How did it happen that the Hebrew servant, who chose to stay with his master rather than leave his wife and children, was not made nominally free, and apprenticed or hired?
Why was his ear bored, and perpetual relations secured between him and his master ?" "For the master's security, I presume," said Mr.North.
"I should say," said I, "for the mutual benefit of both.

The master then became responsible for him; his support was a lien on his estate, the children must always be responsible for his maintenance.

The awl made its record in the master's door-post, as well as in the servant's ear.
"Now, suppose," said I, "that God chooses to supply this nation with menial servants to the end of time.

Suppose that he has designed that one race, the African, shall be the source from which he will draw this supply, and that down through long generations he proposes to make this black race our servants, seeking at the same time, by means of this, their elevation, by connecting them with us, and keeping up the relation; and that for the permanence of the relation, and for the security of all concerned, there should be 'ownership,' such as he himself ordained when he prescribed the boring of the ear?
For my part, I cannot see in this 'the sum of all villanies,' 'an enormous wrong,' 'a stupendous injustice.' Yet this would be slavery.

I am not arguing for such a constitution of things.