My reader must know that southern law and justice for the poor succumb to popular feeling in all slave atmospheres; and happy is the fellow who can work his way through slavedom without being dependent upon the one or brought under the influence of the other.

Graspum, in reply to Bengal, feels that gentlemen in the “nigger business” should respect themselves.  He well knows there exists not the best feeling in the world between them and the more exclusive aristocracy, whose feelings must inevitably be modified to suit the democratic spirit of the age.  He himself enjoys that most refined society, which he asserts to be strong proof of the manner in which democracy is working its way to distinction.  Our business, he says, hath so many avenues that it has become positively necessary that some of them should be guarded by men of honour, dignity, and irreproachable conduct.  Now, he has sent Anthony Romescos to do some watching on the sly, at Marston’s plantation; but there is nothing dishonourable in that, inasmuch as the victim is safe in his claws.  Contented with these considerations, Graspum puffs his cigar very composedly.  From slave nature, slave-seeking adventures, and the intricacies of the human-property-market, they turn to the discussion of state rights, of freedom in its broadest and most practical sense.  And, upon the principle of the greatest despot being foremost to discuss what really constitutes freedom, which, however, he always argues in an abstract sense, Nimrod was loudest and most lavish in his praises of a protective government—­a government that would grant great good justice to the white man only.  It matters little to Nimrod which is the greater nigger; he believes in the straight principles of right in the white man.  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.”