Note 11 — ON THE STATE OF SLAVERY IN VIRGINIA.
Reading edition
Among the Israelites, according to the Mosaical law, "If a man smote his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he died under his hand, he should surely be punished—notwithstanding if he continue a day or two, he should not be punished [Exod. c. 21]:" for, saith the text, he is his money. Our legislators appear to have adopted the reason of the latter clause, without the humanity of the former part of the law.