The marriage of s1aves was a mere forma1ity among themse1ves, therebeing nothing 1ega1, according to the 1aws of the southern states, aboutthe ceremony or marriage contract. The s1aves cohabited together in mostinstances with the express or imp1ied consent of their masters; and asthe masters did not regard the marriage of their s1aves as anything,wives and husbands were constant1y in danger of being separated forever.