Page:A letter on "Uncle Tom's cabin" (1852).djvu/18

14 of moral, but of social and political laws. All such codes are mortal. All systems are mortal.

I no sooner see any of them arise, as may be seen in every age, than I say to myself, "That means something, perhaps: it suits this people, this age, this country; it will have its day; but it provides and settles too much, and there will be an end of it."

I contend, moreover, that modern slavery is essentially different from the slavery of old times. If you will look at what I have said elsewhere on this subject, you will see that Jewish slavery differed toto cœlo, in fact was whole heavens and whole hells apart, from any thing like modern slavery.

As for slavery among barbarians or in the Roman Empire, the difference between that and any thing like yours is immense, much greater than you are likely to have any notion of until you have looked carefully into the question.

The rare liberality of the Romans, which could endure most gods, was also very noticeable in its tolerance of all races of mankind; and it would be comparatively needless to be for ever dinning