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[judice of their best customers in the south? Those who are urging, with such intemperate zeal, measures, which to say the least of them, may lead to a separation of the states, would do well to view the subject coolly in this light. To the south it presents much material for reflection, and in the present posture of our affairs, it is not unworthy to engage the serious attention of the politicians of Europe.

As a mere literary production, we consider this a work of very high order. The style is unusually flowing, easy, and chaste. It is evident the writer has taken no pains to polish his language, simply because his language is habitually polished and classical. He writes as he would speak, as every author must do, who would acquire a natural and graceful style. His dialogue is animated, natural and easy, and his delineation of character distinguished for accuracy and nice discrimination. We would gladly present to the reader some specimens of his power in this way, but it would be difficult to do this without making longer extracts from the work than our limits would allow. Although our author frequently indicates the individual alluded to, by presenting some single, yet striking feature, he rarely descends to particular description; and it is only by contemplating his personages in the various situations

afford a just ground of uneasiness to the people of the south. It is altogether natural that they should not look with filial fondness to a government which protects them against all the rest of the world, only that they may be the more secure prey to their own fellow citizens. Accordingly, a feeling of disaffection to that government is rapidly extending among them. No fair criterion of its extent or strength can be found in popular elections. Many a man, like Mr. Hugh Trevor in the book before us, yet supports the government from an undefined fear of worse evils from opposing it, and perhaps also, from a lingering hope that it will ere long come back again to the purity of its original principles. But the subject is deeply considered by more than have yet chosen to avow it; and the true bearings of the question are better and better understood every day. We have long since "calculated the value of the Union," and we have found it above price. But the Union which we love is the union of independent, sovereign states, upon equal footing, and possessing in each of those states a legitimate check upon the usurpations of their common agent. We recognize no union which consolidates all power in the federal head, and degrades the sovereign states into petty municipal corporations. We sincerely hope that the future history of the country may falsify all these speculations. If, how-in which he has chosen to place them, that their whole ever, a change in our institutions should take place, as characters are to be understood. Thus it is impossible there is too much reason to fear, we have in the book to mistake Judge Baker, when we find him teaching before us, a striking view of the course which events his son "a certain sort of chopt logic, elaborately emwill probably take. The south, although the most ployed in proving what no one ever pretended to deny. patient people on earth, of the abuses of government, Condescending to prove, by claborate argument, the cannot bear every thing. When they see the President profound maxim that two and two make four;" and of the United States appointing his successor, and that "establishing as unquestionable the premises from which successor as a matter of course his own son; when they | other men begin to reason." But his full character is see our representative democracy thus gliding into he- only to be collected from his conduct in a variety of reditary monarchy; when they see their own institu- trying scenes, in which his own unsteady and yielding tions crushed, their own industry paralized, and them-principles have placed him. The eager humility of selves virtually the bondsmen of the north; a confede- his manner to the President; his timidity and irresoluracy among themselves for common protection, will be tion in circumstances of danger and difficulty; the the necessary result. Then follows of course the strife struggle produced by his clear perception of the constiof arms; the contests of mercenary troops on one hand,tution, between his sense of duty, and his desire to conwith bold spirits determined to be free, on the other; | form to the wishes of the "dispenser of honor and emothe irregular and partisan war of which the author has lument," and the final triumph of ambition and selfishgiven us so lively a picture, and it is to be hoped, theness over the better feelings of his nature. These are all ultimate triumph of the oppressed over the oppressor.

cult even for the self-love of those individuals to render them insensible to the truth of their own portraits. However this may be, at least one half the country, who have never regarded them with an eye of particular favor, will readily acknowledge that our author fully understands and justly appreciates them.

