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Show ) • • 164 ROEBUCK. "Ans,ver 1It·. Ca.n1pbell, Caleb," sn.id the doctor, to his favorite . servant, ·who stood with a napkin on his ann, " raiting for orders. Being corun1andeJ to speak, he n1ade a profound bow to the guest and began: " If I mn allo,ved lo suppress my cogitation on this 1nen1orable occasion, hutnan nature teaches me that white folks that I have never seen \vould not come a thousand miles just to fight for my good." "There it is, ~fr. Campbell," said the doctor, "go on and plant your oranges in icebergs." "But you would like to be free, Caleb~" "That's as might be according to the circuJnnavigation of circumstances. I do not sec n1any Vlhitc folks as free as I am, no otr ~nee to yon, n1aster, as being our prisoneP. Thein other free nigger~, as I reprehend by my ciretunlocution, they are lazy beo·gars and thieves. They arc the con ten1ptible, black cofreegrounds of society left after the second b'iling.'' "That ·will do Caleb ; ]Hr. Campbell has your opinion." "vV ell, doctor, ho\vever \Ve Inay diifer about slavery, it is astonishing thn.t you Son_therners n1ake war agai~st so good a government as ours.'' "We n1ake \Var! The South atternpted pea cable seces ion-the North ntte1npted to prevent secession by force. The North n1acle 'var." "But no State has a right to secede." "Then the Federal g·overntnent is ab olnte." " Oh, no, doctor, iL is a free govennnent." "--qnclcr a free govornn1ent the rights of rLll shon1d be protected with even-h:tnclecl justice. Protection should be n1eted to all in equal n1easuro and \YiLh tho quality of 1nn.nnn.-.he that gathered 1nuch had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack. The • noEnucrr. 1 G.~ Federal govcrnn1cnt enriches the North at the expense of the Sonth, and when we would escape from legalized rn.pn.city, 've are told that we are bound forever. "\VJ1cn the fonn~ of law to which we a sentccl c:mnot hold us, the sword is illegally dr:twn to snhjngatc our States. Is this a free government for us? But I did not intcnJ to be t1r:t\Vll into an angry disen'Jsiou. It can do no good. It is better to 1auo·h a ' ic1e subj0cts that irritate \vhcn \Ye cannot be cozn~nccd." "No, ·no, <..loctor, I atn not n.n oTy. I mn sure I cn.n con,·incc yon if yon gi\'C 1ne time. Think of the greatno.·s of tho go\·crzuncnt yon arc giving np. If we remain united \Ve can defy the worlll." " If yon " rorship po,vcr, you should offer your incense to the Prince of Darkno~s. Ilis dotninion is not confined to the U nitcrl State.·." "\Veil, doctor, if you ·won't di ·en · · the 1nn.Uer seriou~ ly, you n1u.t not think hnr<l of us for preserving the life of the nation at ail hazards." "'Vhich nation-North or South? You 'voulcl tako tho life of the South, in order that thn North 1nay 1ivo at ease.'' "One nation, embracing North and South, East and West-a g r&'lt, free, enlightened nation. \V e n1ust preserve its life. We reo-ret the desolation \vhich the ;::, war must bring upon the South, bnt we owe a duty ~o posterity and to mankind. 'V e 1nust preserve tho h~e of the nation. \V e are resol vcd to preserve it W1Lh our blood." ~'I thought so at .1\fanassa-in the n1orning. It \vas not so clear at nio-ht." ''W . b .. e faded once. But \VC shall succeed in the end. A ju t cause m~st succeed." t " You ~av~ a surer ground for confidence, perhaps, han the JUStlce of your cause. l ,vish you bad not." • |