Page:Nullification Controversy in South Carolina.djvu/381

362 The watchword of all seemed to be to forgive and forget the past differences. It seemed that the "demon of civil war" had flown, "affrighted at the approach of the peaceful dove. The arrows were displaced and the graceful olive branch occupied their station." The warfare of years had been settled in a day and the terms of peace were ratified by a rejoicing people.

Some flurries of discordant winds appeared occasionally to fan the old flame, but these never proved of serious consequence. They arose when editors of either side felt called upon to deny stories they had heard or read of an impression being abroad somewhere that their party had made the greater concessions in the settlement. It was then pointed out anew that the settlement was a true compromise, resting on the basis of mutual concession, the Union party conceding the passage of the oath, and the Nullifiers conceding the freedom of every man to interpret it according to his own understanding of the obligations owed under the federal Constitution.