The Book of Nullification/Chapter 9
CHAPTER IX.
1. Now, when the Banners of the Hosts were uplifted, it came to pass that the trumpets sounded, and the men of Charleston put themselves in array against each other, beneath the captains whom they had chosen.
2. And the Host, which bore aloft the Banner of "the Union," was led by James, who is called the courteous, and Henry, the High Priest, was captain of the Host of "Disunion."
3. And when they drew near to each other, Henry, the High Priest, offered up his daily sacrifice to the strange God, called Mercury, and he distributed the sheets of paper amongst all the multitude.
4. And upon the sheets were written revilings and slanders against the Rulers of the Realm, and against James, the courteous; and scoffings and bitter sneers at all the Host which followed the banner of "the Union."
5. And the followers of Henry read the writings, and they found favour in their sight, and they shouted for joy.
6. But when the Host of "the Union" came near unto their adver- saries, James, the Captain of the Host, commanded them to pause, and he opned his mouth and spake unto his followers, and said
7. "Men and Brethren! behold the Idolaters, and evil workers, have set up a Captain to lead them up to battle with you, and to slay all who are faithful to Andrew, the King, and who strive for the peace and unity of the Realm.
8. "And lo! they have uplifted a Banner which is terrible to the sight, and they trust to smite your hearts with fear; behold they liken you, and the people of the whole Realm, to the youth from whose body they will tear the limbs.
9. "And they are the ferocious beast, even the tiger, which shall deliver you as a prey to the vulture; and verily the inscription is just, for of a surety their banner leadeth to Disunion and Civil War.
10 Yet fear not, O men of Charleston! but put your trust in the Lord, and he will deliver your enemies into your hands, that ye may smite, and utterly destroy them.
11 "But be ye not over zealous; for behold the multitude which Henry, the High Priest, hath gathered together, are your countrymen, and, peradventure, many just men amongst them have been beguiled by the snares of James, who is called the Deluded, and the great Nullifier.
12. "Wherefore before ye smite them, let us send unto them Messengers, who shall bear with them the olive branch of peace, and it may come to pass that we shall yet live together in unity and concord."
13. Then, all the Host of James, the courteous, hearkened unto his voice, and they kneeled before Heaven, and they earnestly prayed that strifes should cease between brethren, and they besought a blessing on the righteous cause; and they arose, and their hearts were strengthened.
14. And James, who is called the courteous, did even as he had said, and he sent up Messengers unto the Host of Henry, the High Priest: and when the Messengers were brought before Henry, and before all the Leaders, and Captains of his Host, they opened their mouths and said.
15. "O men of Charleston! ye are our brethren: verily, we have eaten and drunk together in days past, and we have loved one another; wherefore let us not spill each other's blood in the strife of battle, but rather let us mingle together in peace.
16. "Behold, we may yet appease the enmity between us. Let us put off armour, and let us gather together all the elders, and counsellors, and wise men, and people of the city, and let them take counsel together, and let them declare which is the more worthy to rule over us, thy Captain, or our Captain.
17. "And if the greater number of the elders, and of the counsellors, and of the wise men, and of all the people, shall say that Henry, the High Priest, is more worthy than James, then let Henry be made the Ruler over us, and we will bow before him.
18. "But if the greater number shall declare in favour of James our Captain, then shall ye overturn your Banner, and forsake your strange Gods, and render obedience unto James, and to the Statutes of the Realm."
19. And when the Messengers had thus spoken, it came to pass that Henry the High Preist, and the Leaders, and Captains, and officers of his Host, took counsel together to devise what answer they should make unto the Messengers of the Host of "The Union."
20. And James, who is called the Deluded, looked forth upon the multitude which was gathered beneath the Banner of "Disunion," and when he saw their numbers, his heart was filled with pride, and he said unto the Captains and Leaders who stood around him:
21. "Behold! our enemies have delivered themselves into our hands—see ye not that our host greatly exceedest in number the host which hath come up against us—lo! their array is scattered, and their battalions are but few.
