Brother Against Brother; or, The Tompkins Mystery. Read online

  CHAPTER VII.

  THE ELECTION AND THE RESULT.

  The election of 1860 was an exciting one. No means were spared to pollevery possible vote. Lincoln was the Republican candidate, Douglas aNorthern, and Breckinridge a Southern Democrat, and Bell the Whig and"Know-Nothing" candidate, and all four parties worked vigorously.

  Mr. Tompkins and his sons reached Snagtown early in the morning. Thevillage was already alive with the stir and excitement. The polls openedat sunrise, and men were soon crowding around them, quarreling,disputing, joking. The morning air was crisp and frosty, and the peoplewere compelled to walk about briskly to keep from being chilled.

  A dirty faced urchin, with a pumpkin under one arm and some turnipsunder the other, paused in front of the polls, and, stretching out hisneck like a young rooster achieving his first crow, bawled out:

  "Hurrah for Douglas!"

  It was the first patriotic wave which had caused an undulation of hisinfantile breast.

  There chanced to be another boy, more dirty than the first, sitting on afence near by gnawing an apple-core. His "pa" was a Breckinridge man,and, regarding this outburst as a challenge, he threw away theapple-core and fell with fury upon him of the pumpkin and turnips.Coming head first into the stomach of the Douglasite, he sent boy,pumpkin, and turnips into the gutter.

  The enraged young Douglasite scrambled to his feet, and, leaving hisvegetables behind, started in hot pursuit of the now fleeingBreckinridgeite, while shouts and cheers went up from the manyspectators.

  Mr. Diggs came along, engaged in conversation with a farmer whom he wastrying to persuade to vote for himself and Breckinridge, for Mr. Diggswas a candidate for the office of District Attorney. On account of hissmall stature, the candidate was compelled to walk with upturned face,in order to watch the effect of his words upon the tall Virginian. Thesidewalk being crowded, they had taken the middle of the street, and Mr.Diggs struck his toe with such force against the abandoned pumpkin thathe was thrown down, and, falling on the pumpkin, he rolled with it intothe gutter, which was half full of mud and water. Shouts and yells oflaughter greeted Mr. Diggs as he scrambled to his feet and picked up theglasses which he had lost in his fall.

  "By jingo, Diggs, ye look like Crazy Joe's mud man now!" cried some onefrom the crowd.

  This was too much for the candidate, and, with something very much likean oath, he hurried away to change his clothes.

  As the day advanced, the crowd increased, and as electioneeringprogressed, the crowd became very noisy.

  There was Mr. Snag, a direct descendant of the founder of Snagtown, whoclaimed political honors. He was a candidate for County Judge. He hadbeen one of the pioneers, had fought Indians, bears, wolves, panthers,and rattlesnakes, to establish this growing country. He had always beenthe workingman's friend, and was now ready to sacrifice himself on theofficial altar.

  Mr. Snag had been a clothing merchant, noted for close dealings with hiscustomers and oppression of his employes; but two or three months beforehe announced himself a candidate, a change came over him. His harshnessof voice and manner grew subdued. He became not agreeable only, butaccommodating and charitable. He attended church and the bar-roomsregularly, and was developing into a general favorite. He was welcomedin the most select circles, yet he was not exclusive. No man was tooragged, too dirty, or too drunk to cause Mr. Snag to be ashamed of hissociety. He was more than changed; he was completely metamorphosed.

  On election day he was more affable than ever. He was at hand to lift upa drunken rowdy who had fallen over the pumpkin, and led him at once tothe voting place, to poll his vote for himself and Breckinridge. But thepumpkin remained.

  Later in the day, two rowdies, from the country, having imbibed too muchof the electioneering beverage, got in a quarrel. One struck the other,and he fell by the pumpkin. A friend of the fallen man seized thepumpkin, and broke it into fragments over the other man's head, bringinghim to the ground, of course. A general melee was averted only by theappearance of some good-natured candidate, who tried to restore peace,followed by a couple of constables, who at once arrested themalcontents.

  In the afternoon Abner and Oleah went up to the polls. The two brothershad been silent during the forenoon, both seeming to avoid the politicalquestion which was agitating the Nation.

  "Who are you going to vote for, Abner?" asked Mr. Diggs, strutting up tothe young planter with a smile he thought becoming a District Attorney."Is it Breckinridge, Douglas, or constitutional unionist Bell?"

