Sir," began
the gentleman from Kentucky. "It is something of a surprise."

The wrinkles about the other's eyes deepened in an affable smile.
"True," said he, "in the last twelve years I have three times
sought to get back into Washington! Perhaps it would have been
more seemly for me to remain in the decreed dignified retirement."

They joined in a laugh at this, as they both drew up chairs at the
table side.

"You see," resumed the last speaker, "I am not indeed intruding
here in national affairs, but only choose Washington for to-night.
I have been thinking of a pleasure journey into the West, down the
Ohio River--"

"Will you have snuff?" began his companion. "This is no import, I
assure you, but is made by one of my old darkeys, on my plantation
in Kentucky. He declares he puts nothing into it but straight
leaf."

"My soul!" exclaimed the other, sneezing violently. "I suspect the
veracity of your darkey. It is red pepper that he uses!"

"All the better, then, to clear our minds, my dear Sir. But let me
first send for another product of my state, to assuage these
pains." He beckoned to a servant, who presently, returned with
tray and glasses.

"And now," he resumed, "what you say of your journey interests me
immensely. No doubt you propose going down the river as far as
Missouri? The interest of the entire country is focused there
to-day. Ah, yonder is the crux of all our compromise! Safe within
the fold herself, that is to say above the fatal line of thirty-six
degrees, thirty minutes, her case is simply irresistible in
interest to-day, both for those who argue for and those who talk
against the extension of slavery into our other territories."

"Yet your administration, to-day, my dear Sir, calls this
'finality.' Believe me, it is no more than a compromise with truth
and justice! The entire North demands that slavery shall halt."

"The entire South refuses it!"

"Then let the South beware!"

"The North also may beware, my dear Sir!"

"We are aware, and we are prepared. Not another inch for slavery!"

"Hush!" said the other, raising a hand. "Not even you and I dare
go into this. The old quarrel is lulled for a time. At last we
have worked these measures through both the House and Senate. In
the House the administration can put through at any time the Wilmot
proviso prohibiting slavery, and although the Senate always has and
always can defeat such a measure, both branches, and th