32; Kemble, Journal, p.

28; Martineau, _Society in America_, vol.i., p.
308; Weld, _Slavery_, etc., p.

41.] [Footnote 2: Annals of Congress, First Session, vol.i., pp.

996 _et seq._ and 1296 _et seq._] Seeking to direct the attention of the world to the slavery of men's bodies and minds the abolitionists spread broadcast through the South newspapers, tracts, and pamphlets which, whether or not they had much effect in inducing masters to improve the condition of their slaves, certainly moved Negroes themselves.

It hardly required enlightenment to convince slaves that they would be better off as freemen than as dependents whose very wills were subject to those of their masters.
Accordingly even in the seventeenth century there developed in the minds of bondmen the spirit of resistance.