"
CHAPTER VIII.
THE TENURE.
"One part, one little part, we dimly scan
Through the dark medium of life's fevering dream;
Yet dare arraign the whole stupendous plan
If but that little part incongruous seem;
Nor is that part, perhaps, what mortals deem;
Oft from apparent ill our blessings rise."--BEATTIE, _Minstrel_.
Mr. North then said, "Let us change the subject a little. Please to tell
us why, in your view, any slave who is so disposed may not run away.
Would you not do so, if you were a slave, and were oppressed, or thought
that you could mend your condition? Where did my master get his right
and title to me? God did not institute American slavery as he did
slavery among the Hebrews. If I were a slave to certain masters, South
or North, I should probably run away at all hazards. I should not stop
to debate the morality of the act. No human being would, in his heart
blame me. It would be human nature, resisting under the infliction of
pain. We catch hold of a dentist's hand when he is drawing a tooth.
Perhaps there may be found some moral law against doing so!"
"But we are apt," said I, "to take these exceptional cases, and make a
rule that includes them and all others.
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