Page:Harris Dickson--The unpopular history of the United States.djvu/126

The Unpopular History of the United States under the name of "Canadian Patriots" with the avowed object of invading and annexing Canada. At this critical juncture General Scott was dispatched to the frontier, with full authority to call on the governors of all the border States, including Virginia and Kentucky, for such force of militia as he might deem expedient. Here we were again, blindly trying the same militia experiment.

In addressing excited crowds along the border, General Scott was obliged to inform the people: "I stand before you without troops, and without arms, save the sword at my side." Which would make a wonderful historical painting, a dramatic and spectacular opera bouffe, but is no businesslike method of conducting a modern campaign.

We patched up our squabble with Great Britain to renew it next year in a dispute over the boundaries of the State of Maine. There is no guessing when the most peaceable chap is going to mix up in a scrap with neighbors. All this time the Florida War was likewise dragging along. We never brought [108]