the trade of making Presidents, what
I used to foller when, you see, I lived in North Caroliner; but, I tell
you on the faith of my experience, that to carry the day we must let the
law slide, and crib with a free chain: there's no gettin' over this."

"It is due," interrupts the Judge, again rising to his feet and bowing
to the cribber, "to this worthy man, whose patriotism has been tried so
often within prison-walls, that we give weight to his advice. He bears
the brunt of the battle like a hero--he is a hero!" (The vote-cribber
acknowledges the compliment by filling his glass and drinking to the
Judge.)

"Of this worthy gentleman I have, as a member of the learned profession,
an exalted opinion. His services are as necessary to our success as
steam to the speed of a locomotive. I am in favor of leaving the law
entirely out of the question. What society sanctions as a means to party
ends, the law in most cases fails to reach," rejoins a tall,
sandy-complexioned man, of the name of Booper, very distinguished among
lawyers and ladies. Never was truth spoken with stronger testimony at
hand. Mr. Keepum could boast of killing two poor men; Mr. Snivel could
testify to the fallacy of the law by gaining him an honorable acquittal.
There were numerous indictments against Mr. Keepum for his dealings in
lottery tickets, but they found their way into the Attorney-General's
pocket, and it was whispered he meant to keep them there. It was indeed
pretty well known he could not get them out in consequence of the gold
Keepum poured in. Not a week passes but men kill each other in the open
streets. We call these little affairs, "rencontres;" the fact is, we are
become so accustomed to them that we rather like them, and regard them
as evidences of our advanced civilization. We are infested with
slave-hunters, and slave-killers, who daily disgrace us with their
barbarities; yet the law is weak when the victor is strong. So we
continue to live in the harmless belief that we are the most chivalrous
people in the world.

"Mr. Booper!" ejaculates Mr. Snivel, knocking the ashes from his cigar
and rising to his feet, "you have paid no more than a merited
compliment to the masterly completeness of this excellent man's
cribbing. (He points to the cribber, and bows.) Now, permit me to say
here, I have at my disposal a set of fellows, (he smiles,) who can fight
their way into Congress, duplicate any system of sharps, and stand in
fear of nothin