But now their masters
complain of being oppressed by the North. Why have not the masters the
same right to secede from their government as the negro from his?"
"Well, husband," said his wife, "I think that you are getting on fast."
"Why," said I, "Mr. North, is not slavery 'the sum of all villanies?'
Did the negro ever consent to his form of government?"
"Well," said he, "I never consented to be born; I find myself in
existence; I have no more consented to the government of the United
States than I suppose the negroes, generally, have submitted to their
civil condition. My question is, Who shall decide when the Southern
masters say, We are intolerably oppressed; we are under a yoke; 'break
every yoke!' 'let the oppressed go free!' If I interpose and say, 'You
are not oppressed; you are better off as you now are,' is not this the
reply of the masters when we seek to free their slaves? Do we not say
that the oppressed must be the judges of their necessity? And why may I
coerce the master, if it be wrong for him to coerce the negro?"
"I must let you, work out that question at your leisure, and on your own
principles," said I.--"We were speaking of seizing and holding the forts
and arsenals.
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