tral Thought by primal law, but each a
sovereign orb, grave mistress of her own affairs! Slavery! Ay, I will
give you that though you want it not! Slavery is abominable. There is a
tree that grows in the tropics which they call the upas tree. All who
lie in the shadow of its branches fall asleep, and die sleeping. To-day
we lie under the upas tree--would that we were awake! I have heard
that--in the tropics--the sons sometimes hew down that which the fathers
have planted. I would that it were so in Virginia! Freedom of thought,
of speech, and of pen. I will away with this cope of lead, this Ancient
Authority, which is too often an Ancient Iniquity. Did it not have
once a minority? was it not once a New Thought? Is not a man's
thought to-day as potent, holy, and near the right as was his
great-grandfather's thought which was born in a like manner, of the
brain of a man, in a modern time? I will think freely and according to
reason. When it seems wise to tell my mind I will speak; and with
judgment I will write down my thought; and fear no man's censure.
Knowledge! I was a poor boy, and I strove for learning, strove hard, and
found it worth the striving. I know the hunger, and I know the rage when
one asks for knowledge and asks in vain. Is it not a shameful thing that
happy men, lodged warm and clear in the Interpreter's house, should hear
the groping in the dark without, know that their fellows are searching,
in pain and with shortness of breath, for the key which let the
fortunate in, and make no stir to aid those luckless ones? Give of your
abundance, or your abundance will decay in your hands and turn to that
which shall cause you shuddering!

His words went on, magnetic as the man. He spoke for an hour, coming at
the last to a consideration of those particular questions which hung in
Virginian air. He dealt with these ably, and he subtly conciliated those
of his audience who might differ with him. None could have called him
flatterer, but when he ceased to speak his hearers, feeling for
themselves a higher esteem, had for him a reflex glow. It was what he
could always count upon, and it furthered his fortunes. Now they crowded
about him, and it was late before, pleading the fatigue of his journey,
he could escape from their friendly importunity. At last, it being
towards midnight and the moon riding high, the neighbouring planters and
their guests got to saddle and, after many and pressing offers of
hospitality to R