"The law takes better care of
us than that."
"The law would hang you," said I.
"I tell you, Daisy, it is no such thing! Gentlemen have a
right to defend themselves against the insolence of these
black fellows."
"And have not the black fellows a right to defend themselves
against the insolence of gentlemen?" said I.
"Daisy? you are talking the most unspeakable non- sense," said
Preston, quite put beyond himself now. "_Don't_ you know any
better than that? These people are our servants — they are our
property — we are to do what we like with them; and of course
the law must see that we are protected, or the blacks and the
whites could not live together."
"A man may be your servant, but he cannot be your property," I
said.
"Yes, he can! They are our property, just as much as the land
is; our goods, to do what we like with. Didn't you know that?"
"Property is something that you can buy and sell," I answered.
"And we sell these people, and buy them too, as fast as we
like."
"_Sell_ them!" I echoed, thinking of Darry.
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