Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/96

76 No man, whatever his complexion or condition may be, can love Slavery; if he says he does, he gives the strongest possible evidence of his extreme imbecility, and ignorance of human nature. The love of liberty is an innate principle of man's moral and physical nature, altogether beyond his controulcontrol [sic]. Anything that opposes the aspirations of the human mind, and the development of man's moral nature, he hates and opposes from the depth of his soul; Slavery does this, therefore he hates it. Some Slaves are satisfied in their condition, and would not accept their freedom. Such I have seen and known,—but it is the exception, not the rule. The cause of their contentment is found in the humanity of their claimants, to whom they are attached by their repeated kindnesses to them. Thus it is the owners they are attached to, and not the diabolical system, as following will evidently demonstrate. The notorious and far-famed Henry Clay, (the firm advocate of human chattelhood), took with him into the North, and into Canada, his domestic servant, Bill; he defied the Abolitionists to take him away from him. He offered to give his servant his emancipating papers the moment he consented to leave him, and remain in the North, or in Canada. Bill would not accept the overtures of the Abolitionists; he sternly resisted them all, and declared he had rather be with his master than be free, so he went