OCR Text |
Show 128 ROEBUCK. "I thank you, sir, but I don't expect to be in New York very soon." . . "But information is ahvn.yc.~ usefnl. I 1~1ck up 1tems wherever I go. I ·would like to get a few frotu yoll no,v, doctor. I :un Bombyx, the army ~orresp?nclent of the 'New York Co1net.' Bon1byx IS I..~at1n you kno'v for silk-worm. Capitnl nmne for a correspondent, eh ~ They say ,ve spin onr yarns out of our own heads-ha, ha, ha ! " "The Yankee imitation of a silk-,vorm-a caterpillar" said the doctor to himself, but he said aloud, "I pr:sume you have no further occasion for my prese ·nce." "Don't go, doctor, don't go. I want to disenRs with you sotne points of interest to our co1nmon country.'' "What country1nan are you~" said the doctor. "An American, of course." "But I am a Virginian." "It's all one-Virginian and American." " There 'vas a question about that discussed on tho battle-field yesterday." "Now, it is the 'var I want to discuss with you, doctor. You rebels-but excuse me for calling yon a l'ebel-no offence, I hope ?" "Rebel! A solecism indeed to speak of the rebellion of a SLate. But rebel! It is the n1ost popular epithet in the language. Govcrnn1ents ha.ve alwnys endeavored to n1ake it inf:.unous, bnt they have only 1nade the1nselvos odious. IliHtory i~ the pillory of governn1cnts. H.cbelliou always intplios at least one virtue-courage. Three-fourths of the rebellions havo been right, and seven-eights have been applauded by mankind. If you 'vould flatter 1ne, call 1ne a rebel." e HOEllUCK. 120 "Yon have oc1d n otion~, docto1·." "Odcl in this country! 'Vh:-tt 'Yould Amcri :t h:tve been withonL rebel li on?'' '~'Yell then, yon rebels 1nusL :tckn owlcdgc that the go\'ernment of tho Union i tho b est go\"Ol"fllHCnt tllc worl<l ever r-;n.w." "You 'vill be equally polite, of course, ancl :wknowlcdge that this is the best rebellion the " 'orld e\·cr saw." "But I an1 in carno.·t, doctor." " 1 0 an1 I. You of theN orLh Jnfty pr~isc a govern-ment that serves your interest. \V e of the Sont h must praise a rebellion that is d()signccl to save our liberties." "Speaking of liberty, doctor, I 'vonlcl like to clisenss the snbjcct of slnN ry. Yon kno'v our governn1cnt i~ pledged not to interfere with sln.very, bnt if yon Southerner:-; h:Hl correct Yicws on thnt sn~ject I think we conkl soon ha vc peace. Now I atn thoroughly nrqnaiHted 'vith tho ~;nl~jcct and " 'onld like to explain it to yon." "1 b.vc you live<.l !1 mong negro slaves?'' "No, I BOYer " ' !1S in a slavc-ho1<1ing State before yesterilny. I lost tny liberty tho .'t:une day I entered one-ha, ha, hn.!" "Your views of slavery 1nust be interesting." "I believe they arc. Now I C'an convince yon in five n1inutcs that 8hvery is 'vrong. Thus: you 'vill admit thnt by nature all1nen arc equal." "Excuse me-not at prcs<.")nt." "You don't adn1it 1irst principles ! Then it is uscless to argue 'vith you." "V cry probably; bnt I fact that which n1y senses prefer not to ad1nit ns a contradict. I cnnnot sco 6* |