“Why, sir, most directly!” replied Master George, screwing his mouth and giving his head a very learned attitude.  “Directly, sir!—­the Federal Government is acquiescing in every abolition scheme that is put forward by that intriguing Northern compact for the establishment of new governments in the territories.  She is granting unconstitutional privileges to designing politicians, whose chief aim is to uproot our domestic institution and destroy the allegiance of the slave to his master, by which the slaves would be cast upon the world unprotected, and we disarmed of power to protect them.  Ah! sir, I tell you, of all fruits of the imagination that would be the most damnable, and the slave would be the sufferer.  It would be worse for him, poor fellow; it would be an abuse of human power without precedent.  So far as political power is concerned, we are nearly disarmed.  The influx of population finds its way into the opened avenues of the North and West.  And with opinions predisposed against our institutions, and the contaminating influence standing ready with open arms to embrace the great current, what can we expect?  It’s the increasing power made by foreign influx that’s giving tone to our government.  If our Southern Convention stand firm we are saved; but I’m fearful there’s too many doubtful shadows in it that won’t stand to the gun.  That’s what’s always played the devil with us,” said George, striking his hand upon the table.  “There’s no limitation to their interpositions, and their resolves, and their adjournments; which don’t come up to my principles of making the issue, and standing to the question with our coffins on our backs.  These condescensions of thought and feeling arise from the misconceived notions of a few, who are always ready to join, but never willing to march to action, and must not be taken as a specimen of South Carolina bravery.  The Federal Government has become vicious and even puerile toward South Carolina; and since the Herculean power of the great Calhoun is gone, it treats us like a semi-barbarous and secluded people, mistaking our character.  But we’ll learn the Federal Government a lesson yet.”

“Do not your legislators make laws for your government, or how is it that you express such a restive dissatisfaction?  Do not the same laws which govern you, govern the whole of the slave States?”

Little George had previously monopolized all the conversation, but at this juncture five or six voices broke out, each fired with a reply to the Captain’s question; and yet the answer was of the same old stamp:  What South Carolina had done-how she had fought and gained the Mexican war-how she was interested in slaves, and how she yet feared to strike the blow because a set of mere adventurers had got the power to vote in her elections, and cowards through them had got into the legislature.

“Why, gentlemen, listen to me in this particular.  If”—­

“Your oysters are getting cold, George,” interrupted a blood at his left, rather facetiously.