CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE PURPOSE.

heresilenceisthemostdisagreeablekindofdissent,becauseitadmitsofnoargumentinreply. "Inmyview,"saidClayton,"thecourseoflegalreform,inthefirstplace,shouldremoveallthosecircumstancesintheconditionoftheslaveswhichtendtokeeptheminignoranceandimmorality,andmakethecultivationofself-respectimpossiblesuchasthewantofeducation,protectioninthefamilystate,andthelegalpowerofobtainingredressforinjuries.Afterthat,thenextstepwouldbetoallowthosemasterswhoaresodisposedtoemancipate,givingpropersecurityforthegoodbehavioroftheirservants.Theymightthenretainthemastenants.Underthissystem,emancipationwouldgoongraduallyonlythebestmasterswouldatfirstemancipate,andtheexamplewouldbegraduallyfollowed.Theexperimentwouldsoondemonstratethesuperiorcheapnessandefficiencyofthesystemoffreelaborandself-interestwouldthencomein,tocompletewhatprinciplebegan.Itisonlythefirststepthatcosts.ButitseemstomethatinthecourseofmylifeIhavemetwithmultitudesofgoodpeople,groaninginsecretundertheevilsandinjusticeofslavery,whowouldgladlygivetheirinfluencetoanyreasonableeffortwhichpromisesintimetoameliorateandremovethem." "Thetroubleis,"saidJudgeClayton,"thatthesystem,thoughruinousinthelongruntocommunities,isimmediatelyprofitabletoindividuals.Besidesthis,itisasourceofpoliticalinfluenceandimportance.Theholdersofslavesareanaristocracysupportedbyspecialconstitutionalprivileges.Theyareunitedagainstthespiritoftheagebyacommoninterestanddanger,andtheinstinctofself-preservationisinfallible.Nologicissoaccurate. "Asamatterofpersonalfeeling,manyslave-holderswouldrejoiceinsomeofthehumanechangeswhichyouproposebuttheyseeatoncethatanychangeendangerstheperpetuityofthesystemonwhichtheirpoliticalimportancedepends.Therefore,they'llresistyouattheveryoutset,notbecausetheywouldnot,manyofthem,begladtohavejusticedone,butbecausetheythinktheycannotaffordit. "Theywillhavegreatpatiencewithyou—theywillevenhavesympathywithyou—solongasyouconfineyourselfmerelytotheexpressionoffeelingbutthemomentyoureffortsproducetheslightestmovementinthecommunity,then,myson,youwillseehumannatureinanewaspect,andknowmoreaboutmankindthanyouknownow." "Verywell,"saidClayton,"thesoonerthebetter." "Well,Edward,"saidMrs.Clayton,"ifyouaregoingtobeginwiththeministry,whydon'tyougoandtalktoyourUncleCushing?HeisoneofthemostinfluentialamongthePresbyteriansinthewholestateandIhaveoftenheardhimlament,inthestrongestmanner,theevilsofslavery.Hehastoldmesomefactsaboutitseffectonthecharacterofhischurch-members,bothbondandfree,thatareterrible!" "Yes,"saidJudgeClayton,"yourbrotherwilldoallthat.Hewilllamentth