And oh! Their hearts swelled, their bosoms heaved, their breath came quick with choking passion, and there burst from all their throats the one hoarse cry: "War! war! war!" Bernard turned his head away from this affecting sight and in his soul swore a terrible oath to avenge the wrongs of his people.
When quiet was sufficiently restored, the man with the match arose and offered the following resolutions: "WHEREAS, the history of our treatment by the Anglo-Saxon race is but the history of oppression, and whereas, our patient endurance of evil has not served to decrease this cruelty, but seems rather to increase it; and whereas, the ballot box, the means of peaceful revolution is denied us, therefore; "_Be it Resolved_: That the hour for wreaking vengeance for our multiplied wrongs has come.
"_Resolved_ secondly: That we at once proceed to war for the purpose of accomplishing the end just named, and for the further purpose of obtaining all our rights due us as men.
"_Resolved_ thirdly: That no soldier of the Imperium leave the field of battle until the ends for which this war was inaugurated are fully achieved." A dozen men were on their feet at once to move the adoption of these resolutions.

The motion was duly seconded and put before the house.
The Chairman asked: "Are you ready to vote ?" "Ready!" was the unanimous, vociferous response.
The chairman, Belton Piedmont, quietly said: "Not ready." All eyes were then pointed eagerly and inquiringly to him.

He called the senior member of the house to the chair and came down upon the floor to speak.
We are now about to record one of the most remarkable feats of oratory known to history.

Belton stood with his massive, intellectual head thrown back and a look of determined defiance shot forth from his eyes.

His power in debate was well known and the members settled themselves back for a powerful onslaught of some kind; but exactly what to expect they did not know.
Fortunately for Belton's purpose, surprise, wonder, expectancy, had, for the time being, pushed into the background the more violent emotions surging a moment before.
Belton turned his head slowly, letting his eye sweep the entire circle of faces before him, and there seemed to be a force and an influence emanating from the look.