Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/336

308 them we must answer before Him who is no respecter of persons. They who know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, and are thus acquainted with the merciful, benevolent, gospel spirit, will therein perceive that the indignation of God is kindled against oppression and cruelty, and in beholding the great distress of so numerous a people will find cause for mourning.



ERSONS in a state of servitude are under four distinct denominations : negroes, who are the entire property of their respective owners : convicts, who are transported from the mother country for a limited term : indented servants, who are engaged for five years previous to their leaving England ; and free-willers, who are supposed, from their situation, to possess superior advantages. . ..

Persons convicted of felony, and in consequence transported to this continent, if they are able to pay the expence of passage, are free to pursue their fortune agreeably to their inclinations or abilities. Few, however, have means to avail themselves of this advantage. These unhappy beings are, generally, consigned to an agent, who classes them suitably to their real or supposed qualifications ; advertises them for sale, and disposes of them, for seven years, to planters, to mechanics, and to such as choose to retain them for domestic service. Those who survive the term of servitude, seldom establish their residence in this country : the stamp of infamy is too strong upon them to be easily erased : they either return to Europe, and renew their former practices ; or, if they have fortunately imbibed habits of honesty and industry, they remove to a distant situation, where they may hope to remain unknown, and be enabled to pursue with credit every possible method of becoming useful members of society. . ..

The generality of the inhabitants in this province are very little