Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. The design of this volume, as indicated by its title is to describe the past progress of slavery in the United States, and to consider the circumstances which will probably control its movement hereafter. The economy, morals, and effects of slavery, are discussed only inci dentally, and so far as such discussion was unavoidable; it having been the main purpose of the author to deal with the progress of slavery as a matter of fact, accomplished in the past, and to be dis cerned in the future by the aid of such lights as experience and reason may afford.