Page:The Book of Nullification.djvu/18

 will have rent in twain the realm, and ye must make to yourselves another King.

16. "These, Men and Brethren, are the fruits of ; and they were made manifest when Daniel and Edward broke the same in pieces, and held it up before the people, and those who made the cunning device have repented them of their work, and will peradventure confess the error of their ways."

17. And when William had thus spoken, the people shouted aloud with a great shout, and the great Hall shook thereat; and the cloth of stripes and stars which had been placed before William was blown aside, and the graven image, Nullification, stood manifest before all the people.

18. Then William turned his eyes upward toward Heaven, and he saw the graven image which had been set up on the high place, and he was greatly wroth, and he took in his hand the broad banner which had been used to conceal it.

19. And he waved the banner and cried aloud, "Behold, men of Charleston, the graven image Nullification hath been again set up to deceive you; the idolaters have not repented of their evil ways, and they yet bow down before strange gods.

20. "Wherefore let us arise and declare before all the world that this our banner shall no more give shelter to the offspring of the Sorcerer, but shall "ever wave, with undiminished lustre, over free, sovereign, and ."

21. And the people arose with one accord and did as William counselled; and instantly the graven image fell from the place whereon it stood, and passing near the head of Robert the Englishman, struck upon the earth and was broken into fragments.

22. And Robert was stunned but not crushed, and from that day he went about the city like one possessed of a Devil, and many believed that Nullification had entered his brain.

23. But the people who were gathered together at the feast, were greatly wroth when they saw how Nullification had been set up before them, and they began to turn their eyes upon Robert the Nullifier, for they grievously suspected him.

24. Then Robert the Nullifier stood forth and said, "of a surety O men of Charleston, I repose not on a 'Bed of Roses,' for I am 'but as a messenger of defeat and disaster;' and although William hath spoken to you of the evil which I have sustained at the hands of Daniel, and of the man of Louisiana.

25. "Yet O friends! I have suffered and been humbled in the cause of 'State Rights,' and although our enemies have told ye that we bowed down before Nullification, and that we have here set up the graven image to be worshipped by you all, yet I beseech ye, put no faith in their words:

26. "For I swear unto you that the Nullification to which we bowed down, is not that which hath been crushed here before you, but it is the same Nullification which was set up in the distant country called Kentucky, by Thomas, whom ye all know, and who is surnamed Jefferson.