12. Negro Servants and Slaves
BY PETER KALM (1748)[21]
THE negroes or blacks are in a manner slaves; for when a negro is
once bought, he is the purchaser's servant as long as he lives, unless he
is given to another or made free. However, it is not in the power of the
master to kill his negro for a fault, but he must leave it to the
magistrates to proceed according to the laws. Formerly the negroes
were brought over from Africa, and bought by almost every one who
could afford it. The Quakers alone scrupled to have slaves; but they are
no longer so nice, and they have as many negroes as other people.
However, many people cannot conquer the idea that it is contrary to the
laws of Christianity to keep slaves.
There are likewise several free negroes in town, who have
been lucky enough to get a very zealous Quaker for their master, who
gave them their liberty
after they had faithfully served him for some time. At present they
seldom bring over any negroes to the English colonies, for those who
were formerly brought thither have multiplied considerably.
A man who kills his negro must suffer death for it: there is not
however an example here of a white man's having been executed on
this account. A few years ago it happened that a master killed his slave;
his friends and even the magistrates secretly advised him to leave the
country, as otherwise they could not avoid taking him prisoner. He
would then be condemned to die according to the laws of the country,
without any hopes of saving him.
This lenity was employed towards him, that the negroes might
not have the satisfaction of seeing a master executed for killing his
slave; for this would lead them to all sorts of dangerous designs against
their masters, and to value themselves too much.
The negroes were formerly brought from Africa, as I
mentioned before; but now this seldom happens, for they are bought in
the West Indies, or American Islands, where they were originally
brought from their own country. It has been found that on transporting
the negroes from Africa immediately into these northern countries, they
have not such a good state of health as when they gradually change
places, and are first carried from Africa to the West Indies, and from
there to North America.
The price of negroes differs according to their age, health, and
abilities. A full-grown negro costs from forty
pounds[22] and upwards to a hundred of
Pennsylvania currency. A negro boy, or girl, of two or three years old,
can hardly be got for less than eight or fourteen
pounds[23] in Pennsylvania currency.
Not only the Quakers, but likewise several Christians of other
denominations, sometimes set their negroes at liberty, in the following
manner: when a gentleman has a faithful negro who has done him great
services, he sometimes declares him free at his death. This is however
very expensive; for they are obliged to make a provision for the negro
thus set at liberty, to afford him subsistence when he is grown old, that
he may not be driven by necessity to wicked actions, or be at any
body's charge; for these free negroes become very lazy and indolent
afterwards.
The children of the free negro during his servitude are all
slaves, though their father be free. On the other hand those negro
children are free whose parents are at liberty. The negroes in the North
American colonies are treated more mildly, and fed better than those in
the West Indies. They have as good food as the rest of the servants.
They possess equal advantages in all things, except their being obliged
to serve their whole lifetime, and get no other wages than what their
master's goodness allows them: they are likewise clad at their master's
expense.
On the contrary, in the West Indies, and especially in the
Spanish Islands, they are treated very cruelly; therefore no threats make
more impression upon a negro here than that of sending him over to the
West Indies, in case he would not reform. It has likewise been
frequently found by experience, that when you show too much
remissness to these negroes, they grow so obstinate, that they will no
longer do any thing but of their own accord. A strict discipline is very
necessary, if their masters expect to be satisfied with their
services.
[[21]]
This piece is perhaps not so interesting to read as
some of the other extracts; but you ought to know that our forefathers
kept slaves, and often treated them very cruelly. Of course slavery is
contrary to Christianity and to popular government.
