I90 CONFEDERATE PORTRAITS
— a dubious thing, the post-office. *'I do not think it right, before God, for me to make another man pay my expenses." ^^ Rivers, harbors ! What are they compared to corruption ? " Instead of leaving the taxes or the money in the pockets of the people, you have spent nine months in endeavoring to squander and in arranging to have more to squander in the next Congress." ^^ Railroads I Why, our old Roman virtue will not allow us even to approve of one to benefit our own home town. ^^
Then there are pensions, a pestilent legacy of a heroic struggle. The old soldiers themselves, if they are the men I take them for, will refuse them. Hurt my popu- larity ? What do I care for my popularity ? Do you sup- pose I am here to please myself ? I had rather be at home, on my farm, with my wife, my slaves, and my cattle. Another thing, this cry of Americanism, Know- Nothingism. I scorn it to your faces. And you may turn me out, if you like. Are not Catholics as good as Prot- estants, if they serve God ? So he spoke, in the height of the fanatical fury, and openly gave a large subscrip- tion to a Catholic church.
Everywhere it was the individual against the mob, high or low, forward or backward. The rich were not to be favored at the expense of the poor. At the same time, let his enemies criticize his own lavish living and see what they would get. *' Who would say that he had not earned his money? He had a right to spend it as he chose. Perish such demagogy — such senseless stuff." ^^
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