"Now look at the slaves. They are a foreign race, we are their civil
superiors, and unless we amalgamate, we intend to remain so. While we
are in this relation, it is a privilege to the blacks to have owners,
but they must use their ownership according to the golden rule. When
this is done, the condition of the blacks, in their present relation to
us, is happy."
"How often," said he, "do you suppose that it is done?"
"That," said I, "is another and a very interesting question, which we
will consider soon. You took the ground, as I understood you, that the
law of love would prevent any one from holding a fellow-creature as a
slave. I reply that it would be in perfect accordance with it, as the
blacks at the South are now situated, for the whites to be their humane
owners. But pray what do you mean by 'owning' a human being?"
"I mean," said he, "having the right to abuse them, domineer over them,
work them as cattle, sell them, and--"
"Did this Southern lady," said I, while he paused for more words, "ever
acquire a right with her ownership to treat Kate so?"
"Her laws," said he, "give her a right to punish her; and such
irresponsible power is fearful.
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