The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-08-29

sion. The organ loft opened again
It was this time even less difficult to
manage the field battery and drum.
corps accompaniment 1t could
hardly be kept out of the mind.
In due time the preacher took his
stand in the pulpit. His manner
was in harmony with what had gone
before. His text is not remembered.
1t was about rebellion. The time
had come for turning things topsy-
turvy. He began by saying that as
Louis Napolean went to war for an
idea, the South was going to rebel,
and if need be wage war for an idea.
That idea was slavery. He had the
courage of his convictions, anyway,
and there was no doubling that he
was backed by his hearers, for in
every part of the house there was
manifestations of appreciation.
Besides, the discourse had been
pronounced once and it was because
it struck the keynote so exactly
that It's repetition was demanded.
1t was afterward printed by the
Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Asso-
citation and widely distributed. l
did not find it anywhere among the
rebellion records, although it was
the first formal declaration of rebel
lion. 1t was a defense of slavery
the overthrow of which, it was main
tanned, was intended by the election
of Lincoln. Therefore the time to
rebel had come. The Government
was simply a contrivance of the
North, notably New England, for
depressing the South, which would
20 forward and set up one of It's own.
Compare, said he, the negroes OF
Congo river with our own slaYes and
observe the humanizing, Chrlstianl-
zing influences Of slavery.
! had a notion, as the preacher
went on elevating the standard OF
rebellion higher and higher, that at
least one man in the whole audience
would rise to protest. Not so, how
ever. For as the round sentences
clothing the rankest treason, uttered
in a manner at once robust and de-
fant, came out, there was the rustic
of applause. Probably the place
and the day repressed the cheers
which the packed audience had IN
their hearts to give.
Butler could hardly keep still. II
was sound doctrine for him. L ac'
knowledge to degree of dissimula-
ton on my part. l thought II
necessary at the time, and | have
always since believed it was pardon
able in me, considering the circum'
stances.
The discourse over, the organ loft
once more broke forth. This time
the rattling Of musketry seemed tC
be added to that Of field guns and
drum corps.
When the benedictiOn, which
sounded curiously enough, had beer
pronounced, the congregation fell to
shaking hands. Some even hugged
Butler was as demonstrative as any
body. He went ahead of some.
Nor did he seem TO be acting.
believe he did not suspect me OF it.
AS we were coming out OF th'
house Butler, referring to the dis
course, said to me: What do you
think of that?" Without the leas'
hesitation | answered that | thought
it was an extraordinary production
the most so of any to which hac
ever listened, and that | would nor
have missed it on any account what
ever. He said he knew how i
would be, and was glad liked it
Would | be glad to know Mr.. Prem
tiss? If so, he would introduce me
but | interposed the objection tha'
as it was already late, / would prefer
another time, when opportunity tol
conversation would be given.
Butler and myself returned to The
hotel. He was in the highest spirits
| cannot well describe what were my
feelings. realized that | was act
ually in the hot-bed of treason t.
the Union, to the flag, everything
had been taught to hold sacred.
We talked long, and whateve
Butler knew | was told. He inform
ed me that he would soon leave on
visit to Alexander II. Stephens, who
even then, was considered very
important parsonage, whose cooper
alton was absolutely necessary to tn,
scheme of secession. Butler had
always been Wing, and knew
Toombs and Stephens well. With
out Georgia the Co-operatlonists fel
that the scheme would fail, for with
out Stephens Georgia would refus,
to cooperate. As Northern Viii:
and an old acquaintance ne was 60
ing to work on Stephens. That wa.
the mission he was about to under
take, and he did not believe b,
would fail. He showed me letter
written by the leaders with whom b,
was working. They indicated th'
confidence they had in Butler anC
spoke fully of futher plans and pres
ent expectations. Butler was a full,
endorsed representative, but espe
cially to Stephens. To me thes
letter were interesting reading. The,
let me a great way into plans for Sc
cession and gave me an understand
ing of the question | had come Il
study which / might not otherwis
have obtained. | felt it was a goo,
start.
Before our conversation, whicl
lasted hours, ended, Butler recure,
to the Rev. Mr.. PrentisS and tn,
proposed introduction. Leaving n
for few moments he returned will
the information that Mr.. Prentis
would leave in the morning for hi
plantation, near Rantoul, on th
railroad ont of Charleston for Savan
nah, - miles distant. If | wished
he would procure me the invitation
from the preacher to become hi,
guest for a few days in the country
where / would be sure to meet repre-
sentative characters. 1t was sool
arranged, and when we separated i
was with the understanding that W
would meet at an early breakfast 5,
as to catch the ferry-boat, where h,
would meet Mr.. Prentiss.
In the innrninr Rnflar vnS n