22. "Wherefore let as straight way render answer unto the messengers of James our adversary, and say that their words are acceptable to our ears, and have found favor, and that we have agreed to that which they have set forth."
23. So Henry the Captain of the Host of Disunion, did even as James, the Deluded, had counselled, and the messengers returned to James the Courteous who had sent them; and all the multitude of the one host and of the other, put off their armour and made themselves ready for the day of gathering.
24. And in the ninth month of the second year of the Reign of Andrew the King, and on the sixth day of the month, the elders and the counsellors, and the wise men, and all the people of the city, were commanded to gather together to judge between Henry and James, even as it had been agreed between them.
25. And the day whereon they were commanded to assemble, is called the Day of Election.
26. Now when the day of Election was near at hand, James, who is called the Deluded, sent forth spies over all the city, privily to hear all that was said amongst the people, and to bring to them tidings of all those in whose sight Henry the High Priest had found favor.
27. And when the spies had brought their tidings, the chief leaders in the host of Henry the High Priest, sent forth men with shekels of gold and shekels of silver, to wager the same, that Henry would be made Ruler over the city.
28. And a certain man of small stature, put forth five thousand shekels of silver; and many weak men were led over to become followers of the host which was made to seem the stronger.
29. And they also caused the young and the unthinking to be gathered together at the feast throughout the city, and when they became heated with drinking, they kindled their hearts against James the Courteous.
30. Now Henry the High Priest, was himself not slack in his own behalf—for day by day he offered unto the people hundreds and thousands of the sheets which had been sacrified at his altar; and the sheets were filled with praises to himself, and with slanders against James the Courteous.
31. And James was reviled as a Publican and a Sinner, and his followers were called Tories and Yankees, and they were said to be in league with the enemies of the South.
32. And John the Conjurer sent to the aid of Henry the High Priest a certain devil called Asmodeus, who went about the city taking off the coverings of the dwellings, and exposing the inmates thereof.
33. But when Asmodeus saw that James, who is called the Deluded, was the chief counsellor of Henry the High Priest, he returned unto John the Conjurer, saying that Henry the High Priest had no occasion for him.
34. And it came to pass, that the followers of James, surnamed the Courteous, began to be sorely troubled when they saw all that James, the deluded, had done, and when they heard the boastings and the clamour of their adversaries.
35. So they assembled together at a place called Seyle's, and they pitched upon certain men who should guide their counsels, and called aloud upon their countrymen to stand forth on the day of Election as the shield and buckler of Union and Peace.
36. And when they had taken counsel together, and had seen the multitude of just men who assembled with them, their hearts were strengthened, and they went forth confiding in the might of the Lord.
37. Now when the day election was come, it came to pass that the elders, and the counsellors, and the wise men, and all the people of the City, were gathered together, and it was commanded that each man should put into certain Boxes of wood, the name of him whom he desired to rule over the City.
38. And certain of the elders had charge of the Boxes, and were commanded to open them, and to number the names which were placed within; and they all did even as they were commanded.
39. Now James, the Deluded, trusted in the spies whom he had sent forth, and in all the arts which he had used, and he boasted aloud that victory certainly belonged to Henry the High Priest.
40. And he commanded the great feast to be prepared, and made ready the cornets, the flutes, the harps, the sackbuts, the psalteries, and all kinks of music.
41. And when all the names which were in the Boxes should be counted, he commanded that a note of triumph should be sounded, and that all his followers should march to the sound of the music to the dwelling of Henry, the High Priest, to partake of the Feast.
42. Now so great was the multitude of names which had been put in the Boxes of wood, that it was the twelfth hour of the night before the whole were numbered; and when the elders had finished, behold the numbers of James, the courteous, were greater than those of Henry the High Priest.
43. So the Elders declared that James, whom men call the Courteous, was chosen Ruler of the City; and the people of the Host of the Union, gave thanksgiving to the Lord and returned every man to his own home.
44. But when James, the Deluded, heard what had come to pass, he went out and lifted up his voice and wept aloud.