But in about a week after this I was told that I could not have the place, as it had been promised to another person, which fact had escaped the old gentleman's recollection when he bargained with me! I was afterwards told in Weston that the "Directors" had tampered with the Parson, and persuaded him not to fulfil his engagement with me, as I was not sound on the "goose."

I was called on this evening to conduct evening prayer, but I declined; I would have been obliged to make an extemporaneous prayer, and I knew that anything extemporaneous from me would be dangerous. "A prayer for all sorts and conditions of men," contains the germs of Abolition!

The mistress of the house retired after worship, I do not know where. The Washington Clerk and the Lawyer from the City of Brotherly Love, were asked to make themselves comfortable together during the night; in like manner Secretary Woodson and myself were consigned to the same bed.

Secretary Woodson is a very handsome man, of about thirty years of age. He is quite tall and slender, very gentlemanly in manners and in conversation. He had been editor of the "Lynchburg (Virginia) Republican." He did not consider it his duty to be as reserved as was Governor Reeder, on the subject of Slavery in the Territory. He was in favor of its establishment. He did not appear to be fanatical on the subject. He discovered the same candor in me that I had found in him, although we differed in sentiment. We opened our minds to each other; I could

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not help liking the gentleman, and I think he must have taken a fancy to me, for he not only conversed on matters of public interest, but also on those which had concerned himself in the past.

He never anticipated, nor seemed to desire, that the people in Missouri should interfere to violate the ballot-box. He remarked, "that as far as he was concerned, justice should be done to both parties." I said, "that if the officers of the Territory would stand firm, and not allow certain gentlemen to control the affairs of the Territory, then I had every confidence that the final result would be as I desired." It did not appear to him that there was any important interest at stake, either of the North or of the South. He seemed to be a pro-slavery man from taste, and not on principle. He seemed to think that the Repeal of the Missouri Compromise was a Northern measure. I acknowledged that Northern politicians gave it their aid, but that no measure could be called Northern, unless the people of the North could take a warm interest in it, which it could not be said the Northern people had done. But I went on to say, that if Mr. Atchison and his friends in Missouri were to be credited, Mr. A. and a Senator from each of the States of Virginia and South Carolina, had used extraordinary persuasion with the Senator from Illinois, as Chairman of the Committee on Territories, to insert the repealing clause. I told him also, that Senator Atchison had made a speech in the Methodist Meeting-House, in Weston, two years ago, at which time he declared "that the Territory across the river, should not be organized, un

less the people of Platte, and of Missouri, should have an opportunity of taking with them their Institutions, and settling there." That this declaration was in perfect consistency with a statement made to me by Colonel M., of St. Joseph, Mo., while we travelled together on board of one of the steamers on Lake Michigan, in the summer of 1854. Col. M. had spent the winter and spring at Washington, during which the "Kansas Bill" was pending. Col. M. told me that it was the general remark, "that a Senator from Missouri, and one from each of the States of Virginia and South Carolina, had more to do with the Committee on Territories, than the Committee-men did." He stated the circumstances much more pointedly and interestingly than this, but I do not feel justified in giving his exact words. Senator Atchison, since the passage of the Bill, made a speech in Kansas, in which he appropriated a considerable share of the glory attending the Repeal of the Missouri Compromise to himself. Senator Douglas, I believe, has never denied that there were interesting debates held on that measure, on occasions when a Quorum of the Senate was not present."

The Secretary "did not deny that all these statements were correct." I replied, that as far as my own statement was concerned, I knew that it was correct. Senator Atchison, at home, talks to the people in quite an interesting manner. He would never do for the head of the "Circumlocution Office." He gives valuable information of how he does things, and how things can be done.

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If "you want to know, you know," why he can tell you. There are few who can speak with more authority.

The Secretary and myself placed ourselves several times during the night in a sleeping position; but the god of slumbers did not seem to interest himself in our behalf. We would turn over again, as some interesting point would present itself. There was no end to the momentous questions which the state of things presented.

The Secretary inquired about Church affairs at Kickapoo City. I was glad that he called my attention to these. I proceeded to talk on this subject, without the least interruption, for a long time. I repeated what I had hoped to do, and told him what little I had been able to accomplish.

I asked him what his opinion was on the statement which I had made. I received no answer. His nighthad got down over his ears.

cap

"Si vis me [dormire] flere dolendum est, primum ipsi tibi." If you wish me to sleep, then you had better go to sleep before me.

CHAPTER XXI.

A HIGH CHURCH PARSON TAKES LUTHER FOR A MODEL.

I SHOULD not be at all surprised to be asked, "how it happened that I did not meet with the fate which befell others as good and as true as myself?" Perhaps those who received the adornment of "tar and feathers" were too good! "Be not zealous over much," is the injunction of the Apostle.

Those who went up the Missouri to the Kansas Border in a "furor of Freedom," were simple enough to fancy that the ægis of the Constitution extended over, and protected the citizens of this Union, in the expression of their honest sentiments, in any section of the Republic! I was not so patriotic as to give this strict construction to that Palladium. I had the advantage, therefore, of others, having been schooled two whole years on the Border, previous to the outbreak.

I am constrained to hold the opinion that an ambassador to a foreign court ought to be well acquainted with the politics, manners, and customs, and particularly with the prejudices of the people with whom he is to reside, if he hopes to represent well and honorably the Government whose commission he holds. This declaration must not be met by the puerile remark, "That the analogy will not hold good!”

I maintain that institutions make a people, as much