Southern institutes; or, An inquiry into the origin and early prevalence of slavery and the slave-trade: with an analysis of the laws, history, and government of the institution in the principal nations, ancient and modern, from the earliest ages down to the present time. With notes and comments in defence of the southern institutions

Front matter

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Preface

In presenting a treatise of this character to the public, it may not be improper to state the motives which have actuated the author, and the causes that have led to its production.

No one inured to the institutions, habits, manners, and customs of the South, can mingle to any considerable extent in social circles in portions of the free States, without coming in collision with sentiments and feelings that find no sympathy in his own heart — no welcome response in his own bosom. Repeated altercations of this character, within the last few years, have convinced him of the gross ignorance and misconception of the true spirit of our institutions, and of the facts of their details, that pervade public opinion generally in those sections of the Union. Born, and reared to the verge of manhood, in a New England State ; educated at one of her oldest colleges ; and having been for the last fifteen years a resident of Louisiana, and almost an annual sojourner for a season in some portion of the free States — the author has enjoyed the opportunity of

becoming acquainted with the sources of information

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PREFACE.

accessible to the public, and with the misrepresentations and frauds practised to perpetuate these errors on the public mind.

The only hope or expectation of reward that he promises himself, is that of being able, to some extent, to expose the imposition and frauds of designing men and women, to elicit inquiry after the truth, and thus to assist in forming a sound and correct public opinion. Had it been his design to hire out his pen, after the common custom of those petty scribblers, who flatter popular error and pander to popular prejudice, for a trifling reward of pelf and fame, the author would have selected some subject more congenial to the vitiated taste of the age. It is the duty of every friend of the Union, as well as of every true lover of his country, to cast his mite of oil upon the troubled waters, however feeble be the effort and apparently powerless the effect — perchance he may do something to allay the angry billows of faction, to still the tempest of party conflict, and to assuage the acrimony of sectional animosities. We respectfully submit to the Southern people, if there is not too much apathy and indifference in literary and professional circles, in regard to the insidious influences of the combined system of our enemies to undermine our institutions and upheave our social fabric.

There is a large and respectable portion of the good citizens of the free States who are pledged to their country, and to one another, to put down all this disorganizing work of fanaticism, to protect our institu-

PREFACE.

tions from all lawless interference, and to stand firmly by the constitutional rights of the South ; and it is the duty of the Southern people to come to their aid, and to furnish them with all the information and all the legitimate means of defence in their power. Such is the principal object of this treatise. It has been carefully written, with the purpose of avoiding all sectarian views in morals, politics, and religion, and of preserving, as far as the author is capable, a high tone of moral and religious sentiment. In answering objections, and exposing error in its various forms, many facts have been cited, and much matter included in this inquiry, which might not be pertinent to an impartial history. So also many expressions have been used, arguendo, and numerous remarks made, ex talione, that might well be omitted in a purely literary treatise. For this we offer no apology but the just provocation given us by our opponents.

These essays were all prepared for the press as early as July, 1855 (as is well known in the book market) ; but it was thought advisable, by many of the friends of the South, to suspend their publication at that time, in the hope that the agitation of the entire subject might cease. Accordingly they have been withheld till the present time, vainly awaiting the long expected event. But, unfortunately, we have waited only to see the breach widen and the combat thicken. It is now conceded by all acquainted with the contents of this work, that the present crisis imperiously demands something of the kind. Consequently the author has endeavored to 1*

PREFACE.

modernize sueh portions of it as relate to the present time, by the insertion of some additional matter, as well as by appending notes and remarks upon passing events. Meanwhile, some of the grounds seem to have been partially occupied by others ; but still no disposition is felt to change the main features of the book.

During the limited period that has been devoted to this work, burdened as he was with the duties of his profession, it has been impossible for the author to devote such care and attention to style, in all its parts, as might perhaps have rendered it more palatable to the general reader ; but it being designed more as a practical delineator of facts and principles, than as a display of beautiful composition, greater attention has been devoted to the collection of the materials than to any polish in the style of their presentation and arrangement.

CoxcoRDiA, La., October 1, 1857.

AN ANALYTICAL