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's roof affords。
The negro has no family； woman is merely the temporary companion of his pleasures； and his children are upon an equality with himself from the moment of their birth。 Am I to call it a proof of God's mercy or a visitation of his wrath； that man in certain states appears to be insensible to his extreme wretchedness； and almost affects； with a depraved taste； the cause of his misfortunes？ The negro； who is plunged in this abyss of evils； scarcely feels his own calamitous situation。 Violence made him a slave； and the habit of servitude gives him the thoughts and desires of a slave； he admires his tyrants more than he hates them； and finds his joy and his pride in the servile imitation of those who oppress him： his understanding is degraded to the level of his soul。
The negro enters upon slavery as soon as he is born： nay； he may have been purchased in the womb； and have begun his slavery before he began his existence。 Equally devoid of wants and of enjoyment； and useless to himself； he learns； with his first notions of existence； that he is the property of another； who has an interest in preserving his life； and that the care of it does not devolve upon himself； even the power of thought appears to him a useless gift of Providence； and he quietly enjoys the privileges of his debasement。 If he becomes free； independence is often felt by him to be a heavier burden than slavery； for having learned； in the course of his life； to submit to everything except reason； he is too much unacquainted with her dictates to obey them。 A thousand new desires beset him； and he is destitute of the knowledge and energy necessary to resist them： these are masters which it is necessary to contend with； and he has learnt only to submit and obey。 In short； he sinks to such a depth of wretchedness； that while servitude brutalizes； liberty destroys him。
Oppression has been no less fatal to the Indian than to the negro race； but its effects are different。 Before the arrival of white men in the New World； the inhabitants of North America lived quietly in their woods； enduring the vicissitudes and practising the virtues and vices common to savage nations。 The Europeans； having dispersed the Indian tribes and driven them into the deserts； condemned them to a wandering life full of inexpressible sufferings。
Savage nations are only controlled by opinion and by custom。 When the North American Indians had lost the sentiment of attachment to their country； when their families were dispersed； their traditions obscured； and the chain of their recollections broken； when all their habits were changed； and their wants increased beyond measure； European tyranny rendered them more disorderly and less civilized than they were before。 The moral and physical condition of these tribes continually grew worse； and they became more barbarous as they became more wretched。 Nevertheless； the Europeans have not been able to metamorphose the character of the Indians； and though they have had power to destroy them； they have never been able to make them submit to the rules of civilized society。
The lot of the negro is placed on the extreme limit of servitude； while that of the Indian lies on the uttermost verge of liberty； and slavery does not produce more fatal effects upon the first； than independence upon the second。 The negro has lost all property in his own person； and he cannot dispose of his existence without committing a sort of fraud： but the savage is his own master as soon as he is able to act； parental authority is scarcely known to him； he has never bent his will to that of any of his kind； nor learned the difference between voluntary obedience and a shameful subjection； and the very name of law is unknown to him。 To be free； with him； signifies to escape from all the shackles of society。 As he delights in this barbarous independence； and would rather perish than sacrifice the least part of it； civilization has little power over him。
The negro makes a thousand fruitless efforts to insinuate himself amongst men who repulse him； he conforms to the tastes of his oppressors； adopts their opinions； and hopes by imitating them to form a part of their community。 Having been told from infancy that his race is naturally inferior to that of the whites； he assents to the proposition and is ashamed of his own nature。 In each of his features he discovers a trace of slavery； and； if it were in his power； he would willingly rid himself of everything that makes him what he is。
The Indian； on the contrary； has his imagination inflated with the pretended nobility of his origin； and lives and dies in the midst of these dreams of pride。 Far from desiring to conform his habits to ours； he loves his savage life as the distinguishing mark of his race； and he repels every advance to civilization； less perhaps from the hatred which he entertains for it； than from a dread of resembling the Europeans。 *a While he has nothing to oppose to our perfection in the arts but the resources of the desert； to our tactics nothing but undisciplined courage； whilst our well…digested plans are met by the spontaneous instincts of savage life； who can wonder if he fails in this unequal contest？
＇Footnote a： The native of North America retains his opinions and the most insignificant of his habits with a degree of tenacity which has no parallel in history。 For more than two hundred years the wandering tribes of North America have had daily intercourse with the whites； and they have never derived from them either a custom or an idea。 Yet the Europeans have exercised a powerful influence over the savages： they have made them more licentious； but not more European。 In the summer of 1831 I happened to be beyond Lake Michigan； at a place called Green Bay； which serves as the extreme frontier between the United States and the Indians on the north…western side。 Here I became acquainted with an American officer； Major H。； who； after talking to me at length on the inflexibility of the Indian character； related the following fact： … 〃I formerly knew a young Indian；〃 said he； 〃who had been educated at a college in New England； where he had greatly distinguished himself； and had acquired the external appearance of a member of civilized society。 When the war broke out between ourselves and the English in 1810； I saw this young man again； he was serving in our army； at the head of the warriors of his tribe； for the Indians were admitted amongst the ranks of the Americans； upon condition that they would abstain from their horrible custom of scalping their victims。 On the evening of the battle of 。 。 。； C。 came and sat himself down by the fire of our bivouac。 I asked him what had been his fortune that day： he related his exploits； and growing warm and animated by the recollection of them； he concluded by suddenly opening the breast of his coat； saying； 'You must not betray me … see here！' And I actually beheld；〃 said the Major； 〃between his body and his shirt； the skin and hair of an English head； still dripping with gore。〃＇
The negro； who earnestly desires to mingle his race with that of the European； cannot effect if； while the Indian； who might succeed to a certain ext