  "Neither," Abner answered.

  "Who, then, is your man?" asked the inquisitive Mr. Diggs, thrusting hishands deep into his pockets, and tipping first on his heels then on histoes, as he looked up, with an engaging smile, into the face of the manbefore him.

  "I shall vote for Abraham Lincoln," Abner answered firmly.

  "Pshaw! you are joking," said Mr. Diggs, his little eyes twinklingidiotically behind his glasses.

  "I was never more in earnest."

  "Why, man, they'd hang you if you voted for Lincoln!"

  "I shall risk it, at all events."

  His brother's words brought a sharp pain to Oleah's heart. He stoppedsuddenly, and laid a detaining hand on Abner's arm.

  "Abner, you surely do not intend to vote for that Abolitionist?" hesaid, with a ring of defiance in his voice.

  "I do," was the firm reply.

  "For heaven's sake, think what you are about. Do you want to ruin thecountry?" Entreaty and distress was melting his indignation.

  "No, I want to save it," was the calm reply.

  "How can it be that you will vote for an abolitionist?"

  "Because his principles and mine are the same," said Abner, earnestly.

  The brothers were nearer a quarrel than they had ever been in theirlives. Oleah's feelings were wounded, and he turned away, leaving hisbrother to go his way alone.

  But three votes were polled in Snagtown for Abraham Lincoln, and AbnerTompkins, his father, and Uncle Dan, were supposed to have cast them.

  Late that evening Mr. Tompkins and his sons rode home. The trio weresilent and thoughtful, but they little dreamed what that day's workwould bring forth.

  Great was the consternation of the Southern leaders when the result ofthe election became known. Reports were fluctuating from the first, yetsoon began to show favorable returns for Lincoln. Betting was heavy inSnagtown. In a few days the leaders began to threaten a dissolution,and, no sooner was it ascertained beyond a doubt that Mr. Lincoln waselected than they proceeded to put their menaces into execution. At thistime secession was rife, the very air was full of it. Southernpoliticians alleged that Mr. Lincoln was a sectional candidate, pledgedto the overthrow of slavery. On the 20th of December, 1860, aconvention in Charleston declared that "the union before existingbetween South Carolina and other States, under the name of the UnitedStates of America, was dissolved."

  By the 1st of February, 1861, through the influence of the press and thedevices of a few leaders, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia,Louisiana, and Texas, following the example of South Carolina, hadpassed ordinances of secession, and their Senators and Representativesleft their seats in the American Congress.

  On the 4th of February, delegates from six of the seceded States met atMontgomery, Alabama, and formed a union under the title of the"Confederate States of America." For provisional President they electedMr. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, who had been a Colonel of some notein the Mexican War, a member of Pierce's cabinet, and a prominentadvocate of Southern rights in the United States Senate.

  But we must now attend to the individuals in this history, whom otherhistorians have neglected.

  On the evening of the 23d of December, 1860, Mr. Tompkins and his familywere assembled in the large, cheerful sitting-room. The fire-place waspiled with blazing logs, and the light and warmth of the room seemedmore pleasant, contrasted with the soughing winds and falling snowwithout.

  No thought of the approaching holidays seemed to have entered the mindso
f any of the group. The brothers were silent and sat apart. The cloud,so small as to be scarcely discernable, was growing larger andovershadowing each. It had first been visible on election day, when theyparted on the way to the polls. Though no allusion had ever been made tothis conversation, their brotherly union had been shaken. They drove,rode, and hunted together as usual, but there was one question theycould never approach without disagreeing, and disagreement was apt toproduce disagreeable feelings.

  There was a ring at the bell, and the girl who answered the summonsushered in Uncle Dan, closely followed by Crazy Joe.

  "Good evenin' to ye all," said the old man, as he entered the cozysitting room. "How do you all do?"

  "Pretty well, Uncle Dan. How are you and Joe this evening?" returnedMr. Tompkins, rising and grasping the hard, rough hand of the oldhunter.

  "We ar' both purty well," said Uncle Dan, shaking hands with allpresent. "I tell ye what's a fact, it's gettin' cold out, an' nomistake, snowing just like blazes."

  Joe, who was in no talkative mood, took a seat in a corner, and fixedhis gaze on the fire.

  "I thought from the way the wind whistled it had grown colder. Come,Maggie, fix Uncle Dan and Joe some supper," said the planter.

