Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-06

debated, but with not nearly so much
unan1mfty. The southerners were by no
means agreed on that subject. And 1t was
a pity that this diversity Of opinion was
not realized in the north. Here again
Judge Amman differed from many Of his
neighbors. He, in common with such men
as Henry A. Wise, the governor of Vir-
ginia, deplored the existence Of slavery,
ana with others had been quietly work.
Ing for some time looking toward its aboli-
ton. They had come to regard slavery as
a curse and blot upon the fair name of the
south, as Well as a menace to any indus
trial supremacy, rather than divinely or
dained institution, a blessing. Left to
themselves, these men would have brought
about gradual abolition of slavery upon
equitable grounds which would have been
acceptable to the whole nation.
The moral consciousness Of the SOUTH
generally speaking, was entirely at rest on
the question, however. The slaveholding
statesmen were as sincere and as thorough,
~ convinced that they were right as the
most violent aboNtionist was to the con-
tpary, and to convince them otherwise
would require time, tact and patience
roxces which have often before moved a
world. Such an industrial system as sla-
very could not be uprooted suddenly with
out so seriously disturbing existing eco
nom1c conditions as to produce revolution
The efforts of the southern abolitionists-
who would naturally resent the term-were
in the present excitement fruitless They
were compelled to sink the question of sla-
very in choice between their state and
the United States. Their choice In most
instances was inevitable.
Attacked therefore. by family, friends
and sweetheart. Peyton actually gradually
persuaded himself that 1t was not his duty
to remain in the United States service He
had been born in Alabama. ALI his family
his wife,. lived there. All his affections. his
dreams. his hopes. were centeyed there If
war came-and he was at last convinced
against his will that it would come. and the
conviction came in the end because he was
one OF the few southern men who knew the
quality Of the north, which most OF his
countrymen, publicly, at least, derided-he
would be compelled to fight against those
he loved and who loved him. Living in
seaboard town, it was quite possible that he
might some day be compelled to turn the
guns of warship upon this very city. upon
his own people, upon his own home. An
awful thought that. terrible argument
But there was another powerful incentive.
The very moment that he announced his
determination to continue in the United
States service and his refusal to resign he
would be man marked for hatred and
contempt
Should he follow in the footsteps of his
fathers, honor and preferment awaited him.
His military and naval training would be of
great value to the south. To the north he
would be only one of a number of enter
prfsing young officers.
In short, nearly everything urged him to
decision in conformity with the wishes of
his people, and the arguments that were
brought to bear upon him were SO power
full that they nearly decided him-nearly.
but not quite. Again and again it was on
his lips to announce that decision, yet some,
thing held him back.
He grew haggard and pale under the
stress and strain of the outward and inward
debate with men, conscience and the wo-
man. He had time for no day dreams now.
Under the iron pressure in the terrible
struggle which tore the very depths Of his
being he began to lose some Of the irdif-
ference, the hesitation, the timidity which
had characterized him in the presence Of
the world. He began to stiffen and to
strengthens.