My dear friend, it is not a question of principle, but of policy, to-day." "Principles should rule policies!" exclaimed the other virtuously.
"Agreed! Agreed! We are perfectly at one as to that.

But you know that Webster himself reiterates again and again that no man should set up his conscience above the law of his country.

Your Free Soil party means not law, but anarchy,--and worse than that--it means disunion! Clay, Cass, Webster, Benton, even the hottest of the men from Mississippi and South Carolina, are agreed on that.

My dear Sir, I say it with solemn conviction, the formation of a new party of discontent to-day, when everything is already strained to breaking, will split this country and plunge the divided sections into a bloody war!" The other sat gravely for a time before he made reply.

"Our people feel too sternly to be reconciled.