The Book of Nullification/Chapter 7
CHAPTER VII.
1. Then a certain man from the multitude, a faithful follower of James "the deluded," arose, and called aloud upon Robert, who is surnamed the Englishman.
2. And he gave praises to the name of Robert, and because his brain had become disordered by the evil spirit, Nullification, and by the enchantments of John, the conjuror, he likened Robert unto a certain madman who dwelt among the Gentiles in the days which are past, whose name was called Brutus.
3. And Robert, the Englishman, rejoiced to hear the sound of his praise, even from the mouth of an humble follower, and he arose from the earth, and gnashed his teeth, and grinned horribly, and shouted aloud.
4. Now, when William the just, and his companions, saw how that one possessed of the evil spirit, Nullification, prepared to speak to the multitude, and how that James, "the deluded," and Robert who is called "the Nullifier," and all their followers, made ready to hearken unto him.
5. They were greatly astonished, and they said unto one another, "is not this man the same Robert, who is called the Englishman, and who hath long hated, in his heart, Thomas, who is surnamed Jefferson, and all his house?
6. "And is not this he, who reviled, and spake despitefully against our rulers, and who sought to make us bend beneath the yoke of the King, beyond the great waters, who had taken from us sailors, and who despoiled us of our ships and our merchandise, upon the great deep?
7. "And is this not he who laughed to scorn our strength, and who made a jest, and a bye-word, of the power which we sent forth against our enemies, and who "turned pale," at the glad tidings of the battle which Andrew the King, had gained over them near the great River?
8. "And is he now a counsellor and a ruler over us, that we should hearken unto him? Shall we sit beneath the out-pouring of his words, verily, can a man touch pitch and not be defiled?"
9. So William the Just, and all his followers, arose, with one accord, and departed from the presence of Robert, and from the feast, and every man went to his own home.
10. But Robert, the Englishman, shouted yet the more loudly, and the shouts were echoed back by the walls of the great Hall, and Robert believed that the echoes were new shouts from the people and his heart was made glad, for the sound was new to his ears.
11. Then opened he his mouth, and said, "ye men of Charleston! unto you I render thanksgiving for the shoutings wherewith you have greeted me, and I rejoice that ye have likened me to him of the Gentiles, who is called Brutus.
12. "But think not, O friends, that I am mad now, for I say unto you, my heart is changed within me, and I love Thomas, who is called Jefferson, with the same love wherewith ye have loved him, and I am not a stranger, but a native of the land wherein ye all dwell.
13. "And I am 'the mirror' wherein ye may see reflected 'the principles' of Thomas; and I have placed them anew 'before the admiring eyes of his disciples;' and I have 'illustrated their truth;' and, behold, I have awaked from 'a natural delusion,' like James, the son of James.
14. "But ye are not to believe that I am ashamed to be called 'the Englishman;' for even as De Kalb is dear to the German, and as 'the sons of the shamrock' give honour to him called Montgomery, even so panteth my heart after the Island across the great waters.
15. "And now, men and brethren, care not ye for these things, but turn your eyes to the desolation of the land, whereof ye have heard so much this day, and behold, at once, ye may see the ruin, wherewith the ordinances of the King's council have overwhelmed you.
16. "Wherefore, tarry ye no longer, but arise, buckle on your armour, and smite your oppressors; be ye 'prepared for the worst, whether it be danger, death or disunion."
17. And when Robert had said the word "Disunion," (which is Nullification interpreted) his brain became dizzy, for he had thereby invoked the evil spirit, and he was given over to the power of its enchantments.
18. And he turned around to the right band, and to the left, and he gnashed his teeth, and shouted aloud: "Tremble not ye men of the South; tremble not at the word of disunion."
19. Then Robert was overcome by the power of the evil spirit, which he had again invoked, and he fell backwards upon the earth, and Nullification had dominion over him, and he was reserved as a burnt offering for the day of Convention; and from that hour his name became changed, and he was called "the Disunionist."
20. Now the people marvelled greatly, when they heard praises to the name of Thomas, surnamed Jefferson, from the lips of Robert, and how that Robert had called himself "the mirror" of him whom, in days past, he had grievously reviled and persecuted.
21. But it was now made manifest that Robert "the Disunionist," was but a painted sepulchre, and that he sought to beguile the people with the name of Thomas, and to persuade them that he was "a disciple" of the true faith.
22. Now, it came to pass, that when Henry, the chief priest of Mercury, saw all that had been done, and how that the followers of James the deluded, and of Robert the Nullifier, tarried at the feast, and were waxing warm from the wine which was set before them,
23. He thought, in his heart, that the hour was surely come wherein without much peril, he could stand forth as a great champion, and claim to himself the name of a bold and valiant warrior.
24. So Henry arose and cried aloud against the statute called the Tariff, and against the counsellors who had ordained it, and against all the rulers of the land.
25. And he opened his mouth and said, "O men of the South! of a surety 'your degradation is abject;' and the words which ye have this day heard from the mouth of James, and of Robert, are the words of truth.
26. "Your enemies, the Yankees, have encompassed you round about, and will destroy you; wherefore, ye must straightway arise, and go forth to meet them.
27. 'And if you will hearken unto my voice, verily I say unto you, unfurl at once the banner of the State."
28. And when Henry, the high priest had thus spoken, all his followers shouted aloud, for they rejoiced greatly that he was now ready to buckle on his armour, and that no man could again gainsay his valor.
29. Now when all the rulers, and the elders, and the counsellors at the feast, had declared the whole counsel which they had devised, it came to pass that their disciples and followers, began to give loose to the feelings within them
30. And they made a great clamor; for they were inflamed with the wine which had been set before them, and with the words which they had heard.
31. And some uttered curses against the men of the North, called Yankees—and some called them leeches, and threatened them with poison; and many spake of chains, and of shackles, and of ruin, and of desolation.
32. And one cried aloud, "Disunion, our only preservation;" and another spake of "a Republic south of the Potomac," and a third called for "action, action, action."
33. And they all shouted aloud—and they continued eating and drinking until the eleventh hour of the night; and as many as had strength to do so, departed to their own homes
34. But when the people heard of all that had come to pass, they were greatly wroth against James the Deluded, and Robert the Nullifier, and the other rulers and counsellors—and they looked upon them as stumbling blocks in the path of those to whom they should have been as burning lamps.
35. And they treasured all these things in their remembrance for a day of reckoning, when they should all give an account of the deeds that were done at the Feast of Nullification.