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ther slaves or freedmen。 Thus the negro transmits the eternal mark of his ignominy to all his descendants； and although the law may abolish slavery； God alone can obliterate the traces of its existence。
The modern slave differs from his master not only in his condition； but in his origin。 You may set the negro free； but you cannot make him otherwise than an alien to the European。 Nor is this all； we scarcely acknowledge the common features of mankind in this child of debasement whom slavery has brought amongst us。 His physiognomy is to our eyes hideous； his understanding weak； his tastes low； and we are almost inclined to look upon him as a being intermediate between man and the brutes。 *e The moderns； then； after they have abolished slavery； have three prejudices to contend against； which are less easy to attack and far less easy to conquer than the mere fact of servitude： the prejudice of the master； the prejudice of the race； and the prejudice of color。
＇Footnote e： To induce the whites to abandon the opinion they have conceived of the moral and intellectual inferiority of their former slaves； the negroes must change； but as long as this opinion subsists； to change is impossible。＇
It is difficult for us； who have had the good fortune to be born amongst men like ourselves by nature； and equal to ourselves by law； to conceive the irreconcilable differences which separate the negro from the European in America。 But we may derive some faint notion of them from analogy。 France was formerly a country in which numerous distinctions of rank existed； that had been created by the legislation。 Nothing can be more fictitious than a purely legal inferiority； nothing more contrary to the instinct of mankind than these permanent divisions which had been established between beings evidently similar。 Nevertheless these divisions subsisted for ages； they still subsist in many places； and on all sides they have left imaginary vestiges； which time alone can efface。 If it be so difficult to root out an inequality which solely originates in the law； how are those distinctions to be destroyed which seem to be based upon the immutable laws of Nature herself？ When I remember the extreme difficulty with which aristocratic bodies； of whatever nature they may be； are commingled with the mass of the people； and the exceeding care which they take to preserve the ideal boundaries of their caste inviolate； I despair of seeing an aristocracy disappear which is founded upon visible and indelible signs。 Those who hope that the Europeans will ever mix with the negroes； appear to me to delude themselves； and I am not led to any such conclusion by my own reason； or by the evidence of facts。
Hitherto； wherever the whites have been the most powerful； they have maintained the blacks in a subordinate or a servile position； wherever the negroes have been strongest they have destroyed the whites； such has been the only retribution which has ever taken place between the two races。
I see that in a certain portion of the territory of the United States at the present day； the legal barrier which separated the two races is tending to fall away； but not that which exists in the manners of the country； slavery recedes； but the prejudice to which it has given birth remains stationary。 Whosoever has inhabited the United States must have perceived that in those parts of the Union in which the negroes are no longer slaves； they have in no wise drawn nearer to the whites。 On the contrary； the prejudice of the race appears to be stronger in the States which have abolished slavery； than in those where it still exists； and nowhere is it so intolerant as in those States where servitude has never been known。
It is true； that in the North of the Union； marriages may be legally contracted between negroes and whites； but public opinion would stigmatize a man who should connect himself with a negress as infamous； and it would be difficult to meet with a single instance of such a union。 The electoral franchise has been conferred upon the negroes in almost all the States in which slavery has been abolished； but if they come forward to vote； their lives are in danger。 If oppressed； they may bring an action at law； but they will find none but whites amongst their judges； and although they may legally serve as jurors； prejudice repulses them from that office。 The same schools do not receive the child of the black and of the European。 In the theatres； gold cannot procure a seat for the servile race beside their former masters； in the hospitals they lie apart； and although they are allowed to invoke the same Divinity as the whites； it must be at a different altar； and in their own churches； with their own clergy。 The gates of Heaven are not closed against these unhappy beings； but their inferiority is continued to the very confines of the other world； when the negro is defunct； his bones are cast aside； and the distinction of condition prevails even in the equality of death。 The negro is free； but he can share neither the rights； nor the pleasures； nor the labor； nor the afflictions； nor the tomb of him whose equal he has been declared to be； and he cannot meet him upon fair terms in life or in death。
In the South； where slavery still exists； the negroes are less carefully kept apart； they sometimes share the labor and the recreations of the whites； the whites consent to intermix with them to a certain extent； and although the legislation treats them more harshly； the habits of the people are more tolerant and compassionate。 In the South the master is not afraid to raise his slave to his own standing； because he knows that he can in a moment reduce him to the dust at pleasure。 In the North the white no longer distinctly perceives the barrier which separates him from the degraded race； and he shuns the negro with the more pertinacity； since he fears lest they should some day be confounded together。
Amongst the Americans of the South； nature sometimes reasserts her rights； and restores a transient equality between the blacks and the whites； but in the North pride restrains the most imperious of human passions。 The American of the Northern States would perhaps allow the negress to share his licentious pleasures； if the laws of his country did not declare that she may aspire to be the legitimate partner of his bed； but he recoils with horror from her who might become his wife。
Thus it is； in the United States； that the prejudice which repels the negroes seems to increase in proportion as they are emancipated； and inequality is sanctioned by the manners whilst it is effaced from the laws of the country。 But if the relative position of the two races which inhabit the United States is such as I have described； it may be asked why the Americans have abolished slavery in the North of the Union； why they maintain it in the South； and why they aggravate its hardships there？ The answer is easily given。 It is not for the good of the negroes； but for that of the whites； that measures are taken to abolish slavery in the United States。
The first negroes were imported into Virginia about the year 1621。 *f In America； therefore； as well as in the rest of the glob