d; always, the Red
men were treated with injustice. They were driven off, slaughtered, and
taken as slaves. Now, God as clearly gave these lands to the Red men as he
gave life and freedom to the African. Both have been unjustly taken away."

"But," said Abel, "we hold property in land, you in the bodies and souls of
men."

"Granted," said Arthur; "but we have as good a right to our _property_ as
you to yours--we each inherit it from our fathers. You must know that
slaves were recognized as _property_ under the constitution, John Q. Adams,
speaking of the protection extended to the peculiar interests of South,
makes these remarks: 'Protected by the advantage of representation on this
floor, protected by the stipulation in the constitution for the recovery of
fugitive slaves, protected by the guarantee in the constitution to owners
of this _species of property_, against domestic violence.' It was
considered in England as any other kind of commerce; so that you cannot
deny our right to consider them as property now, as well as then."

"But can you advocate the enslaving of your fellow man?" said Abel.

"No," said Arthur, "if you put the question in that manner; but if you come
to the point, and ask me if I can conscientiously hold in bondage slaves in
the South, I say yes, without the slightest hesitation. I'll tell you why.
You must agree with me, if the Bible allow slavery there is no sin it. Now,
the Bible does allow it. You must read those letters of Governor Hammond to
Clarkson, the English Abolitionist. The tenth commandment, your mother
taught you, no doubt: 'thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife nor his _man-servant_ nor his
_maid-servant_, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy
neighbor's.' These are the words of God, and as such, should be obeyed
strictly. In the most solemn manner, the man-servant and the maid-servant
are considered the _property_ of thy neighbor. Generally the word is
rendered slave. This command includes all classes of servants; there is the
Hebrew-brother who shall go out in the seventh year, and the hired-servant
and those 'purchased from the heathen round about,' who were to be bondmen
forever. In Leviticus, speaking of the 'bondmen of the heathen which shall
be round about' God says, 'And ye shall take them for an inheritance, for
your children after you, to inherit them for a possession they shall be
your bondmen forever.' I cons