How sacred is the marriage of slaves! They cannot even go through the _form_, without the consent of their owners. And if the owner of two bodies consents to the performance of the ceremony "by a minister or some other lawful person," and God himself "is really present to witness the marriage," the law, notwithstanding, declares the so-called marriage to be as complete a nullity as the union of any other kind of live-stock! It declares that those whom God hath joined may be put asunder, whenever the owner pleases; as if, wishing to raise money to pay his debts, he finds it more convenient to sell the wife at auction to pledging his bank-stock; or if, wishing to remove, he thinks it will be better economy to take his stock with him than sell out, perhaps at a sacrifice, and buy again an inferior article! In order to be able to live with his wife at all, Henry Brown was obliged to hire her of her owner for fifty dollars a year; and, when her master became short of funds, he sold the wife and three children, before Brown's very face, to a Methodist minister,--one of those holy men who are "called of God" and "solemnly set apart" to preach to all men the gospel of love! So sacred is the marriage of slaves! There is no such thing as a sacred marriage among slaves. Marriage, with them, at its best estate, is but concubinage. The relation _must_ be entered into when and as the owner orders! It is changed whenever, in his good pleasure, he wills that it shall change! It ends when he wills that it shall end! Wherein is the union among the _human_ stock, on the Southern plantations, regarded as more sacred and lasting than the union among the _brute_ stock? In both cases, the law considers the union as a merely animal relation, for an animal purpose,--the increase, perhaps the improvement, of the breed! So sacred is the marriage of slaves! The following advertisements, and hundreds of similar ones might be cited, throw light on the subject:-- From the "Richmond Enquirer," Feb. 20, 1838: "STOP THE RUNAWAY!!!--$25 Reward. Ran away from the Eagle Tavern, a negro fellow, named Nat. _He is no doubt attempting to follow his wife, who was lately sold to a speculator, named Redmond._ The above reward will be paid by Mrs. Lucy M. Downman, of Sussex county, Va." From the "Richmond (Va.) Compiler," Sept. 8, 1837: "RAN AWAY FROM THE SUBSCRIBER--BEN. He ran off _without any known cause_, and _I suppose he is aiming to go to his wife, who was carried from the neighborhood last winter_. JOHN HUNT." From the "Lexington (Ky.) Intelligencer," July 7, 1838: "$160 REWARD.--Ran away from the subscribers, living in this city, on Saturday, 16th inst. a negro man, named Dick, about 37 years of age. _It is highly probable said boy will make for New Orleans, as he has a wife living in that city, and he has been heard to say frequently that he was determined to go to New Orleans._