It appears that you are referring to a specific preface of a work discussing the institution of slavery, possibly in a literary, historical, or sociological context. However, your question seems to lack specific details about the title of the work or the author you're referencing.
If you provide the title of the book or the name of the author, I would be able to give you a more accurate and informative answer regarding the town mentioned or the tone used in the discussion of slavery within that text.