It is even matter of record that a governor of Georgia resigned his office to enter the smuggling trade on a large scale.

The scandal was notorious, and the rapidly growing abolition sentiment demanded that Congress so amend its laws as to make manstealers at least as subject to them as other malefactors.

But Congress tried the politician's device of passing laws which would satisfy the abolitionists, the slave trader, and the slave owner as well.

To-day the duty of the nation seems to have been so clear that we have scant patience with the paltering policy of Congress and the Executive that permitted half a century of profitable law-breaking.

But we must remember that slaves were property, that dealing in them was immensely profitable, and that while New England wanted this profit the South wanted the blacks.
Macaulay said that if any considerable financial interest could be served by denying the attraction of gravitation, there would be a very vigorous attack on that great physical truth.