so perfectly characteristic, that no man acquainted with It did not escape the sagacity of the author, that one the political events of the last five years can possibly of the first measures which a southern confederacy would misapply them. In like manner the Prime Ministeradopt, would be the formation of advantageous foreign the Oliver le Diable of modern times, and the President aliances. This view of the subject has not been suffi- himself, are described with irresistible force and truth, ciently attended to by those who have been accustom-by the characteristics which they display in a variety ed to think that the south cannot stand alone. Uncon- of interesting scenes and situations. It would be diffinected with the north, she would hold precisely that position which would invite the nations of Europe to the closest alliance with her. She would then hold to them the same relation which she now holds to the north. Producing every thing which they wish to buy, and nothing which they wish to sell, each would be the best customer to the other. The north, on the other We have no room for as many extracts as we desire hand, would be their rivals and competitors in every to present as specimens of the general character and thing. England cannot send her manufactures to any style of the work. Indeed it would be difficult to select market of the world, without meeting American manu- any one passage more worthy of such distinction than factures of the same sort. The same thing is true of all others; for there is no falling off in any part of the the more considerable nations of Europe. What mo- book. Besides, a work of this sort could not be justly tive, then, could they have to form alliances with the appreciated from such extracts as the critic would feel northern states, their rivals in every thing, to the pre-authorized to make. Its true character can only be

VOL. III.-11

understood by him who reads the whole work, and reads it with a disposition to judge impartially of its design and object, as well as of its execution.

"As many as you please," replied the other, "for I am tired and hungry, and so is my horse; and I am glad to find some one, at last, of whom I may hope to purchase something for both of

us to eat."

We commence our extracts with a passage of some "That you can have quite handy," said the countryman, "for length, at the beginning of the work, exhibiting a pic-we have been gathering corn, and were just going to our dinner. turesque view of a state of things, the bare possibility horse, and you can take such as we have got to give you.” If you will only just 'light, sir, one of the boys can feed your of which startles the reader into a thrilling interest, which is never permitted to subside.

The invitation was accepted; the horse was taken in charge by a long-legged lad of fifteen, without hat or shoes; and the whole party crossed the fence together.

At the moment, a man was seen advancing toward them, who, observing their approach, fell back a few steps, and threw himself on the ground at the foot of a large old apple-tree. Around this were clustered a motley group of men, women and boys, who opened and made way for the stranger. He advanced, and, bowing gracefully, took off his forage cap, from beneath which a quantity of soit curling flaxen hair fell over his brow and cheeks. Every eye was now fixed on him, with an expression rather of interest than mere curiosity. Every countenance was serious

Toward the latter end of the month of October, 1849, about the hour of noon, a horseman was seen ascending a narrow valley at the eastern foot of the Blue Ridge. His road nearly followed the course of a small stream, which, issuing from a deep gorge of the mountain, winds its way between lofty hills, and terminates its brief and brawling course in one of the larger tributaries of the Dan. A glance of the eye took in the whole of the little set tlement that lined its banks, and measured the resources of its inhabitants. The different tenements were so near to each other as to allow but a small patch of arable land to each. Of manu-and composed, and all wore an air of business, except that a factures there was no appearance, save only a rude shed at the entrance of the valley, on the door of which the oft-repeated brand of the horse-shoe gave token of a smithy. There too the rivulet, increased by the innumerable springs which afforded to every habitation the unappreciated, but inappreciable luxury of water, cold, clear and sparkling, bad gathered strength enough to turn a tiny mill. Of trade there could be none. The bleak and rugged barrier, which closed the scene on the west, and the narrow road, fading to a footh-path, gave assurance to the traveller that he had here reached the ne plus ultra of social life in that direction.

Indeed, the appearance of discomfort and poverty in every dwelling well accorded with the scanty territory belonging to each. The walls and chimneys of unhewn logs, the roofs of loose boards laid on long rib-poles, that projected from the gables, and held down by similar poles placed above them, together with the smoked and sooty appearance of the whole, betokened an abundance of timber, but a dearth of every thing else. Contigu. ous to each was a sort of rude garden, denominated, in the ruder language of the country, a "truck-patch." Beyond this lay a small field, a part of which had produced a crop of oats, while on the remainder the Indian corn still hung on the stalk, waiting to be gathered. Add to this a small meadow, and the reader will have an outline equally descriptive of each of the little farms which, for the distance of three miles, bordered the stream.

