“I do not understand you, sir; here, it is our boast that all are protected, alike.” “Ay, so far as _boasting_ goes, we are beyond reproach. But what are the facts? Here is a man that owes money. The law is appealed to, to compel payment. Verdict is rendered, and execution issued. The sheriff enters his house, and sells his very furniture, to extort the amount of the debt from him.” “That is his misfortune, sir. Such things must happen to all debtors who cannot, or will not, pay.” “If this were true, I should have nothing to say. Imagine this very debtor to be also a creditor; to have debts due to him, of many times the sums that he owes, but which the law will _not_ aid him in collecting. For him, the law is all oppression—no protection.” “But, surely, Uncle Tom, nothing of the sort exists here!” “Surely, Miss Sarah Wilmeter, such things _do_ exist here in practice, whatever may be the theory on the subject; what is more, they exist under the influence of facts that are directly connected with the working of the institutions. My case is not supposititious, at all, but real. Several landlords have quite recently felt all the rigours of the law as debtors, when it was a dead letter to them, in their character of creditors. This has actually happened, and that more than once; and it might happen a hundred times, were the landlords more in debt. In the latter case, it would be an every-day occurrence.” ‘What, sir,’ exclaimed Michael Millington; ‘the law enforce, when it will not protect?’ “That it does, young man, in many interests that I could point out to you. But here is as flagrant a case of unmitigated tyranny as can be cited against any country in Christendom. A citizen is sold out of house and home, under process of law, for debt; and when he asks for the use of the same process of law to collect his undeniable dues, it is, in effect, denied him. And this among the people who boast that their independence is derived from a spirit that would not be taxed! A people who are hourly shouting hosannas in honour of their justice!” ‘It cannot be, Uncle Tom, that this is done, in terms,’ cried the astounded nephew. “If, by terms, you mean professions of justice, and liberty, and equal rights, they are fair enough; in all those particulars we are irreproachable. As ‘_professors_’ no people can talk more volubly or nearer to the point—I allude only to facts.” “But these facts may be explained—qualified—are not as flagrant as they seem under your statement?” “In what manner?” “Why, sir, this is but a _temporary_ evil, perhaps.”