Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. When the existence of such sorrows was disputed, the Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published, and to this no answer has ever been returned a most profound silence has always reigned with regard to that book in quarters whence there was the most clamour with regard to the tale. The Author has never seen or heard of one attempt to disprove or refute a single statement of the Key. Meanwhile, during the five years that have passed since the publication of the story, the great evil has marched on to its results with a terrible and undeviating tread. The foolish virgins, who all slumbered and slept, the respectable and tender-hearted, who, in ignorant sincerity, cried peace when there was no peace, have one by one been awakened in wild surprise; and the foolish have said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.