But, though the valley thus bore the marks of a crowded population, a deep stillness pervaded it. The visible signs of life were few. Of sounds there were none. A solitary youngster, male or female, alone was seen loitering about every door. These, as the traveller passed along, would skulk from observation, and then steal out, and, mounting a fence, indulge their curiosity, at safe distances, by looking after him.

At length he heard a sound of voices, and then a shrill whistle, and all was still. Immediately, some half a dozen men, leaping a fence, ranged themselves across the road and faced him. He observed that each, as he touched the ground, laid hold of a rifle that leaned against the enclosure, and this circumstance drew his attention to twenty or more of these formidable weapons, ranged along in the same position. The first impulse of the traveller was to draw a pistol; but seeing that the men, as they posted themselves, rested their guns upon the ground and leaned upon them, he quietly withdrew his hand from his holster. It was plain that no violence was intended, and that this movement | was nothing but a measure of precaution, such as the unsettled condition of the country required. He therefore advanced steadily but slowly, and, on reaching the party, reined in his horse, and silently invited the intended parley.

The men, though somewhat variously attired, were all chiefly clad in half-dressed buckskin. They seemed to have been engaged in gathering corn in the adjoining field. Their companions, who still continued the same occupation, seemed numerous enough (including women and boys, of both of which there was a full proportion,) to have secured the little crop in a few hours. Indeed, it would seem that the whole working population of the neighborhood, both male and female, was assembled there.

As the traveller drew up his horse, one of the men, speaking in a low and quiet tone, said, "We want a word with you, stranger, before you go any farther."

slight titter was heard among the girls, who, hovering behind the backs of their mothers, peeped through the crowd, to get a look at the handsome stranger.

He was indeed a handsome youth, about twenty years of age, whose fair complexion and regular features made him seem yet younger. He was tall, slightly, but elegantly formed, with a countenance in which softness and spirit were happily blended. His dress was plain and cheap, though not unfashionable. A short grey coat, waistcoat and pantaloons, that neatly fitted and set off his handsome person, showed by the quality of the cloth that his means were limited; or that he had too much sense to waste, in foppery, that which might be better expended in the service of his suffering country. But, even in this plain dress, he was apparelled like a king in comparison with the rustics that surrounded him; and his whole air would have passed him for a gentleman, in any dress and any company, where the constituents of that character are rightly understood.

In the present assembly there seemed to be none, indeed, who could be supposed to have had much experience in that line. But dignity is felt, and courtesy appreciated by all, and the expression of frankness and truth is every where understood.

As the youth approached, the man at the foot of the tree arose, and returned the salutation, which seemed unheeded by the rest. He advanced a step or two, and invited the stranger to be seated. This action, and the looks turned toward him by the others, showed that he was in authority of some sort among them. With him, therefore, our traveller concluded that the proposed conference was to be held. There was nothing in his appearance which would have led a careless observer to assign him any preeminence. But a second glance might have discovered something intellectual in his countenance, with less of boorishness in his air and manner than the rest of the company displayed. In all, indeed, there was the negative courtesy of that quiet and serious demeanor which solemn occasions impart to the rudest and most frivolous. It was plain to see that they had a common purpose, and that neither ferocity nor rapacity entered into their feeling toward the new-comer. Whether he was to be treated as a friend or an enemy, obviously depended on some high consideration, not yet disclosed.

He was at length asked whence he came, and answered from the neighborhood of Richmond. From which side of the river? From the north side. Did he know any thing of Van Courtlandt? His camp was at Bacon's branch, just above the town. What force had he?

"I cannot say, certainly," he replied, "but common fame made his numbers about four thousand."

"Is that all, on both sides of the river?" said his interrogator. "O, no! Col. Loyal's regiment is at Petersburg, and Col. Coles's at Manchester; each about five hundred strong; and there is a piquet on the Bridge island." "Did you cross there?" "I did not."

"Where then?" he was asked.

"I can hardly tell you," he replied, "it was at a private ford, several miles above Cartersville."

