The Washington herald., 1911-08-16
CHAPTER XIV.
The Argument.

To the heated imagination of the Hon.
william Jones something still remained
to be explained, and he remained anx-
ious to continue the conversation on the
topic foremost in his mind.
Look around here, gentlemen" said
he, extending an eloquent arm. Behold
them mountings. Look at them trees
surrounding this valley of secrets. The
spoils of war belongs to him that has
fit-the captives of the bow and spear
are his'n. How said Brennus the Gaul,
when he done vanquished Rome? Woe
to the conquered said he. Woe to
them that has fell to our arms!' Now
it's the same right here. Look at"
II was just going to remark" suavely
broke in Judge Clayton, that of the
many mountain views of our Southern
country, this seems to me one of the
most satisfactory. have never seen
more restful scene than this. nor a
morning more beautiful But, Mis-
souri, he added. almost with mourn
fulness. What a record OF strife and
turmoil!''
Dunwody nodded. As when Mis-
souri, was admitted, for instance" he
said smlingly.
Precisely" rejoined Clayton, biting
THE South. gets State, the North de-
mands one, When Missouri came in,
Illinois also was admitted-one free
against one slave State. Politics-nothing
more. Missouri would break the balance
of power II she came alone and impaired
as slave State, so the North paired
her with Maine, and let her in. with
a string tied to her! Slavery already
existed here, as In all these other States
hat had rxytf avis mt
What the North tried to do was to abol-
ish slavory where it had already existed,
legally. and under the full permission
Of the Constitution. All OF the Louisiana
purchase had slavery when we bought 1t,
and under the Constitution Congress
could not legislate slavery out of it,
The younger men of the party listened
to him gravely, even eagerly. Regard
ing the personal arbitrament of arms
which they now faced. they were indif-
ferent; but always they were ready to
hear the arguments pro and con Of that
day, when indeed. this loosely organized
republic had the giant wolf of slavery
by the ear.
But they claimed the right of the
moral lawr' said Dunwody finally.
THE moral lawi Who is the judge Of
that? Governments are not run by that
II we overthrow our whole. system Of
WHY, VIC hOtiiihS " soy
That's anarchy, not government. The
South is growing faster, relatively, than
the North. The politicians on both sides
are scared about the balance of power,
and they're simply taking advantage OF
this cry Of morality. They're putting
the noralists out as cats-paws to the
firer Judge Clayton almost abandoned
his usual calm.
IT imagine" ventured DR.. Jameson.
nal
come in unrestricted as Louisiana had In
1872 or Arkansas in 1885"
THAT argument was admitted by
statesmen. but 1t was denied by poll
ticians. I make distinction between
the two" commented Dunwody.
"Yes," rejoined Judge Clayton. The
politicians of the House, controlled by
the North, would not give up the ipten-
ton to regulate us into a place where
II could hold US down. Very well,' said
the Senate-and there were a few states
men in the Senate then-'then you shall
not have Maine admitted on your own
side Of the liner And that was how
Missouri sneaked into this Union.-this
State, one Of the richest parts Of the
Union-by virtue Of a compromise which
even waited until Maine was ready to
come in! Talk of principles-it was poll
tics, and nothing less. That's your Mis-
souri, Compromise: but has the North
ever considered 1t so sacred? She's
stuck to 1t when 1t was good politics,
and forgotten 1t when that was more to
her interest. The Supreme Court Of the
United States will declare the whole
Missouri Compromise unconstitutional at
no late date. And what 1t is going to
do with Mr.. Clay's compromise, of this
year, the Lord only knows
1t was young Yates who at length
ventured to interrupt In his soft and
drawing tones. .T don't see how the
Moth can charge US up with much.
Whenever they get into trouble and
want help In a trade, or fight. or an
argument. why. they come South.
Doctor Jameson calmly took SNUFF.
Time was, when we first came In as a
State" said he. that We don't take
these attempts Of the North to regulate
us any too tamely.'
II don't know about that" commented
Judge Clayton. .Your moral law your
higher law, gentlemen. don't md In
my legal reading. II was personal lib
erty that took every man West, but
we stood and stickled for the actual
law, and we've been robbed under II:
robbed .as State: and now they want
to rob US as individuals. Gentlemen,
these men are carrying on girl OF
mine worth, say, fifteen hundred TO tive
thousand. I say deliberately that. when
these armed invaders como TO cross this