“What a miserable exhibition in the eyes of the world,” said the Judge.  “Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire” (he pronounced this name with infinite scorn) “managed by Jefferson Davis of Mississippi!”

“And he was well managed, sir,” said the Colonel.

“What a pliant tool of your Southern slaveholders!  I hear that you are to give him a plantation as a reward.”

“No such thing, sir.”

“He deserves it,” continued the Judge, with conviction.  “See the magnificent forts he permitted Davis to build up in the South, the arsenals he let him stock.  The country does not realize this.  But the day will, come when they will execrate Pierce before Benedict Arnold, sir.  And look at the infamous Kansas-Nebraska act!  That is the greatest crime, and Douglas and Pierce the greatest criminals, of the century.”

“Do have some more of that fried chicken, Judge,” said Virginia.

Mr. Whipple helped himself fiercely, and the Colonel smiled.

“You should be satisfied now,” said he.  “Another Northern man is in the White House.”

“Buchanan!” roared the Judge, with his mouth full.

“Another traitor, sir.  Another traitor worse than the first.  He swallows the Dred Scott decision, and smirks.  What a blot on the history of this Republic!  O Lord!” cried Mr. Whipple, “what are we coming to?  A Northern man, he could gag and bind Kansas and force her into slavery against the will of her citizens.  He packs his Cabinet to support the ruffians you send over the borders.  The very governors he ships out there, his henchmen, have their stomachs turned.  Look at Walker, whom they are plotting against in Washington.  He can’t stand the smell of this Lecompton Constitution Buchanan is trying to jam down their throats.  Jefferson Davis would have troops there, to be sure that it goes through, if he had his way.  Can’t you see how one sin leads to another, Carvel?  How slavery is rapidly demoralizing a free people?”

“It is because you won’t let it alone where it belongs, sir,” retorted the Colonel.  It was seldom that he showed any heat in his replies.  He talked slowly, and he had a way of stretching forth his hand to prevent the more eager Judge from interrupting him.

“The welfare of the whole South, as matters now stand, sir, depends upon slavery.  Our plantations could not exist a day without slave labor.  If you abolished that institution, Judge Whipple, you would ruin millions of your fellow-countrymen,—­you would reduce sovereign states to a situation of disgraceful dependence.  And all, sir,” now he raised his voice lest the Judge break in, “all, sir, for the sake of a low breed that ain’t fit for freedom.  You and I, who have the Magna Charta and the Declaration of Independence behind us, who are descended from a race that has done nothing but rule for ten centuries and more, may well establish a Republic where the basis of stability is the self-control