"Was not that mightily out of the way? What made you come so far around?"

"It was safer travelling on that side of the river."

"Then the people on that si le of the river are your friends?" | his horse, he drew out, from between the padding and seat of his "No. They are not. But, as they are all of a color there, saddle, a paper closely folded. On opening this, it was found to they would let me pass, and ask no questions, as long as I tra- be a map of his route from Richmond to a point in the mountains, velled due west. On this side, if you are one man's friend, you a few miles west of the spot where they stood. On this were are the next man's enemy; and I had no mind to answer ques-traced the roads and streams, with the names of a few places, tions."

"You seem to answer them now mighty freely."

"That is true. I am like a letter that tells all it knows as soon as it gets to the right hand; but it does not want to be opened before that."

written in a hand which was known to the leader of the mountaineers to be that of Captain Douglas. A red line marked the devious route the traveller had been directed to pursue.

He said that, after crossing the river, between Lynchburg and Cartersville, to avoid the parties of the enemy stationed at both "And how do you know that you have got to the right hand places, he had lain by, until dark, at the house of a true Virgi now?"

"Because I know where I am."

"And where are you?"

nian. Then, turning south, and riding hard all night, he had crossed the Appomattox above Farmville (which he avoided for a like reason), and, before day, had left behind him all the

"Just at the foot of the Devil's Back-bone," replied the youth. hostile posts and scouting parties. He soon reached the Staun"Were you ever here before?"

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"I should say, you were a traitor to him, or a spy upon us," was the stern reply.

At the same moment, a startled hum was heard from the crowd, ard the press moved and swayed for an instant, as if a sort of spasm had pervaded the whole mass.

"You are a good hand at questioning," said the youth, with a smile, "but, without asking a single question, I have found out all I wanted to know.”

"And what was that?" asked the other.

ton river, and, having passed it, resumed his westward course in comparative safety.

"You know this hand," said he to the chief, "and now, I suppose, you are satisfied."

"I am satisfied," replied the other, "and glad to see you. I have not a doubt about you, young man, and you are heartily welcome among us--to all we can give you-and that an't much--and all we can do for you; and that will depend upon whether stout hearts, and willing minds, and good rifles, can help you. But you said you were hungry; so, I dare say, you'll be glad enough of a part of our sorry dinner."

Returning to the party which they had left, they found the women in the act of placing their meal before them, under the ap ple-tree. There was a patch of grass there, but no shade; nor was any needed in that lofty region; the frost had already done its work by stripping the trees of their leaves, and letting in the welcome rays of the sun through the naked branches. The meal consisted of fresh pork and venison, roasted or broiled on the coals, which looked tempting enough, though served up in wooden trays. There were no knives but such as each hunter carries

"Whether you were friends to the Yorkers and Yankees, or in his belt. Our traveller's dirk supplied the place of one to to poor old Virginia."

"And which are we for?" added the laconic mountaineer. “For old Virginia forever," replied the youth, in a tone in which exultation rung through a deeper emotion, that half stifled his voice.

It reached the hearts of his auditors, and was echoed in a shout that pealed along the mountain sides their proud war-cry of " old Virginia forever." The leader looked around in silence, but with a countenance that spoke all that the voices of his comrades had uttered.

him. Their plates were truly classical, consisting of cakes of Indian corn, baked in the ashes-so that, like the soldiers of Eneas, each man ate up his platter before his hunger was appeased.

Our traveller, though sharp set, could not help perceiving a woful insipidity in his food, for which his entertainer apologized. "We ha'nt got no salt to give you, stranger," said he. "The little that's made on the waters of Holston, is all used there; and what comes by way of the sound is too dear for the like of us, that fight one half the year, and work the other half, and then

"Quiet boys," said he, "never shout till the war is ended--with our rifles in our hands. As long as we let the Yankees hold unless it be when you see the enemy." Then turning again to the traveller, he said, "And how did you know we were for old Virginia?"

"I knew it by the place where I find you. I heard it in your voice; I saw it in their eyes; and I felt it in my heart;" said the young man, extending his hand.

