“‘But,’ said the physician, ’how long should you feel that you have a right to his services?’

“‘I will answer that,’ said the gentleman, ’if you will say whether my general principle be correct.  Have I, or have I not acquired just what all intelligent slave-holders call “property” in that youth, that is, a right to his services,—­not dominion over his soul, nor a right to abuse him, nor in any way to injure him, but to use his services.  Have I not acquired that right?’

“‘I think you have,’ said the physician, ‘but with certain limitations.’

“‘The limitations,’ said Mr. W., ’certainly are not the wishes, nor caprices, nor the inclinations, of the boy;—­do you think so?’

“‘I agree with you,’ said he.

“‘That is all I contend for,’ said Mr. W.

“‘But,’ said the physician, ’where is your title-deed from your Maker to own these fellow-creatures?  Trace their history back, and they are here by fraud and violence.’

“‘Thank you, Sir,’ said Mr. W., ’that is just the case with my Penn.  I came into possession of him through fraud and violence!  I did not sin when he was thrown upon my hands; though I confess I said, he was—­what we call slavery—­an incubus.  My right and title to the boy I have never been able to discover in any handwriting; the mother, surely, had no right to impose the child upon me; Providence, however, placed it in my hand.  I might have given it immediate emancipation through the window, or at the next stopping place; or, I might have left the child on its mother’s vacant seat, declining the trust; but I felt disposed to do as I have done.’

“‘Now,’ said the physician, ’will you please tell me, Sir, how long you feel at liberty to possess this boy as a satisfaction to you for your pains and expense?’

“‘In the first place,’ said Mr. W., ’I have a right to transfer my guardianship over him to another, if circumstances make it necessary.  In doing so, I must be governed not by selfish motives, but by a benevolent regard to his welfare, allowing that he is not unreasonable and wicked.  If when he comes of lawful age, he is judged to be still in need of guardianship, or it is expedient for the good of all concerned that he should be my ward indefinitely, the law makes me, if I choose, his guardian, with certain rights and obligations.  Even if he could legally claim his freedom at his majority, circumstances might be such that all would say he was under moral obligations to remain with me.  If I abuse him, he must consider before God how far it is his duty to bear affliction, and submit to oppression.  There are cases in which none would condemn him, should he escape.  But the rule is to “abide.”  He has not, under all the circumstances of our relation to each other, a right to walk off at pleasure.’