Through this county, you cannot pass a few miles in the great roads without having every feeling of humanity insulted and lacerated by this spectacle, nor can you go into any county or any neighborhood, scarcely, without seeing or hearing of some of these despicable creatures, called negro-drivers.
"Who is a negro-driver?
One whose eyes dwell with delight on lacerated bodies of helpless men, women and children; whose soul feels diabolical raptures at the chains, and handcuffs, and cart-whips, for inflicting tortures on weeping mothers torn from helpless babes, and on husbands and wives torn asunder forever!" Dark and revolting as is the picture here drawn, it is from the pen of one living in the midst of slavery.

But though these men may cant about negro-drivers, and tell what despicable creatures they are, who is it, I ask, that supplies them with the human beings that they are tearing asunder?
I answer, as far as I have any knowledge of the State where I came from, that those who raise slaves for the market are to be found among all classes, from Thomas H.Benton down to the lowest political demagogue, who may be able to purchase a woman for the purpose of raising stock, and from the Doctor of Divinity down to the most humble lay member in the church.
It was not uncommon in St.Louis to pass by an auction-stand, and behold a woman upon the auction-block, and hear the seller crying out, "_How much is offered for this woman?
She is a good cook, good washer, a good obedient servant.

She has got religion!_" Why should this man tell the purchasers that she has religion?
I answer, because in Missouri, and as far as I have any knowledge of slavery in the other States, the religious teaching consists in teaching the slave that he must never strike a white man; that God made him for a slave; and that, when whipped, he must not find fault,--for the Bible says, "He that knoweth his master's will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes!" And slaveholders find such religion very profitable to them.
After leaving the steamer Otto, I resided at home, in Mr.Willi's family, and again began to lay my plans for making my escape from slavery.

The anxiety to be a freeman would not let me rest day or night.
I would think of the northern cities that I had heard so much about;--of Canada, where so many of my acquaintances had found refuge.

I would dream at night that I was in Canada, a freeman, and on waking in the morning, weep to find myself so sadly mistaken.
"I would think of Victoria's domain, And in a moment I seemed to be there! But the fear of being taken again, Soon hurried me back to despair." Mr.Willi treated me better than Dr.Young ever had; but instead of making me contented and happy, it only rendered me the more miserable, for it enabled me better to appreciate liberty.