It is
not so much how justice is carried out when menial beings form a
glorious merchandise; but it is the true essence of liberty, giving
men power to keep society all straight, to practice liberty very
liberally. "Ye see, now, Graspum," he quaintly remarks, as he takes
up the candle to light his cigar, "whatever ye do is right, so long
as the law gives a feller a right to do it. 'Tisn't a bit o' use to
think how a man can be too nice in his feelings when a hundred or
two's to be made on nigger property what's delicate, t'aint! A
feller feels sore once in a while, a' cos his conscience is a little
touchy now and then; but it won't do to give way to it-conscience
don't bring cash. When ye launches out in the nigger-trading
business ye must feel vengeance agin the brutes, and think how it's
only trade; how it's perfectly legal-and how it's encouraged by the
Governor's proclamations. Human natur's human natur'; and when ye
can turn a penny at it, sink all the in'ard inclinations. Just let
the shiners slide in, it don't matter a tenpence where ye got 'em.
Trade's everything! you might as well talk about patriotism among
crowned heads,--about the chivalry of commerce: cash makes
consequence, and them's what makes gentlemen, south."
They welcome the spirits, although it has already made them
soulless. The negro listens to a dialogue of singular import to
himself; his eyes glistened with interest, as one by one they
sported over the ignorance enforced upon the weak.
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