Knowing this fact, as the slaveholder does, and judging the slave by himself, he naturally concludes the slave will be idle whenever the cause for this fear is absent.

Hence, all sorts of petty deceptions are practiced, to inspire this fear.
But, with Mr.Covey, trickery was natural.

Everything in the shape of learning or religion, which he possessed, was made to conform to this semi-lying propensity.

He did not seem conscious that the practice had anything unmanly, base or contemptible about it.

It was a part of an important system, with him, essential to the relation of master and slave.