Its climate and institutions and
arts and scenery are adapted to their diversified wants. "The North and
the South, Thou hast created them." God made the North for the South,
and the South for the North, and our acts of non-intercourse are in
violation of his will. We are in a war of "conscience," inflamed by
doctrinal error on our part. It allows no "conscience" to the other
side. The state of our "consciences" at the North is jury, judge, and
executioner. There is no "conscience," we think, in Southern churches,
ministers, judges, citizens, except that which is defiled. Probably
there is not on earth this day a greater despot, or one more prepared
for inquisitorial proceedings, than "Northern Conscience."
No doubt I should be contented and happy to be a slave-holder, had I
been born and bred here, but I rejoice that I belong to a free state. I
love to think of my capable girls, my "help." at home, who make the
household go like clock-work, instead of having a swarm of servants who
do only half as much, and only half as well. I am glad, too, that my
children live in a climate favorable to labor, and are not born to be
waited upon. But I am ashamed of those who erect these things into an
invidious comparison, and with a supercilious, reproachful spirit.
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