His inquisitor returned the cordial pressure with an iron grasp, strong, but not convulsive, and went on: "You are a sharp youth," said he, "and if you are of the right metal that will hold an edge, you will make somebody feel it. But I don't know rightly yet who that is to be, only just I will say, that if you are not ready to live and die by old Virginia, your heart and face are not of the same color, that's all.”

He then resumed his steady look and quiet tone, and added, "You must not make me forget what I am about. How did you learn the way here?"

"I can answer that now ;" said the youth. "I learned it from Captain Douglas."

"Captain Douglas!" exclaimed the other. "If you were never here before, you have never seen him since he knew it himself."

"True enough;" was the reply. "But I have heard from him."

"I should like to see his letter."

"I have no letter."

"How then?"

"Go with me to my horse, and I will show you."

James river, we must make up our minds to eat our hogs when they are fat, and to do without salt to our bread. But it is not worth grumbling about; and bread without salt is more than men deserve that will give up their country without fighting for it."

When the meal was finished, our traveller, expressing a due sense of the courtesy of his entertainers, asked what was to pay, and proposed to continue his journey.

"As to what you are to pay, my friend," said the spokesman of the party, in the same cold, quiet tone, "that is just nothing. If you come here by Captain Douglas's invitation, you are one of us; and if you do not, we are bound to find you as long as we keep you. But, as to your going just yet, it is quite against our rules."

"How is that?" asked the traveller, with some expression of impatience.

"That is what I cannot tell you," replied the other.

"But what right," exclaimed the youth-then checking himself, he added: "But I see you mean nothing but what is right and prudent; and you must take your own way to find out all you wish to know about me. But I thought you said you did not doubt me."

"No more I do," replied the other; "but that is not the thing. May be, our rules are not satisfied, though I am."

"And what are your rules ?”

"It is against our rule to tell them,” said the mountaineer, drily. "But make yourself easy, stranger. We mean you no harm, and I will see and have every thing laid straight before sun-rise. The youth, accompanied by his interrogator, now returned to- You are heartily welcome. Such as we've got we give you; and ward the fence. Many of the crowd were about to follow; but that is better than you will find where you are going. For our the chief (for such he seemed) waved them back with a silent parts, except it be for salt, we are about as well off here as commotion of his hand, while a glance of meaning at two of the common; because there is little else we use that comes from foreign pany invited them to proceed. As soon as the stranger reached parts. I dare say, it will go hard with you for awhile, sir; but,

if your heart's right, you will not mind it, and you will soon get arrived at the conclusion that separation (which they deemed in. used to it." evitable) to be peaceable, must be prompt.

"It would be a great shame," said the youth, "if I cannot bear for awhile what you have borne for life."

"Yes," said the other, "that is the way people talk. But (axing your pardon, sir,) there an't no sense in it. Because the longer a man bears a thing, the less he minds it ; and after awhile, it an't no hardship at all. And that's the way with the poor negroes that the Yankees pretended to be so sorry for, and tried to get | them to rise against their masters. There's few of them, stranger, but what's happier than I am; but I should be mighty unhappy, if you were to catch me now, in my old days, and make a slave of me. So when the Yankees want to set the negroes free, and to make me a slave, they want to put us both to what we are not fit for. And so it will be with you for awhile, among these mountains, sleeping on the ground, and eating your meat without salt, or bread either, may be. But after awhile you will not mind it. But as to whether it is to be long or short, young man, you must not think about that. You have no business here, if you have not made up your mind to stand the like of that for life; and may be, that not so mighty long neither."

Our next extract exhibits the attitude of Virginia at the beginning of Mr. Van Buren's fourth term, when the action of the piece commences. It is prefaced by a sketch of character which every reader who is so for tunate as to be acquainted with a single individual of high talents and distinguished probity in the ranks of the administration, will be sure to think is drawn from that individual, whoever he may be.

