of comparing its results with those of their own.  But the predominance of the hostile interests are so great here, that reason and justice go for nothing in the conflict of opinions.  If a member of congress is flogged, it is no answer to say that a deputy or a member of parliament has been murdered.  They do not affirm, but they always argue as if they thought we ought to be better than they!  If we have an angry discussion and are told of it, one would think it would be a very good answer, so far as comparative results are concerned, to tell them that half-a-dozen of their provinces are in open revolt; but to this they will not listen.  They expect us never to quarrel!  We must be without spot in all things, or we are worse than they.  All this Lafayette sees and feels; and although it is impossible not to detect the unfairness and absurdity of such a mode of forming estimates of men, it is almost equally impossible, in the present situation of Europe, for one who understands the influence of American example, not to suffer these unpleasant occurrences to derange his philosophy.

Before breakfast the General took me into his library, and we had a long and a much franker conversation on the state of South Carolina.  He said that a separation of the Union would break his heart.  “I hope they will at least let me die,” he added, “before they commit this suicide on our institutions.”  He particularly deprecated the practice of talking about such an event, which he thought would accustom men’s minds to it.  I had not the same apprehensions.  To me it appeared that the habit of menacing dissolution, was the result of every one’s knowing, and intimately feeling, the importance of hanging together, which induced the dissatisfied to resort to the threat, as the shortest means of attaining their object.  It would be found in the end, that the very consciousness which pointed out this mode as the gravest attack that could be made on those whom the discontented wish to influence, would awaken enough to consequences to prevent any consummation in acts.  This menace was a natural argument of the politically weak in America, just as the physically weak lay hold of knives and clubs, where the strong rely on their hands.  It must be remembered that the latter, at need, can resort to weapons, too.  I do not believe there could be found in all America any great number of respectable men who wish the Union dissolved; and until that shall be the case, I see no great grounds of apprehension.  Moreover, I told him that so long as the northern states were tranquil I had no fears, for I felt persuaded that no great political change would occur in America that did not come from that section of the Union.  As this is a novel opinion, he inquired for its reasons, and, in brief, this was the answer:—­