and its Constitution preserved. My first duty is to re-establish the Constitution as our supreme law over every inch of our soil."
"The Constitution be dd!" hissed the old man. "It was the creation, both in letter and spirit, of the slaveholders of the South."
"Then the world is their debtor, and their work is a monument of imperishable glory to them and to their children. I have sworn to preserve it!"
"We have outgrown the swaddling clothes of a babe. We will make new constitutions!"
"'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,'" softly spoke the tall, self-contained man.
For the first time the old leader winced. He had long ago exhausted the vocabulary of contempt on the President, his character, ability, and policy. He felt as a shock the first impression of supreme authority with which he spoke. The man he had despised had grown into the great constructive statesman who would dispute with him every inch of ground in the attainment of his sinister life-purpose.
His hatred grew more intense as he realised the prestige and power with which he was clothed by his mighty office.
With an effort he restrained his anger, and assumed an argumentative tone.
"Can't you see that your so-called states are now but conquered provinces? That North Carolina and other waste territories of the United States are unfit to associate with civilised communities?"