Arthur Trevor was the youngest son of a gentleman who resided in the neighborhood of Richmond. He was a man in affluent circumstances, and had long and honorably filled various important and dignified stations in the service of his native State. Endowed with handsome talents, an amiable disposition, and all the accomplishments that can adorn a gentleman, he added to these the most exemplary virtues. His influence in society had, of course, been great, and though now, at the age of seventy, withdrawn from public life, his opinions were inquired of, and his counsel sought, by all who had access to him. Through life he had been remarkable for firmness, and yet more for prudence. The steadiness of his principles could never be questioned, but, it was thought, he had sometimes deemed it wise to compromise, when men of less cautious temper would have found safety in prudent boldness.

To this temperament had been attributed his conduct in regard to the politics of the last twenty years. Bred up in the school of State rights, and thoroughly imbued with its doctrines, he had, even before that time, been accustomed to look, with a jealous eye, on the progressive usurpations of the Federal Government. In the hope of arresting these, he had exerted more than his usual activity in aiding to put down the younger Adams, and to clevate his successor. Though no candidate for the spoils of victory, no man rejoiced more sincerely in the result of that contest; and, until the emanation of the proclamation of December 1832, he had given his hearty approbation, and steady, though quiet support, to the administration of Andrew Jackson.

These ideas had been laid before Mr. Trevor, and, in proportion to the urgency with which tney were pressed, was his alarm and his disposition to adhere to the Union. He, at last, had brought himself to believe union, on any terms, better than disunion, under any circumstances. As the lesser evil, therefore, he determined to forget the proclamation, and, striving to reconcile himself to all the acts of the administration, he regarded every attempt to unite the South, in support of a southern Presi dent, as a prelude to the formation of a Southern Confederacy. By consequence, he became a partisan of Martin Van Buren; and united with Ritchie, and others of the same kidney, in cadeavoring to subdue the spirit, and tame down the State pride of Virginia. These endeavors, aided by the lavish use of federal patronage in the State, were so far successful, that when, at the end of Van Buren's second term, he demanded a third election, she alone, in the South, supported his pretensions.

By the steady employment of the same pernicious influences, the elections throughout the State had been so regulated, as to produce returns of a majority of members devoted to the views of the usurper. This had continued until the spring of 1848, at which time the results of the elections were essentially the same which had taken place since the memorable 1836; when Virginia, at one stroke of the pen, expunged her name from the chronicles of honor, expunged the history of all her glories, expunged herself. From that time the land of Washington, and Henry, and Mason, of Jefferson, Madison, and Randolph, sunk to the rank of a province, administered and managed by the Riveses and Ritchies, the Barbours and Stevensons, the Watkinses and Wilsons, whose chance to be remembered in history depends, like that of Erostratus, on the glories of that temple of liberty which they first desecrated and then destroyed.

"Where once the Cæsars dwelt,

"There dwelt, tuncless, the birds of night."

From some cause, not understood at the time, an unexpected reaction had taken place between the spring elections and the recurrence of that form of presidential election in the fall, the observance of which was still deemed necessary to display, and, by

displaying, to perpetuate the usurper's power. This reaction appeared to show itself chiefly in those counties heretofore most distinguished for their loyalty. It would have seemed as if the spirit of John Randolph had risen from the sleep of death, and walked abroad through the scenes where his youthful shoulders had received the mantle of his eloquence from the hand of Henry. For the first time, in twelve years, the vote of Virginia was recorded against the re-election of Martin Van Buren to the presidential throne.

in hand, to the plunder and desolation of the South.

