You have the work of an English writer of high repute, who says, ‘Forty years ago, some in England doubted whether slavery were a sin, and regarded adultery as a venial offence; but behold the progress of truth! Who now doubts that he who enslaves his fellow-man is guilty of a fearful crime, and that he who violates the seventh commandment is a great sinner in the sight of God?’”
“You are known to be an adept in Phonography, and you are reported to be a correspondent of an abolition Phonographic journal.”
“I understand the science of Phonography, and I am a correspondent of a Phonographic journal, but the journal eschews politics.”
Another member of the committee then interrogated me.
“Parson Aughey, what is Funnyography?”
“Phonography, sir, is a system of writing by means of a philosophic alphabet, composed of the simplest geometrical signs, in which one mark is used to represent one and invariably the same sound.”
“Kin you talk Funnyography? and where does them folks live what talks it?”
“Yes, sir, I converse fluently in Phonography, and those who speak the language live in Columbia.”
“In the Destrict?”