"But just reflect!" he said. "These creatures, whose cause you are advocating, they are but half human; they cannot take care of themselves; their very happiness is identified with their present position."
"It is not the view they take of it."
"They are incapable of forming any judgment on the matter."
"At least they know what they mean by happiness," I said; "and in their mouths it is not a synonym with slavery. And if your words are true, Mr. De Saussure, in the case of some of those poor people, - and I know they are, - it is one of the worst things that can be said of the system. If some of them are brought so low as to be content with being slaves, we have robbed them of their humanity."
"It is absolutely Northern radicalism!" said Mr. De Saussure to himself.
"No," I said, - "it is Christian justice and mercy."
"You will allow me to represent to you, without any presumption, that there are very many Christians, both at the South and North, who do not look at the matter with your eyes."
"I suppose they have never really seen it," I answered sadly. "People that have always lived close to something, often do not know what it is. My father has never seen it - nor, my mother. I have."
"They would not agree with you; your views would not harmonise with theirs."
"And therefore I trust to your honour to keep silence respecting mine."