At this Gorsuch took offence, and charged me with dictating his language. I then told him there were but five of us, which he denied, and still insisted that I had his property. One of the party then attacked the Abolitionists, affirming that, although they declared there could not be property in man, the Bible was conclusive authority in favor of property in human flesh.
“Yes,” said Gorsuch, “does not the Bible say, ‘Servants, obey your masters’?”
I said that it did, but the same Bible said, “Give unto your servants that which is just and equal.”
At this stage of the proceedings, we went into a mutual Scripture inquiry, and bandied views in the manner of garrulous old wives.
When I spoke of duty to servants, Gorsuch said, “Do you know that?”
“Where,” I asked, “do you see it in Scripture that a man should traffic in his brother’s blood?”
“Do you call a nigger my brother?” said Gorsuch.
“Yes,” said I.
“William,” said Samuel Thompson, “he has been a class-leader.”
When Gorsuch heard that, he hung his head, but said nothing. We then all joined in singing,—