Another government, complete in every detail, exercising the sovereign right of life and death over its subjects, has been organized and maintained within the United States for many years.

This government has a population of seven million two hundred and fifty thousand." "Do you mean all that you say, Belton ?" asked Bernard eagerly.
"I shall in a short time submit to you positive proofs of my assertion.

You shall find that I have not overstated anything." "But, Belton, how in the world can such a thing be when I, who am thoroughly conversant with every movement of any consequence, have not even dreamed of such a thing." "All of that shall be made perfectly clear to you in the course of the narrative which I shall now relate." Bernard leaned forward, anxious to hear what purported to be one of the most remarkable and at the same time one of the most important things connected with modern civilization.
Belton began: "You will remember, Bernard, that there lived, in the early days of the American Republic, a negro scientist who won an international reputation by his skill and erudition.

In our school days, we spoke of him often.

Because of his learning and consequent usefulness, this negro enjoyed the association of the moving spirits of the revolutionary period.