Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-27

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"If 4ley old friend a0tlt permit me, 4 gtUe
you health
thusiasm by every one present except
young Peyton, who brushed his lips to
his glass after some hesitation with a
very moody countenance. In the or
binary course of events, with the ter
mination Of the dinner proper the ladies
would have retired to the drawing
room while the gentlemen fingered
over their wine but the subject under
quence to them all that Mrs. Peyton,
who had assumed the role OF hostess
for the occasion, sat still and gave no
signal. The conversation that passed
around the table between the older
men had body Of feminine auditors
so intensely interested that it was with
difficulty that they kept silent.
Il knew, of course" said the govern
or suavely, as Colonel Peyton sat
down, that we could count upon you,
and, indeed, judge, think you are
wrong. am sure that an attempt will
be made to dispossess us of our, slaves
summarily and to force upon us with
out time for preparation the very
choice which we now make, or will
make shortly"
IAN irreconcilable difference of eco
nomic systems will inevitably produce
an irrepressible conflict, which will not
cease until one or the other system tri-
umphs. What Lincoln said is true The
country cannot exist half slave, half
free. They will resist secession in the
north. The conflict is inevitable" said
Hudson. slowly and carefully deliver
Ing his weighty words, which made a
profound impression upon all by their
gravity and accuracy.
81 agree with the governor on the
one hand" said DR.. Venosste, a
thoughtful old man, beloved by every
one In the town because of his kindly,
charitable life, anu / agree with my
friend the judge and Lawyer Hudson
on the other. I do not regard slavery,
with all Difference to you. reverend sir,
as divine institution. AS an economic
system 1t seems to me to be extrava-
CANT and lii adapted to the needs OF a
community like ours, although I am a
slave owner, as my family has been
for generations. was born and reared
amid the institution of slavery. first
learned to whirl the top and bounce
the ball with the young African. Ev-
erything own on earth Is the result
OF slave labor, the bread that feeds my
wife and children lie produced by the
labor of slaves. They live ON my plan
tations with every feeling OF kindness
as between master and slave. I love
them; they love me. Yet, frankly, /
be ready to join and cooperate with
any move whatsoever looking to that
end. TO free them myself out of hand
and without general cooperation
among other shareholders would be to
plunge them into poverty and disaster,
but it has been my hope that some
means might be devised whereby slave
labor could be supplanted by free labor
and property holding In slaves might
cease to be in the south. So the 'ir-
reconcilable difference Mr.. Hudson
speaks of might be-shall say har-
monized?"
Gentlemen" said the governor,
reading from newspaper clipping
which he took from his pocket, yes
terday in Montgomery at the session
of the Alabama conference OF the Meth
odist Church South 1t was resolved that
the conference believed African slav-
cry as 1t exists in the south to be wise,
humane and righteous institution, ap-
pointed by God and calculated to pro-
mote In the highest possible degree the
welfare of the slave; that the election
of sectional president of the United
States was evidence of the hostility of
the majority of the people to the south,
and which in fact If not In form dis
solves the compact Of union between
the states and drives the aggrieved
party to assert it's independence And
they said further, Our hearts are with
we shall not be found wanting in the
hour Of danger"
"A ringing declaration, that" said
DR.. Bampney, who was an Episco-
palian, from our Methodist brethren,
Pity that men OF such clear insight
ever left the fold of the true church."
Its question of property again.
Almost all political or even moral ques-
lions have material basis. The north
ern states, In defiance of the constitu-
ton, have denied that slaves are prop
erty, have refused to protect slave
owners, despite the fugitive slave law
In their title to their slaves. and will
refuse" said the lawyer. again clearly
stating the case and with his fine legal
mind going to the core of the problem
u way that awakened eyerybody's
admiration.