"
"Don't put all the blame on the one side, Dinsmore," said Mr. Travilla.
"No; that would be very unfair. The framers of our constitution looked to
gradual emancipation to rid us of this blot on our escutcheon, this
palpable inconsistency between our conduct and our political creed.
"It did so in a number of States, and probably would ere this in all, but
for the fierce attacks of a few ultra-abolitionists, who were more zealous
to pull the mote out of their brother's eye than the beam out of their
own, and so exasperated the Southern people by their wholesale abuse and
denunciations, that all thought of emancipation was given up.
"It is human nature to cling the tighter to anything another attempts to
force from you; even though you may have felt ready enough to give it up
of your own free will."
"Very true," said Travilla, "and Garrison and his crew would have been at
better work repenting of their own sins, than denouncing those of their
neighbors."
"But, papa, you don't think it can come to war, a civil war, in our dear
country? the best land the sun shines on; and where there is none of the
oppression that makes a wise man mad!"
"I fear it, daughter, I greatly fear it; but we will cast this care, as
well as all others, upon Him who 'doeth according to His will, in the army
of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.
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