"Virginia is too near the Free-soilers," he said, evidently directing his remarks to Mr. Tompkins; "don't they come over here and steal your niggers?"
"They never have," Mr. Tompkins answered.
"I take it for granted you own slaves?"
"Yes, sir; I have a number on my plantation, and never have had one stolen yet."
"Don't the 'Barnburners,' 'Wooly Heads' and Abolitionists from Ohio and Pennsylvania come over here and steal them away?"
"They have never taken any from me."
"Well, that's a wonder. I know a number of good men on the border who find it impossible to keep niggers at all."
"Perhaps they are not good masters," said Mr. Tompkins.
"They were the best of masters, and they lost their niggers, though they guarded them with watchful overseers and bloodhounds."
"But do you think that a good master needs to guard his slaves with armed overseers and dogs?" said Mr. Tompkins.