"
"How do you establish that distinction?" said he.
"The child is born of one known to be, herself, lawfully a slave. It is
born under a constitution of government which recognizes slavery; while
that government provides for slavery, the child must submit or violate
an ordinance of God, unless freedom can be had by law, or by justifiable
revolution."
"I feel constrained," said Mr. North "to hold that liberty is the
inalienable right of every human being, except in cases of crime."
"You mean," said I, "that every human being is entitled to all the civil
rights and immunities which others enjoy."
"Yes," said he, "in proportion to his age, and his capacity. Minors, and
the imbecile, are entitled to protection, but may not be oppressed."
"Ah," said I, "how soon you find your general rules intercepted and
qualified by circumstances. Minors, and the imbecile, then, may not be
admitted to equal privileges with us. But are not all men born free and
equal?"
"Now let me add to 'minors' and 'the imbecile' one more class. There are
two races existing together in a certain country. One has always been,
there, a servile race. The other are the lords of the soil; the
institutions of the country are by their creation; they have acquired a
perfect right and title to the government.
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