Queechy Volume Ii Part 19

"It don't signify what Burke says about it," said Mr.

Stackpole, rubbing his chin ? "Burke is not the first authority; but, Miss Ringgan, it is undeniable that slavery, and the slave-trade too, does at this moment exist in the interior of your own country."

"I will never excuse what is wrong, Sir; but I think it becomes an Englishman to be very moderate in putting forth that charge."

"Why?" said he, hastily: "we have done away with it entirely in our own dominions ? wiped that stain clean off. Not a slave can touch British ground but he breathes free air from that minute."

"Yes, Sir; but candour will allow that we are not in a condition in this country to decide the question by a _tour de force_."

"What is to decide it, then!" said he, a little arrogantly.

"The progress of truth in public opinion."

"And why not the government, as well as our government!"

"It has not the power, you know, Sir."

"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 const.i.tution 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 emanc.i.p.ation 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."

"And I am sure that was very n.o.ble," said Florence.

"It was what no nation but the English would ever have done,"

said Mrs. Evelyn.

"I do not wish to dispute it," said Fleda; "but still it was doing what did not touch the sensitive point of their own well-being."

"_We_ think there is a little national honour concerned in it,"

said Mr. Stackpole, drily, stroking his chin again.

"So does every right-minded person," said Mrs. Evelyn. "I am sure I do."

"And I am sure so do I," said Fleda; "but I think the honour of a piece of generosity is considerably lessened by the fact that it is done at the expense of another."

"Generosity!" said Mr. Stackpole; "it was not generosity, it was justice ? there was no generosity about it."

"Then it deserves no honour at all," said Fleda, "if it was merely that; the tardy execution of justice is but the removal of a reproach."

"We Englishmen are of opinion, however," said Mr. Stackpole, contentedly, "that the removers of a reproach are ent.i.tled to some honour, which those who persist in retaining it cannot claim."

"Yes," said Fleda, drawing rather a long breath, "I acknowledge that; but I think that, while some of these same Englishmen have shown themselves so unwilling to have the condition of their own factory slaves ameliorated, they should be very gentle in speaking of wrongs which we have far less ability to rectify."

"Ah! I like consistency," said Mr. Stackpole. "America shouldn't dress up poles with liberty caps, till all who walk under are free to wear them. She cannot boast that the breath of her air and the breath of freedom are one."

"Can England?" said Fleda, gently ? "when her own citizens are not free from the horrors of impressment?"

"Pshaw!" said Mr. Stackpole, half in a pet and half laughing; "why where did you get such a fury against England? you are the first _fair_ antagonist I have met on this side of the water."

"I wish I was a better one, Sir," said Fleda, laughing.

"Miss Ringgan has been prejudiced by an acquaintance with one or two unfortunate specimens," said Mrs. Evelyn.

"Ay!" said Mr. Stackpole, a little bitterly; "America is the natural birthplace of prejudice ? always was."

"Displayed, first, in maintaining the rights against the swords of Englishmen; latterly, how, Mr. Stackpole?"

"It isn't necessary to enlighten _you_ on any part of the subject," said he, a little pointedly.

"Fleda, my dear, you are answered," said Mrs. Evelyn, apparently with great internal amus.e.m.e.nt.

"Yet you will indulge me so far as to indicate what part of the subject you are upon?" said Fleda, quietly.

"You must grant so much as that to so gentle a requisition, Mr. Stackpole," said the older lady.

"I venture to a.s.sume that you do not say that on your own account, Mrs. Evelyn?"

"Not at all ? I agree with you, that Americans are prejudiced; but I think it will pa.s.s off, Mr. Stackpole, as they learn to know themselves and other countries better."

"But how do they deserve such a charge and such a defence? or how have they deserved it?" said Fleda.

"Tell her, Mr. Stackpole," said Mrs. Evelyn.

"Why," said Mr. Stackpole, "in their absurd opposition to all the old and tried forms of things, and rancorous dislike of those who uphold them; and in their pertinacity on every point where they might be set right, and impatience of hearing the truth."

"Are they singular in that last item?" said Fleda.

"Now," said Mr. Stackpole, not heeding her, "there's your treatment of the aborigines of this country ? what do call that, for a _free_ people?"

"A powder magazine, communicating with a great one of your own somewhere else; so, if you are a good subject, Sir, you will not carry a lighted candle into it."