  "Ya-as, fur I'm hungry as a wolf," returned the old man, with thefamiliarity of a frequent and welcome guest.

  "Are you hungry, Joe?" asked Mrs. Tompkins.

  "I am, but it is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but byevery word of God."

  "I'll put that ar' fellur agin any preacher in the settlement forquotin' Scriptur. He jest seems to know the whole thing by heart."

  "Have you heard any news recently?" Mr. Tompkins asked.

  "News! Don't talk about news! Jist wait till I've had some supper, an'I'll give ye a little mess o' news that'll make ye hair stand on yehead."

  After the mountaineer had partaken of a warm meal, and returned to thecomfortable sitting-room, Mr. Tompkins asked:

  "What is that remarkable news, Uncle Dan?"

  "Wall, I kin tell it now," he answered, resuming his seat, "but I sw'arit war too much for a empty stomach. About two hours ago the news firstcome to Snagtown, an' now the whole place is wild. The convention, whichmet at Charleston, South Carliny, three days ago, passed ordernances o'secession, and declar' the State out o' the Union."

  "Oh, pshaw! it must be a mistake," said Mr. Tompkins.

  "Mistake? Not by a jug full. It ar' a actual fact. The news came in asstraight as a crow flies. There war rumors o' it before, but now it'ssartin."

  "Great heaven! that means civil war."

  "It means war, but it wont be civil, not by a jug full. They ar'already talkin' about musterin' men and gettin' ready to fight. Thar'sto be a grand muster and speakin' at Snagtown next Saturday. They saythat Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas ar'sure to foller South Carliny, in a few weeks, and maybe all them slaveStates, even Virginia and Missouri."

  "Have the people gone crazy?" cried Mr. Tompkins.

  "It's no more than might be expected," said Oleah. "The North has sether foot on the South, and if she feels like withdrawing from thepartnership, she certainly has a right to do so."

  "Partnership?" put in Abner, with an astonished look.

  "It is merely a confederation of States, formed by a compact, and, ifone wishes to withdraw, she has the right," answered Oleah.

  "Our Government is formed by the people, and not by the States," saidAbner.

  "Then, why is it not called the United People, and not the UnitedStates? Each State is a separate corporation, capable of suing and beingsued, contracting and dissolving contracts. They were originallycolonies, but when they freed themselves from Great Britain, forprotection and safety, they united. Who can doubt that South Carolinahas not the right, when she has become capable of taking care ofherself, to withdraw from others?"

  "There is a great difference between corporations and governments," saidAbner. "Our Constitution does not say, 'We, the United States,' 'As thepeople of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union.'When they belonged to England, they were considered as a whole and notas a part. In the Declaration of Independence, declaring the Coloniesfree and independent States, does so in the name and by the authority ofthe good people whom they represented, and not of the States."

  "All that sounds very well, Abner," said Oleah, bitterly, "but wordswill have no effect on an oppressed and downtrodden people. The Southwill be free--"

  "Yes, if they have to enslave one-half of humanity to do so,"interrupted Abner.

  "That's just the point Abolitionists are driving to, though few are ashonest as you to admit. The slaves make the South wealthy and powerful.The North is jealous and wants to deprive us of the means of wealth.There is but one remedy left us--the same remedy adopted by the Colonieswhen oppressed by Great Britain--withdraw, rebel."

  "You are too hasty," said Abner, more coolly. "You have no assurancethat when Abraham Lincoln does take his seat, the 4th of March next, hewill abolish slavery. Wait and see."

  "Wait and see?" cried Oleah. "Wait until he has withdrawn every gun andarmed vessel from the South? Wait until he has overrun the whole countrywith armed soldiers? Wait until he has bound us hand and foot? Then whatcan we do? No! Now is the time for action."

  "I don't believe Lincoln will free the negroes," said Abner.

  "I will stake my life as the wager," said Oleah, "that before his termof office expires, he declares _every negro in the United States a freeAmerican citizen_, war or no war. Mark my words and see if I am not atrue prophet."

  "Come, come, boys, we have had political discussion enough for thepresent," said Mr. Tompkins.

  "Ya-as," said Uncle Dan, "we don't want the civil war to commenceto-night; least of all places, heah. One thing sure about it, youyoungsters had better let us old folks talk 'bout these things, we cando it without gettin' so red in the face. The whole country is in a badfix, an' ef it comes to a smash up, I swar I don't want to see it beginbetween brothers."