The poor Captain looked confounded-took another oyster, and began to get his mouth. in a fix, while little George worked his fingers through his nice curly hair, and the young bloods awaited the rejoinder with anxiety.

“Really, sir, you have the advantage of me in your question.  It is so much beyond my profession that I am entirely ignorant of the subject-therefore could not give an opinion.  In truth, sir, I do not know the purport of the question.  It has given me pleasure and information to listen to your conversation and the ability you displayed in argument, but, as a stranger, I could take no part,” replied the Captain very sincerely.

Not content with this, Master George wished to be more direct.  “It’s the right of secession, Captain-the power to maintain the right by the constitution.”

“Probably; but may I expose my ignorance by inquiring what is meant by secession? and to what it is applied so frequently?” inquired the Captain.

“Oh! murder Captain; have you never heard of nullification times!  Well, sir, you must be posted on the affairs of our government.”  So he commenced an analysis of nearly an hour long, and in it gave some astonishing accounts of the wonderful statesmanship of Calhoun, Butler, and Rhett, tapering down with a perfect fire-and-thunder account of the military exploits of General Quattlebum and Captain Blanding.  The Captain began to stretch and gape, for he labored under the fatigue of a perilous voyage, and repose was the only sovereign remedy.  He felt that the limits of propriety were entirely overstepped, and that he would have reason to remember the first night spent with little George the secessionist.

“But, Captain! my dear fellow.  I see you don’t understand our position yet.  We’ve been insulted; yes, most rascally insulted by the Federal Government, and they keep it up every year.  We can’t get our rights.  Oh! no, sir, there’s no such thing in the knowledge of the Federal officers as justice for South Carolina; and you must understand, Captain, that she is the greatest State in the Union, and there a’n’t nothing like her people for bravery.  The political power’s got North and West, the old constitution is being dissected to suit the abolitionists, and they’re drawing the cordon around us faster and faster; and they’re now out like a warrior boldly to the conquest, sounding their voices in the halls of Congress, appealing to human and divine power to protect their nonsense, and bidding defiance to our constitutional rights, Our slaves are our property, protected by the law of God-by that inspired and superhuman wisdom that founded our great and glorious constitution.  Yes, sir! it was an institution entailed upon us by our forefathers, and a wise providence has provided proper laws by which we shall protect and see these poor miserable devils of helpless slaves, that can’t take care of themselves, straight through.”

“But how does this affect you and the Federal Government?” inquired the Captain.