“ [180] my anti-slavery arguments, abruptly concluded our conversation in these words:” “ ‘Well, you'll not hold these opinions long — at least, if you stay in the South. No Northerner does. If the niggers were as badly treated as the abolitionists say they are — or if slavery were as diabolical an institution as they try to make out--what's the reason that all the Northerners who come South with your notions, go back with different opinions? There's Dr. Cox, for instance.’ ” “ I reply:”
I. As to the treatment of the negro: it is of no sort of consequence, in my mind, whether the negro is treated ill or well, and no one, I think, should consider it for a moment in determining the right or wrong of American slavery. I deny the right of property in man. Property in man is robbery of man. The best of the slaveholders are cowardly thieves. They take advantage of a race who are down, friendless, inferior! There would be some nobility in enslaving an equal. There is a sort of virtue in extorting money from a powerful and popular enemy. But how unutterably contemptible is it to disarm, to disperse, and then to rob a race of unfortunate captives! If the Southern negroes had any chance of successfully asserting their rights by arms, I would not feel a single throb of sympathy for them. But they are carefully prevented from forming coalitions — the laws forbid them from assembling anywhere in numbers, unless white witnesses are present — they are not allowed to purchase or to carry arms — they are kept everywhere and always entirely at the mercy of the ruling race. Then they are robbed of their wages — often of their wives and
