"Not the power! well, that speaks for itself."
"Nothing against us, on a fair construction," said Fleda patiently. "It is well known to those who understand the subject"--
"Where did you learn so much about it, Fleda?" said Mrs. Evelyn humourously.
"As the birds pick up their supplies, ma'am--here and there.--It is well known, Mr. Stackpole, that our constitution never could have been agreed upon if that question of slavery had not been by common consent left where it was--with the separate state governments."
"The separate state governments--well, why do not they put an end to it? The disgrace is only shifted."
"Of course they must first have the consent of the public mind of those states."
"Ah!--their consent!--and why is their consent wanting?"
"We cannot defend ourselves there," said Mrs. Evelyn;--"I wish we could."
"The disgrace at least is shifted from the whole to a part. But will you permit me," said Fleda, "to give another quotation from my despised authority, and remind you of an Englishman's testimony, that beyond a doubt that point of emancipation would never have been carried in parliament had the interests of even a part of the electors been concerned in it."
"It was done, however,--and done at the expense of twenty millions of money."