If it be urged that despite the foregoing anti-slavery sentiments the
institution remained intrenched in the laws of Virginia, and supported
by a strong body of public opinion, it may be replied that the views
of these Virginians, and others of like mind, were nevertheless
productive of far-reaching and beneficent results. They were effective
in robbing slavery of many of its most abhorrent and oppressive
incidents. Under the public opinion thus generated the institution in
Virginia assumed, as a rule, the patriarchal character—master and
slave being bound by ties of mutual obligation and affection. Many of
the legal hardships inseparable from the system were reduced to a
minimum. Thus the breaking up of families, by sale of their members,
was confined as nearly as possible to the distribution of estates and
the collection of debts by process of law. In all the category of
disreputable callings, there were none so despised as the
slave-trader. The odium descended upon his children and his children's
children. Against the legal right to buy and sell slaves for profit,
this public sentiment lifted a strong arm, and rendered forever odious
the name of "Negro-trader." The good results of these conditions were
evidenced in the higher measure of character, courtesy and capacity,
which, as a whole, distinguished the negroes of Virginia.