The Book of Nullification/Chapter 8
CHAPTER VIII.
1. Now when the Feast of Nullification was ended, it came to pass that the fragments of the graven image, called Nullification, which James "the Deluded," had sent away, were safely delivered into the hands of John, the conjuror.
2. And John, by his sorceries and enchantments, put them together again, and he caused the graven image to be put into a mould of clay, and he cast from the mould many likenesses thereof, and sent the likenesses over all the land, but the graven image itself, he reserved to be set up in a place called Convention.
3. And one of the likenesses of the graven image was set up before the men of Coosawhatchie, and another was seen upon a certain island, called Edisto, and yet another was placed on high, in a certain village called Stateburg.
4. And much people of the land of Coosawhatchie, and of the island, called Edisto, and from the village, that is on the high hills, came up to see the likenesses; and they heard tidings of their great power, and they bowed down to them, and worshipped them.
5 Then John, the conjuror, gave the graven image, which is called Nullification, into the hands of George, the prophet, and commanded George to set it up for a time in the land of Edgefield, and of Abbeville; and George, the prophet, did even as he had commanded, and he uttered loud praises to its name.
6. Now, when William, the just, and certain others of the righteous, heard all these things, they sent messengers, with letters, to all their followers, and they called upon the people to forsake the strange gods, and they told them all the evil fruits which Nullification would bring forth.
7. And throughout all the land the people began to commune, one with another, and they saw, made manifest, the error of their ways, and they resolved, with one accord, to forsake the worship of Nullification.
8 Then John the conjuror became sorely troubled, for he saw that the hearts of the people were turned against him, and he was grievously afraid lest his sorceries and enchantments should all be made manifest.
9. So he called together unto him the powers of darkness, over whom he had dominion, and he commanded them to move over the whole face of the South, and to seek out the graven image Nullification, and all the likenesses thereof.
10. And he commanded them to gather them all together, and to chain them, with a great chain, around their necks, and to hide them from the sight of the people, until the hour wherein they should assemble in Convention.
11. So the evil spirits did even as John had commanded, and Nullification was no more seen upon the earth.
12. Then John the conjurer sent messengers to James the deluded, and to his other followers, giving tidings of what he had done, and beseeching them no longer to give praises to the name of Nullification, but instead thereof to fill their ears with the sound of Convention.
13. And he assured them that Convention would seem beauteous to the sight of the people, and that they would gladly hear tidings of the good things which could be wrought at its hands.
14. Then James the deluded, and Robert the Nullifier, and Henry the high priest, and Robert, who is also called the Disunionist, did even as John had entreated; and they sought to beguile the people with the praises of Convention.
15. But when the men of Charleston had shut themselves in their closets, and had meditated upon all which had come to pass at the Feast of Nullifcation, and when they had seen the other signs of the times, their souls were disquieted.
16. And many of them began to be sorely troubled, and they rent their garments, and they mourned in sackcloth and ashes the evil days which were come upon them.
17. And thay feared lest the rulers and the chief men of the city, had conspired together with James, who is called the deluded, and with John the conjurer, and with Robert the Nullifier, agaist William the just, and all his people, to deliver them into the hands of Nullification.
18 And they said one to another, "Verily the shepherds have taken counsel together, to lead the sheep to the slaughter; but our trust is in the Lord, and we will seek other shepherds who will turn away the wolves, and, peradventure, we shall find them."
19. So they hearkened not unto the words of Robert, and of James, and of Henry, for they knew that these men purposed evil in their hearts; and it was made manifest that Convention was the tabernacle and the abiding place of Nullification.
20. Now, when James the deluded saw that many of the men of Charleston would not hearken unto him, he began to wax wroth, and he called together his followers; and when he saw that these were many, he hardened his heart and became puffed up.
21. And he commanded the people who had murmurred against him, straightway to yield obedience, and to go up before Henry the high priest, and to accept his sacrifice, and to bow before him, as a ruler over the city.
22. Then the hearts of the people became kindled, and they resolved to do battle with James, who is called the deluded, and with all his followers, and to drive from before them Henry the high priest and his evil counsellors.
22. And they took counsel together to set up a captain who should lead their array into battle, and they pitched upon James, whom men call the courteous.
24. Now James was a man who feared the Lord and walked in the path of righteousness, and he found favour in the sight of Andrew the King over the realm.
25. And Andrew the King appointed him to gather the revenues of the kingdom, and he dealt justly by Andrew and the people.
26. And the people also loved James the courteous, for he was fearless in well doing; and when they entreated him to be captain of their host, he meekly besought them to choose another captain more skilful to guide their counsels.
27. But they entreated him yet the more earnestly, and they showed unto him the snares with which they were encompassed round about; and they called aloud upon James to stand forth as the shield and buckler of the good cause.
28. And they made manifest unto him the perils which overshadowed the realm, and he saw that of a surety the dominions of Andrew the King were about to be rent in twain, and that Disunion and Civil War were not afar off.
29. So James, whom men call the courteous, arose, and he buckled on his armour and stood forth as captain of the host, and he led up to do battle with the idolaters.
30. And he displayed on high the "Banner of the Nation," "with its Stripes and its Stars" and upon the banner was a superscription, embroidered in characters of gold, "State Rights and the Union."
31. And all the people who believed in the true faith, and who loved Andrew the King, and who eschewed Nullification and the evil doers, gather together and marched beneath the banner.
32. Now when James, who is called the deluded, and Robert the Nullifier, saw that the followers of the true faith had set up a captain for themselves, and had stood forth to do battle with all the worshippers of strange gods,
33. They bethought them that Henry the high priest had dominion over the minds of the people by reason of "his Grandfather," and by reason of the daily sacrifice which he offered up unto "Mercury," the god of the evil speakers, and which the people received at his hands.
34. So they made Henry the high priest captain of their host, and appointed him do battle with James, the captain of the host of "Union."
35. And they uplifted their banner, and behold the device thereof was a Tiger, tearing the limbs of a youth asunder from his body, and a Vulture was stooping to divide the prey, and beneath the whole was an inscription, stained with the blood which seemed to flow from the body of the youth.
36. And they who stood beneath the banner could not read the inscription, but to those a little removed, it displayed in characters of English, the words "Disunion and Civil War."