"Yes, sir; I have a number on my plantation, and never have had one stolen yet." "Don't the 'Barnburners,' 'Wooly Heads' and Abolitionists from Ohio and Pennsylvania come over here and steal them away?" "They have never taken any from me." "Well, that's a wonder. I know a number of good men on the border who find it impossible to keep niggers at all." "Perhaps they are not good masters," said Mr. Tompkins. "They were the best of masters, and they lost their niggers, though they guarded them with watchful overseers and bloodhounds." "But do you think that a good master needs to guard his slaves with armed overseers and dogs?" said Mr. Tompkins. "Of course," the Carolinian answered; "how else would you keep the black rascals in subjection? Are we not horrified almost every week by reports of some of their outrages? Swamps and canebrakes have become the haunts of runaway blacks, who, having murdered their master, seek to wreck vengeance on innocent children or women." Mr. Tompkins started at these assertions, as though he felt a pang at his heart. "My friend, what you say is true, too true," he said; "but is the master always blameless? The negro possesses feelings, and even a beast may be goaded to madness. Is it not an unrighteous system which is crushing and cursing our beloved country?" "What system?" "Slavery." "Why, sir, you are a singular slave-holder," cried the Southerner. "Are you going to turn a Martin Van Buren and join the Free-soilers?" "There is a great deal in that question, sir, outside of politics. I believe in slavery, else I would not own a slave; but, if our slaves are to be treated as animals, it were better if the institution were abolished." "How would you treat them?" "Discharge the overseers, to begin with." "I am sure, you would fail." "The plan has succeeded well on my plantation," said Mr. Tompkins, "and I do not own a single negro who would not die for me." Here were met two men, both believing in the institution of human slavery, but carrying out its principles, how differently! The one with cool Northern blood and kindly feelings, advocating a humane mode of ruling the helpless being in his power. The other, representing the extreme type of refined cruelty and oppression. The mind of the one grew more and more in harmony with the idea of abolition, while the other came to hate, with all the fierceness of his Southern heart, the idea of universal freedom; became willing, even, to strike at that flag which had failed to protect his interests and his opinions.