69
42.

	Slaves were not regarded as persons, had no civil rights and were owned just as any other chattel property, were bought and sold like horses and cattle, and knew no law bUt the will ot~ their white masters and like other domestic animals could be, and were, acquired and dispor.ed of without regard to family ties or other cnsideration.

	Usually, as each slave represented a large investment of monøy, they were vieil oared for, being adequately fod, clothed and sheltered, having medical attention when sick.

	As, along the border in Kentucky, there were no large plantations where field workers could be used, most of the slaves in this r3gion were houee servants, who were housed in wings of the master‘s house, where the plantations were large enought to need many slaves, they were furnished one, or two, rooms cabins close by the mansion on the master‘s estate.

	As educated people are apt to be able to figure out ways to improve their lot, learning among the negroes was not encouraged, in fact it was illegal to teach them. In some instances an enlighted and humane master would teach a servant, and often they could find some one who would teach them secretly. As a race, however, they were, at the time they were sot free, without any education at all.

	Tales are told of cruel masters who overworked, flogged and otherwise nistrea~ed their helpers and slaves; these masters, however, seeni to have been an exception to the rule and considering that they were generally well pro~ vided for, many slaves were better off economically that the laborer of today who is a victim of misfortunes such as sickness, disability and old age.

	One reason why slaves were better treated here than further south, was that Kerthuoky was a border state, and throughout Ohio ansi other northern states, was an organization known as the “Underground Railroad.“ This was a sort of