The marriage institution cannot exist among slaves, and one-sixth of the population of democratic America is denied its privileges by the law of the land.

What is to be thought of a nation boasting of its liberty, boasting of its humanity, boasting of its Christianity, boasting of its love of justice and purity, and yet having within its own borders three millions of persons denied by law the right of marriage ?--what must be the condition of that people?
I need not lift up the veil by giving you any experience of my own.

Every one that can put two ideas together, must see the most fearful results from such a state of things as I have just mentioned.

If any of these three millions find for themselves companions, and prove themselves honest, upright, virtuous persons to each other, yet in these{319} cases--few as I am bound to confess they are--the virtuous live in constant apprehension of being torn asunder by the merciless men-stealers that claim them as their property.

This is American slavery; no marriage--no education--the light of the gospel shut out from the dark mind of the bondman--and he forbidden by law to learn to read.