The slave is too poor to be able to offer a temptation sufficiently strong to induce a white man to violate it; and it is not to be supposed that in a community where the moral and religious sentiment is in favor of slavery, many martyrs will be found sacrificing their liberty and lives by violating those prohibitory enactments.
As a general rule, then, darkness reigns over the abodes of the enslaved, and "how great is that darkness!" We are sometimes told of the contentment of the slaves, and are entertained with vivid pictures of their happiness.

We are told that they often dance and sing; that their masters frequently give them wherewith to make merry; in fine, that they have little of which to complain.

I admit that the slave does sometimes sing, dance, and appear to be merry.

But what does this prove?
It only proves to my mind, that though slavery is armed with a thousand stings, it is not able entirely to kill the elastic spirit of the bondman.

That spirit will rise and walk abroad, despite of whips and chains, and extract from the cup of nature occasional drops of joy and gladness.