"The North understand it better - they have told us for twenty years that their object was to pen up slavery within its present limits - surround it with a border of free States, and like the scorpion surrounded with fire, they will make it sting itself to death"

This quote by Robert Toombs is referring to the North's stance on slavery in the United States. Toombs is stating that the North has actually been promoting for the containment of slavery within its existing boundaries, and that by surrounding it with totally free states, it will ultimately die out. Toombs is implying that the North has actually been promoting this policy for twenty years, and that they comprehend the ramifications of this policy better than the South. This quote is a reflection of the North's position on slavery, and how they thought that it should be included and eventually eliminated. Toombs is recommending that the North's policy will be successful, which slavery will ultimately pass away out. This quote is a reflection of the political and social environment of the United States during the mid-19th century, and how the North and South had various views on slavery.