CHAPTER XIX.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE Women distrust men too much in general, and not enough in particular .-- _Philibert Commerson._ Now all the more was it necessary for me and my friend from Oregon to hasten on to Washington.

I say nothing further of the arguments I employed with him, and nothing of our journey to Washington, save that we made it hastily as possible.

It was now well toward the middle of April, and, brief as had been my absence, I knew there had been time for many things to happen in Washington as well as in Montreal.
Rumors abounded, I found as soon as I struck the first cities below the Canadian line.

It was in the air now that under Calhoun there would be put before Congress a distinct and definite attempt at the annexation of Texas.

Stories of all sorts were on the streets; rumors of the wrath of Mr.Clay; yet other rumors of interesting possibilities at the coming Whig and Democratic conventions.