Quotes from Smith’s Writings

Slavery and Indenture

There have been many complaints against the governors, captains, and officers in Virginia for buying and selling men and boys [indentures] … held in England a thing most intolerable. (The Generall Historie, 4, p. 127)

But they [the Russians] are all lords or slaves, which makes them so subject to every invasion. (True Travels, p. 33)

Well they used [me] till [my] wounds were cured, and at Axopolis [we] were all brought into the marketplace and stripped, that the merchants might see [our] limbs and wounds, who had [other slaves] upon purpose to try [our] strengths and there sold like beasts. (True Travels, p. 23)

A handful of Spaniards in the West Indies subdued millions of the inhabitants, so depopulating those countries they conquered that they are glad to buy Negroes in Africa at a great rate … but there Indians were in such multitudes, the Spaniards had no other remedy, [whereas] ours such a few and so dispersed, it were nothing in a short time to bring them to labor and obedience. (Advertisements, p. 30/31)

Let all men have as much freedom in reason as may be, and true dealing, for it is the greatest comfort you can give them, where the very name of servitude will breed much ill blood, and become odious to God and man. (Advertisements)