“That argument was admitted by statesmen, but it was denied by politicians:  I make a distinction between the two,” commented Dunwody.

“Yes,” rejoined Judge Clayton.  “The politicians of the House, controlled by the North, would not give up the intention to regulate us into a place where it could hold us down.  ‘Very well,’ said the Senate—­and there were a few statesmen in the Senate the—­’then you shall not have Maine admitted on your own side of the line!’ And that was how Missouri sneaked into this Union—­this state, one of the richest parts of the Union—­by virtue of a compromise which even waited until Maine was ready to come in!  Talk of principles—­it was politics, and nothing less.  That’s your Missouri Compromise; but has the North ever considered it so sacred?  She’s stuck to it when it was good politics, and forgotten it when that was more to her interest.  The Supreme Court of the United States will declare the whole Missouri Compromise unconstitutional at no late date.  And what it is going to do with Mr. Clay’s compromise, of this year, the Lord only knows.”

It was young Yates who at length ventured to interrupt in his soft and drawling tones, “I don’t see how the No’th can charge us up with much.  Whenever they get into trouble and want help in a trade, or a fight, or a argument, why, they come south!”

Doctor Jamieson calmly took snuff.  “Time was, when we first came in as a state,” said he, “that we didn’t take these attempts of the North to regulate us any too tamely.”

[Illustration:  Doctor Jamieson calmly took snuff.]

“I don’t know about that,” commented Judge Clayton.  “Your ’moral law,’ your ‘higher law,’ gentlemen, I don’t find in my legal reading.  It was personal liberty that took every man west, but we’ve stood and stickled for the actual law, and we’ve been robbed under it:  robbed as a state, and now they want to rob us as individuals.  Gentlemen, these men are carrying off a girl of mine worth, say fifteen hundred to two thousand.  I say deliberately that, when these armed invaders come to cross this state with purposes such as that, there is full process of law under which they can be turned back.  For instance, you, Colonel Dunwody, are a United States marshal.  I’ve the honor to represent the Judiciary of this state.  We haven’t time now to put the matter in the hands of the courts or of the legislature.  But it seems to me—­”

“Men,” said young Desha tersely, “we’re wastin’ time.  We’ve made our medicine.  Let’s hit the war trail.”

Dunwody smiled at him.  “You boys are hot-headed,” said he.

“To hell with the Constitution!” exclaimed the Honorable William Jones suddenly.

“Well, it’s one Constitution against the other, anyhow,” said Clayton.  “You can see the intent of the North now plainly enough.  Indiana openly says she’s going to make the Fugitive Slave Act impossible of enforcement.  All over the North they call it immoral and unchristian—­they reserve the right of interpreting both the Bible and the Constitution for us—­as though we weren’t grown men ourselves.  That’s the sort of law there is back of this boat load of fools down there.”