yze the Free States; besides, the trading and
manufacturing classes will never consent to a war that will work their
ruin. With the Yankees, sir, the dollar is almighty."

"That may be true," replied our host; "but I think if we go too far,
they will fight. What think you, Mr. K----?" he continued, appealing to
me, and adding: "This gentleman, Colonel, is very recently from the
North."

Up to that moment, I had avoided taking part in the conversation. Enough
had been said to satisfy me that while my host was a staunch
Unionist,[B] his visitor was not only a rank Secessionist, but one of
the leaders of the movement, and even then preparing for desperate
measures. Discretion, therefore, counselled silence. To this direct
appeal, however, I was forced to reply, and answered: "I think, sir, the
North does not yet realize that the South is in earnest. When it wakes
up to that fact, its course will be decisive."

"Will the Yankees _fight_, sir?" rather impatiently and imperiously
asked the Colonel, who evidently thought I intended to avoid a direct
answer to the question.

Rather nettled by his manner, I quickly responded: "Undoubtedly they
will, sir. They have fought before, and it would not be wise to count
them cowards."

A true gentleman, he at once saw that his manner had given offence, and
instantly moderating his tone, rather apologetically replied: "Not
cowards, sir, but too much absorbed in the 'occupations of peace,' to go
to war for an idea."

"But what you call an 'idea,'" said our host, "_they_ may think a great
fact on which their existence depends. _I_ can see that we will lose
vastly by even a peaceful separation. Tell me, Colonel, what we will
gain?"

"Gain!" warmly responded the guest. "Everything! Security, freedom, room
for the development of our institutions, and each progress in wealth as
the world has never seen."

"All that is very fine," rejoined the "Captain," "but where there is
wealth, there must be work; and who will do the work in your new
Empire--I do not mean the agricultural labor; you will depend for that,
of coarse, on the blacks--but who will run your manufactories and do
your mechanical labor? The Southern gentleman would feel degraded by
such occupation; and if you put the black to any work requiring
intelligence, you must let him _think_, and when he THINKS, _he is
free_!"

"All that is easily provided for," replied the Secessionist. "We shall
form intimate relations with En