The truth is, I have two fine singing canaries and a mocking-bird.

Some of my pro-slavery friends delight to pester me about them.

They say that they mean to issue a habeas corpus, and take them before Justice Bird, (who, you know, queerly enough, happens to be United States Commissioner,) and inquire if they be not restrained of their freedom.

I tell them that man has dominion over all the fowls of the air.

But they say, "Then might makes right! Is it not a fine thing that such a lover of liberty and friend of freedom and enemy of oppression should keep those little prisoners for his selfish gratification.