etween the Federal Government and South Carolina?
And what do you think of the Old Dominion? how will she stand upon the
test-question?"

The poor Captain looked confounded-took another oyster, and began to get
his mouth in a fix, while little George worked his fingers through
his nice curly hair, and the young bloods awaited the rejoinder with
anxiety.

"Really, sir, you have the advantage of me in your question. It is
so much beyond my profession that I am entirely ignorant of the
subject-therefore could not give an opinion. In truth, sir, I do
not know the purport of the question. It has given me pleasure and
information to listen to your conversation and the ability you displayed
in argument, but, as a stranger, I could take no part," replied the
Captain very sincerely.

Not content with this, Master George wished to be more direct. "It's
the right of secession, Captain-the power to maintain the right by the
constitution."

"Probably; but may I expose my ignorance by inquiring what is meant
by secession? and to what it is applied so frequently?" inquired the
Captain.

"Oh! murder Captain; have you never heard of nullification times!
Well, sir, you must be posted on the affairs of our government." So
he commenced an analysis of nearly an hour long, and in it gave some
astonishing accounts of the wonderful statesmanship of Calhoun, Butler,
and Rhett, tapering down with a perfect fire-and-thunder account of
the military exploits of General Quattlebum and Captain Blanding. The
Captain began to stretch and gape, for he labored under the fatigue of a
perilous voyage, and repose was the only sovereign remedy. He felt that
the limits of propriety were entirely overstepped, and that he would
have reason to remember the first night spent with little George the
secessionist.

"But, Captain! my dear fellow. I see you don't understand our position
yet. We've been insulted; yes, most rascally insulted by the Federal
Government, and they keep it up every year. We can't get our rights. Oh!
no, sir, there's no such thing in the knowledge of the Federal officers
as justice for South Carolina; and you must understand, Captain, that
she is the greatest State in the Union, and there a'n't nothing like her
people for bravery. The political power's got North and West, the old
constitution is being dissected to suit the abolitionists, and they're
drawing the cordon around us faster and faster; and they're now out like
a warrior bo