must be made willing to hold these poor people for the ‘time, times, and half a time,’ ordained of God.  To encourage them, the God of Nature makes the great Southern staple, cotton, to be in greater demand for the supply of the world; the cotton-gin is invented, and immediately the slaves are thereby assisted to retain that hold upon the South which was about to be broken off.  All this seems to me designed, as it certainly has the effect, to perpetuate slavery until Providence shall indicate measures for the removal of the colored people among us.  This may be delayed for centuries to come.  In the mean time, we at the North, by keeping up our agitation of the subject, have impressed the South with the importance of being united against us; but if any of our schemes of emancipation had divided them, it would not have been for the good of the slaves.  So the abolitionists have been fulfilling their destiny by fighting against Providence to help perpetuate slavery till the Most High shall disclose his will concerning it.”

“And helped the South,” said Mr. North, “perpetuate violations of the marriage relation, and to separate families, and to countenance all the sins in slavery!”

“Yes, to some degree,” said I; “for should we treat them with common candor and truthfulness, make them feel that we appreciate the perplexities of the subject, admit for once, and act upon it, that they are better and more competent ‘friends of the slave’ than we, it would be the surest way to put a stop to every evil in slavery.  Now they have little power over a certain class of men among them, who, when measures are proposed for the relief of the slaves, raise the cry that they are abolitionists, and excite an odium which deters them from doing many things which would otherwise be attempted.”

“They might all certainly join,” said Mr. North, “one would think, to prevent the violation of the marriage contract by the slaves, and the sundering of the marriage tie by the auctioneer.”

“Now,” said I, “there are two allegations, and I will answer them.  As to the violation of the marriage covenant by the slaves, are you aware how many divorces for the same cause are granted in your own state yearly?  You will find, on inquiry, that ‘freedom’ has nothing to boast of in this respect.  As to the auctioneer, and the separation of the marriage tie by him, how often do you think that an honest black man, for no crime, is taken from his wife and sold, or she from him?  How often, do you suppose, are families divided and scattered at the auction-block?  If you will inquire, you will find that the cases are extremely rare; that in some large districts it has not occurred for several years; and that in other cases, where it has occurred, regard has been had to the neighborhood of the purchasers, so that members of the same families have been within reach of one another.  You seem to think that a great feature, and the most common effect, of slavery is to separate families.  Such is the general belief at the North.  Let me remind you that there is no form or condition of service in the world which has more effect than slavery to keep families together.”