1 To those songs I trace my first glimmering conception of the dehumanizing character of slavery.
2 Bad as all slaveholders are, we seldom meet one destitute of every element of character commanding respect.
3 The same traits of character might be seen in Colonel Lloyd's slaves, as are seen in the slaves of the political parties.
4 The leading trait in his character was meanness; and if there were any other element in his nature, it was made subject to this.
5 The impression which I had received respecting the character and condition of the people of the north, I found to be singularly erroneous.
6 Mr. Hopkins was succeeded by Mr. Austin Gore, a man possessing, in an eminent degree, all those traits of character indispensable to what is called a first-rate overseer.
7 If it had any effect on his character, it made him more cruel and hateful in all his ways; for I believe him to have been a much worse man after his conversion than before.
8 The influence of brandy upon him, and of slavery upon her, had effected a disastrous change in the characters of both; so that, as far as they were concerned, I thought I had little to lose by the change.
9 It is partly in consequence of such facts, that slaves, when inquired of as to their condition and the character of their masters, almost universally say they are contented, and that their masters are kind.
10 I have sometimes thought that the mere hearing of those songs would do more to impress some minds with the horrible character of slavery, than the reading of whole volumes of philosophy on the subject could do.
11 If any one thing in my experience, more than another, served to deepen my conviction of the infernal character of slavery, and to fill me with unutterable loathing of slaveholders, it was their base ingratitude to my poor old grandmother.