But not the less subservient were the proceedings of the Legislature elected for his use, the spring before. Yet enough had been done to justify the hope that the ancient spirit of old Virginia would yet show itself in the descendants of the men who had defied Cromwell, in the plenitude of his power, and had cast off the yoke of George the Third, without waiting for the co-operation of the other colonies. At the same time, the power and the will of a fixed majority in the North, to give a master to the South, had been made manifest. It was clearly seen, too, that he had determined to use the power thus obtained, and to administer the government solely with a view to the interest of that sectional From that moment he seemed to look with fearful bodings on faction, by which he had been supported. "Va victis!" "Woe the affairs of his country. His disapprobation of that instrument to the vanquished!" was the word. It had gone forth; and norwas expressed with as much freedom and force as was consist-thern cupidity and northern fanaticism were seen to march, hand ent with his habitual reserve and moderation. He was, indeed, alarmed into a degree of excitement unusual with him, and might have gone farther than he did, had he not found that others were disposed to go, as he thought, too far. He had entirely disapproved the nullifying erdinance of South Carolina; and though he recognized the right of secession, he deprecated all thought of resorting to that remedy. He was aware that many of his best friends, thinking that its necessity would be eventually felt by all, feared that that conviction might come too late. They remarked the steady tendency of federal measures to weaken the mal-content States in the South, and to increase the resources of their northern oppressors and those of the General Government. Hence they feared, that whenever Virginia, or any other of the slave-holding States, should find itself driven to secession, the other party, in the confidence of superior strength, might be tempted forcibly to resist the cxcrcise of the right. They thus

Under these circumstances, the southern States had been, at length, forced to see that the day for decisive action had arrived. They therefore determined no longer to abide the obligations of a constitution, the forms of which alone remained, and having, by a movement nearly simultaneous, seceded from the Union, they had immediately formed a Southern Confederacy. The suddenness of these measures was less remarkable than the prudence with which they had been conducted. The two together left little doubt that there had been a preconcert among the leading men of the several States, arranging provisionally what should be done, whenever circumstances should throw power into the hands of those whom, at the bidding of the usurper, the people had once driven from their councils. It is now known that there was such concert. Nor was it confined to the seceding States alone. In Virginia, also, there were men who entered inte

Colonel Owen Trevor had received his first impressions, on po. litical subjects, at a time when circumstances made his father anxious to establish in his mind a conviction that union was the ong

devote himself, and, overlooking his allegiance to his native State, to consider himself as the sworn soldier of the federal govern. ment. It was certainly not the wish of Mr. Trevor to teach his son to regard Virginia merely as a municipal division of a great consolidated empire. But while he taught him to act on precepts which seemed drawn from such premises, it was natural that the young man should adopt them.

the same views. But while the President believed that no decisive step would be taken by the more southern States without her co-operation, he had devoted all his power, direct and indirect, to control and influence her elections. Of tumultuary insurrec-thing needful. To the maintenance of this he had taught him to tion he had no fear. The organized operation of the State Government was what he dreaded. By this alone could the measure of secession be effected; and this was effectually prevented by operating on the elections of members of the Legislature. From the November vote on the presidential election, less evil had been apprehended, and less pains had been taken to control it. la consequence of this, something more of the real sentiments of the people had been allowed to appear on that occasion; and, from this manifestation, the more southern States were encouraged to hope for the ultimate accession of Virginia to their confederacy. They had therefore determined to wait for her no longer, but to proceed to the execution of their plan, leav-been accustomed to express these sentiments; and, being repeated ing her to follow.

The disposition of the usurper, at first, was to treat them as revolted provinces; and to take measures for putting down, by force, their resistance to his authority. But circumstances, to be mentioned hereafter, made it impolitic to resort to this measure. But these did not operate to prevent him from using the most efficacious means to prevent Virginia from following their example. Though restrained from attacking them, nothing prevented him from affecting to fear an attack from them. This gave a pretext for raising troops; and the position of Virginia, as the frontier State, afforded an excuse for stationing them within her borders. Under these pretences, small corps were established in many of the disaffected counties. Should the presence of these be inef. feetual to secure the return of delegates devoted to the crown, an ultimate security was taken against the action of the Legislature. Richmond, the seat of government, became the head-quarters of the army of observation, as it was called, and, surrounded by this, the mock deliberations of the General Assembly were to be

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The worthy gentleman spoken of in the foregoing extract is the father of the hero of the work, a young man brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and awakened to a sense of his duty to Virginia, by being made a witness of scenes hardly less startling than the light from heaven that shone around St. Paul. The charac ter of this youth is only to be collected from the whole work. But he has an elder brother, a personage of some consequence in the story, who is yet in the camp of the Philistines. He is thus introduced:

