“Extinguishing that Spark of Intellect”: Henry Berry, 1832

Henry Berry, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates said on Jan. 20, 1832:

“Pass as severe laws as you will to keep these unfortunate creatures in ignorance, it is in vain, unless you can extinguish that spark of intellect which God has given them. Sir, we have, as far as possible, closed every avenue by which light might enter their minds. We have only to go one step further — to extinguish the capacity to see the light — and our work will be completed. They would then be reduced to the level of the beasts of the field, and we should be safe….Sir, a death struggle must come between the two classes, in which one or the other will be extinguished forever.”