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of the powers of puniſhment, hooted through the world as diſhonourers of nature; ſhould find no companion but ſhame, no reſt but in death; and this completion of human puniſhment ſhould be as painful as ignominious.
The diſcipline of theſe degraded mortals ſhould be ſteady, not ſevere, nor ſhould they proceed from malice or reſentment; and the overſeers ſhould be particularly careful not to indulge themſelves in liquor; and ſhould likewiſe reflect, that as the poor negro depends entirely upon their mercy, that in this caſe forgiveneſs becomes a victory. They ſhould not be chaſtiſed in ſuch a manner as to lay them up, for the end of puniſhment is defeated by a loſs of labour; and a long remiſſion from employment may beget indolence, that indolence may ſofter other crimes, and thoſe occaſion ſeverities which too often tranſcend the bounds of juſtice and humanity. When a negro becomes familiarized to the whip, he no longer holds it in terror[1]: for I have generally obſerved, that
- ↑ This obſervation may be applied to all colours and periods, and all conditions of life.