It happened unfortunately, that, about the time of Mr. Van Buren's accession to the presidency, his eldest son had just reached that time of life when it is necessary to choose a profession. With out any particular purpose of devoting him to the army, he had been educated at West Point. The favor of President Jackson had offered this advantage, which, by the father of so large a family, was not to be declined. But the young man acquired a taste for military life, and as there was no man in Virginia whom the new President was more desirous to bind to his service than Mr. Bugh Trevor, his wishes had been ascertained, and the ready advancement of his son was the consequence. The promotion of Owen Trevor had accordingly been hastened by all means consistent with the rules of the service. Even these were sometimes violated in his favor. In one instance, he had been elevated over the head of a senior officer of acknowledged merit. The impatience of this gentleman, which tempted him to offer his resignation, had been soothed by a staff appointment, accompanied by an understanding that he should not, unnecessarily, be placed under the immediate command of young Trevor. The latter, at the date was now encamped in the neighborhood of Washington, in daily expectation of being ordered on active duty.

of which we speak, had risen to the command of a regiment, which

He did adopt them. He had learned to deride the idea of State sovereignty; and his long residence in the North had given him a disgust at all that is peculiar in the manners, habits, institutions, and character of Virginia. Among his boon companions he had

at court, they had made him a favorite there. He had been treated by the President with distinguished attention. Ele seemed honored, too, with the personal friendship of that favorite son, whom he had elevated to the chief command of the army. Him he had conse crated to the purple ; proposing to cast on him the mantle of his authority, so as to unite, in the person of his chosen successor, the whole military and civil power of the empire.

It was impossible that a young man, like Col. Trevor, should fail to feel himself flattered by such notice. He had been thought, when a boy, to be warm-hearted and generous, and his devotion to his patrons, which was unbounded, was placed to the account of gratitude by his friends. The President, on his part, was anxiously watching for an opportunity to reward this personal zeal, which is so strong a recommendation to the favor of the great. It was intimated to Col. Trevor that nothing was wanting to ensure him speedy promotion to the rank of brigadier, but some act of service which might be magnified, by a pensioned press, into a pretext for advancing him beyond his equals in rank. Apprised of this, he burned for active employment, and earnestly begged to be marched to the theatre of war.

This theatre was Virginia. But he had long since ceased to at. tribute any political personality to the State, and it was a matter of no consequence to him that the enemies, against whom he was to act, had been born or resided there. Personally they were stran. gers to him; and he only knew them as men denying the supremacy of the federal government, and hostile to the President and

his intended successor.

We have already spoken of the slight sketch of
That of the modern "Oliver Diable" is
Judge Baker.
given in two soliloquies of his master.

Having thus possessed himself of his master's will, this modern Sejanus withdrew to give necessary orders for effecting it.

"The only truly wise man that I know in the world," said the President, looking after him. “The only one who knows man as he is; who takes no account of human virtue, but as one form of human weakness. In his enemies, it gives him a power over them which he always knows how to use. In his instruments, he desires none of it. Why cannot I profit more by his instruction and example? Fool that I am! I will try to practise a lesson."

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The instrument of the royal pleasure again withdrew. Again the President looked after him, and said, musingly: "Were I not myself, I would be that man. I should even owe him a higher compliment could one be devised, for, but for him, I had never been what I am. What then? Is he the creator, and am I his crea ture? No. I am wrong. Could he have made himself what I am, he would have done so. He hes but fulfilled my destiny, and I his. He has made me what I alone was capable of becoming, and I, in turn, have made him all that he ever can be. I owe him nothing, therefore; and should he ever be guilty of any thing like virtue, there is nothing to hinder me from lopping off any such superfluous excrescence, even if his head should go with it. But he is in no danger on that score. If he held his life by no other tenure, his immortality would be sure."

Resistance to military coercion at an election, is made the foundation of a charge of treason against our hero and his uncle, who had been the successful candidate on the side of the opposition. A warrant, backed by a military guard, under the command of a subaltern, is

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