Larger context for LACK in Corpus USbrown_UKbncw/US_brown.txt
If not, he was willing to accede to William's wishes in any way that did not block his ultimate aim.
William was adamant on one point: under no circumstances would he allow the Negroes to remain on the plantation with his and Henry's slaves if they were told of their coming freedom.
Knowing the antipathy that existed in Louisiana against increasing the number of free Negroes, Giffen suggested that Palfrey bring them to Boston at once, and then send them on to Liberia.
Lacking specific instructions, he agreed to William's condition.
In March there was a division of the slaves, and Giffen carried out his instructions as nearly as possible.
Of the fifty-two slaves, Giffen succeeded in getting a lot of twenty, twelve of whom were females.
"I considered that your views would be best carried out", he explained, "by taking women whose progeny will of course be free + more fully extend the philantrophy of Emancipation.
I have also taken the old servants of your father as a matter of Conscience + Justice".
The ages of the slaves ranged from sixty-five, for an old house servant, to an unnamed newborn child.
If Palfrey ever had any doubts about the wickedness of slavery, they were put aside after he received an inventory of the slave property he had inherited.
This cold reckoning of human worth in a legal paper, devoid of compassion or humanity, was all he needed.
Each human being, known only by a given name, had a cash value.