“No, Mr. North,” said I, continuing our conversation, “I cannot oppose the relation of master and slave as in itself sinful; for then I become more righteous than God.  But I must inquire whether it is right, in each given case, to reduce men to bondage:  shall that be, for example, the mode in which prisoners of war shall be disposed of? or a subjugated people? or criminals? or, in certain cases, debtors?  In doing so, there is no intrinsic sin; the act itself, under the circumstances, may be exceedingly sinful; but the relation of ownership is not necessarily a sin.  This, I hold, is all that can be deduced from the Bible in favor of slavery:  The relation is not in itself sinful.”

“But,” said Mr. North, “we sinned in stealing these people from Africa; all sin should be immediately forsaken; therefore, set the slaves free at once.”

I replied, “Let us apply that principle.  You and I, and a large company of passengers, are in a British ship, approaching our coast.  We find out, all at once, that the crew and half of the passengers stole the ship.  We gain the ascendency; we can do as we please.  Now, as all sin must be repented of at once, it is the duty of the passengers and crew to put the ship about, and deliver it to the owners in Glasgow!  Perhaps we should not think it best to put in force the ‘ruat coelum’ doctrine, especially if we had had some ‘ruat coelum’ storms, and it was late in the season.  But then we should actually be enjoying the stolen property—­the ship and its comforts—­for several days, with the belief that benevolence and justice to all concerned required us to reach the end of the voyage before we took measures to perform that justice, which, before, would have been practical folly.

“Now, please, do not require this illustration to go on all fours.  All that I mean is this:  A right thing may be wrong, if done unseasonably, or in disregard of circumstances which have supervened.

“But to go a little further, and beyond mere expediency:  Can you see no difference between buying slaves, and making men slaves?  While it would be wicked for you to reduce people to slavery, is that the same as becoming owners to those who are already in slavery?  In one case, you could not apply the golden rule; in the other, the golden rule would absolutely compel you, in many instances, to buy slaves.  Go to almost any place where slaves are sold, and they will come to you, if they like your looks, and, by all the arts of persuasion, entreat you to become their master.  Having succeeded, step behind the scenes, if you can, and hear them exulting that they ‘fetched more’ than this or that man.  Is there no difference between this and reducing free people to slavery?”

“Say yes, husband,” said Mrs. North, “or I must say it for you.”