"There is, however, a circumstance attending the [Southern] colonies, which, in my opinion, fully counterbalances this difference, and makes the spirit of liberty still more high and haughty than in those to the Northward. It is that in Virginia and the Carolinas, they have a vast multitude of slaves. Where this is the case, in any part of the world, those who are free, are by far the most proud and jealous of their freedom. Freedom is to them not only an enjoyment, but a kind of rank and privilege. Not seeing there that freedom, as in countries where it is a common blessing, and as broad and general as the air, may be united with much abject toil, with great misery with all the exterior of servitude, liberty looks, among them, like something that is more noble and liberal. I do not mean, sir, to commend the peculiar morality of this sentiment, which has at least as much pride as virtue in it; but I can not alter the nature of man. The fact is so; and these people of the Southern colonies are much more strongly, and with a higher and more stubborn spirit, attached to liberty, than those to the Northward. Such were all the ancient commonwealths; such were our Gothic ancestors; such in our days were the Poles; and such will be all masters of slaves, who are not slaves themselves. In such a people the haughtiness of domination combines with the spirit of freedom, fortifies it, and renders it invincible." FOOTNOTES: [106] See American Archives, vol i. folio 1749. [107] His estimates are in pounds sterling. It is here, for sake of uniformity, reduced to dollars, the pound being estimated at five dollars. [108] Investigations before the Committee on the Petition of the West India Planters. See American Archives, vol i. folio 1736. [109] American Archives, vol. i. folio 1519. [110] American Archives, vol. i. folio 1531. [111] Testimony of Geo. Walker, Esq, American Archives, vol. i. folios 1723-24. [112] Testimony of Geo. Walker, Esq, American Archives, vol. i. folios 1728-29, [113] Testimony of Geo. Walker, Esq, American Archives, vol. i. folio 1730. [114] American Archives, vol i. folio 1737. [115] American Archives, vol. i. folio 494. [116] American Archives, vol. i. folio 523. [117] American Archives, vol. i. folio 525. [118] American Archives, vol. i. folio 530. [119] American Archives, vol. i. folio 541. [120] American Archives, vol. i. folio 593. [121] American Archives, vol. i. folio 600. [122] American Archives, vol. i. folio 616. [123] American Archives, vol. i. folio 641. [124] American Archives, vol. i. folio 687. [125] American Archives, vol. i. folio 735. [126] American Archives, vol. i. folio 914. [127] American Archives, vol i. folio 573. [128] American Archives, 4th series, vol. iii. folio 11. [129] American Archives, 5th series, vol. i. folio 1178. [130] American Archives, 5th series, vol. i. folio 192. [131] American Archives, 4th series, vol. iii. folio 1385. FREE COLORED POPULATION.