As the laws provide for the degradation of the slave to a state of the most stupid ignorance, it would naturally be supposed that little would be required in the way of obedience, and that when a slave did trespass a very light punishment would be meted out to him. Evidently this would be the humane and just course, for where little is given little should be required. In this, however, as in most other things slavery is precisely contrary to nature, humanity and reason. Slaves are punished by the laws for numerous acts which are in themselves perfectly right. "For seeking liberty a slave is proclaimed an outlaw and may be lawfully killed." (_Goodell._) "He may be punished for attending religious meetings at night. He may be publicly whipped for keeping a gun, or a pistol. For visiting a wife or child without a written pass, he may be whipped. For striking a white person, no matter how great the provocation, whipping--and for the second or third offence, DEATH." (_Goodell._) These are but specimens of the cruel and vexatious laws by which the slave's life is embittered. He, poor wretch, must have so many lashes on the bare back for almost every thing which his manhood prompts him to do. He must always be on the look out to act and feel as a mere brute--he must crouch and bend in constant abjectness or his back shall pay the penalty. But for _actual crimes_ the disproportion between the punishment of slaves and white persons is very great. "In Va., by the revised code of 1819, there are seventy-one offenses for which the penalty is death when committed by slaves and imprisonment when committed by the whites." (_Jay's Inquiry._) "In Mississippi there are seventeen offenses punishable with death when committed by slaves, which, if committed by white persons, are either punished by fines or imprisonment, or punishment not provided for by the statute or at common law." (_Goodell._) A law of Md., provides that--"Any slave for rambling in the night, or riding on horseback or running away, may be punished by whipping, cropping and branding in the cheeks or otherwise, not rendering him unfit for labor."