcalled upon to interferewith the
be immediately corrected, without trial,by system, but onlywith itsabuses. We should
like to know what abuse could be specified
that isnot provided for and expressly protected
by slave-law.
theythink that,ifthe Christianizedmasters
of Rome and Corinth had made such a set
this for the government of their
slaves, Paul would have acceptedit as a
by just