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managers, who in the tyrant ſink the man, their ſituation is, in ſome reſpects, too lamentable to be deſcribed; for as they are determined not to be pleaſed, they will not give their negroes a good word, grant then any indulgence, or look upon them as human creatures endued with feeling, or ſubject to the laws of humanity; but they will on the contrary inflict heavy puniſhments for the ſlighteſt omiſſions, be conſtantly upon the watch to detect petty errors, and deſcend to ſuch inſtances of low and malignant revenge as would ſhock the greateſt ſavage that ever enjoyed the ſight of human blood. To wretches of this deſcription, whoſe cruelty riſes in proportion to the weakneſs of the object, no excuſe ſhould be made, no protection given; they ſhould be deprived
ment follow delinquency, it is only under the idea of eradicating a bad example for the ſubſtitution of one that is good: but when corporal ſeverity exceeds the crime, the end of puniſhment is thereby perverted, and that becomes criminal which before was juſt. It is the wanton abuſe of power in the Weſt Indies that alarms, and not the ſeverity of infliction, although in ſome particular and private cafes it may, and I doubt not has, been carried to exceſs: it is for this reaſon, that I think puniſhments in our colonies ſhould be publickly inflicted, and attended with ſome kind of ſolemnity.
