Then,
the child born of her is lawfully a slave. You see the distinction. God
recognized it. The condition of both is a limitation and qualification
of natural rights. So the lapse of time qualifies the right to collect
debts, bring suits for libel, or slander, and for the right of way, or
for the possession of land. Will we live under law? or shall each man
or any set of men set up laws for their own conscience?"
"Then," said he, "If a slave-trader lands a cargo of slaves from Africa,
at Florida, I have no right to buy them; they are not lawfully slaves.
Is that your belief?"
"Assuredly," said I; "and if the fugitive whom I have supposed you to be
sending back to the gentleman at New Orleans, were a fugitive from the
cargo just imported from Africa, you would be sustained by the law of
the land in delivering him from bondage; he was piratically taken; the
laws would make him free, and punish his captors, if the laws were
faithfully executed."
"But a poor fellow born in slavery must remain a slave!" he replied.
"He is not lawfully a slave," I said, "if his parents were both of that
cargo. But if his father had received a wife from his master, then the
child is lawfully a slave.
Pages:
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319