By 1864, it was felt to be impossible to remain silent on this subject and even in the original constitution and address of the Southern Independence Association a clause was adopted expressing a hope for the gradual extinction of slavery[1198].

This brought Mason some heartburnings and he wrote to Spence in protest, the latter's reply being that he also agreed that the South ought not to be offered gratuitous advice on what was purely "an internal question," but that the topic was full of difficulties and the clause would have to stand, at least in some modified form.

At Southern public meetings, also, there arose a tendency to insert in resolutions similar expressions.

"In Manchester," Spence wrote, "Mr.Lees, J.P., and the strongest man on the board, brought forward a motion for an address on this subject.

I went up to Manchester purposely to quash it and I did so effectually[1199]." Northern friends were quick to strike at this weakness in Southern armour; they repeatedly used a phrase, "The Foul Blot," and by mere iteration gave such currency to it that even in Southern meetings it was repeated.