IPS 2539 
 
 P62 
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 Book •n^Z. 
 
V 
 
ICTmOHAlCl.: 
 
 A V'lEW OF OUll PEOPLE AND THEUI HIS- 
 . TORY, TOGETHER WITH THE PRIN- 
 CIPLES UNDERLYIXCI, AND 
 THE CIRCUMSTANCES 
 ATTENDING 
 
 THE RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AMEEICAU UUION. 
 
 % foem: 
 
 BY W. A. PEFrER. 
 
 CLARKSVILLE, TKXK. : 
 PT7BLISHED BY BUCK & NEVItXF, 
 
 t86». 
 
« 1*3^^ 
 
 Bttt«wd, Ae^Miii^ t!> Act of CoajfWifl.i, i» the Ye»? IWI. 
 
 BT W. A. PBFFER, 
 
 fti ^e Clerk's Offlc« of the District Court of kiie UaitM Sfcl^ee 
 
 ftr tfe« Mia<tte District of Teutessw* 
 
 3 ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 ^03 
 
•§ 
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 To the American people, and cspeciallj' to the 
 young men and women, upon whose shoulders soon 
 will rest the responsibilities und duties of our Got- 
 ernment, this Poem is respectfully dedicated, by 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Clarksville, Tknk^ July 4th, 1869. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Thk design of this Pokm is to present to view our 
 people as they are rehited to their unwritten history, 
 and to impress upon the mind, by poetic representa- 
 tions and figures, tliosc principles of inherent political 
 philosopliy which underlie the "government and insti- 
 tutions of our country, as well as the various facts 
 and circumstances which have impeded or advanced 
 our progress in the different staiccs of our develop- 
 ment and growth. 
 
 After rising from a perusal of Gibbon's "Decline 
 and Fall of the Roman Empire." llallem's "Middle 
 A^es. " McCaulay's "England," and Bancroft's or 
 Hildreth's "United States," it would seem to be a 
 pleasant relief to look upon a picture wherein all the 
 principal features of our own history are drawn la 
 prominent positions, thus giving us a bird's-eye view 
 of ourselves and what we have been, as a pleasing se- 
 quel to our more laborious studies. The following 
 pages are the result of an attempt to paint such a 
 picture. 
 
 A principal and leading object in tlie work is, to 
 ^Ive an interior view of the causes which produced 
 the recent war, and to show how evil influences may 
 operate unfelt for years and ages upon a people, but 
 which will, sooner or later, if unchecked, strike for 
 universal dominion, and attempt the absorption of 
 all opposing things. For the better presentation of 
 the subject, I have chosen to give each element or 
 p'inciple which is introduced, a personal character, 
 whose separate history is given both by narration 
 and argument; and the operation, as well as the ef- 
 
PREFACE. o 
 
 feet of each principle in, and upon our society, is 
 shown by the action of councils for debate. Each 
 class of people also, when such classes have borne im- 
 portant parts in our history, is represented by a 
 rharacter having personal attributes and a name. 
 
 The first great principle with us is Libkrty. Hence 
 she is the first character introduced. The next is In- 
 DETKKDKNCE, and lic is the second in appearance. 
 They being purely spirits or elements, their natural 
 love for VIRTUE inust be apparent, and her union 
 with them for anv good purpose is absolutely neces- 
 Kary ; for this reason, she is the third character seen. 
 They meet, and determine upon planting a new na- 
 tion' in America ; but, as all the world knows, three 
 hundred years ago, monarchy was the great obstacle 
 in the way of freedom. This idea is renresented in 
 the person of Kingcraft, lie opposes the new plan. 
 Tnie policy would then dictate tliat some means be 
 devised whereby his influence might, if possible, be 
 counteracted ; and for this purpose, Wisdom volun- 
 teers his advice, and suggests, that as various princi- 
 ples and classes of people must, in the nature of 
 things, enter into the grand enterprise, it would be 
 well to hold a Council of all such, and agree upon an 
 harmonious plan, in which there might be union, and 
 no discord. 
 
 Such a council is, accord in gh'. held, in which par- 
 ticipate, besides those already named, Jtstick, Mkr- 
 CY, Ambitiox, Fbogress, Aboriginks, (the Indian) 
 AvARiCK, Tridk. Labor, Carieal, Etc. Failing to 
 agree, because of Kingcraft's opposition. Wisdom 
 dTrccts them to join their efforts and wait for what 
 God may develop, as the result of their combined 
 labors, and thev act on his advice. 
 
 Their history and conduct is then sketched down to 
 the period ot the llevolution, when, in the third chap- 
 ter, several new characters are introduced, as Ambas- 
 sador. Herald. Minister, Etc., in order to show the 
 peculiar state of the public mind at that time. 
 
 After the war of the Bcvolution is passed, another 
 Council is held, in which our present Government— 
 tiic Union, under our present Constitution— is formed. 
 As all cultivated readers of ix)litical history know, 
 the two matters of Slot'e.r{f and the right of Seceatsiou^ 
 g:ave the people much concern at that time. It is also 
 
a PBEFACK. 
 
 "vpell known, that two leading idaxs, as to tlie powcf of 
 the new government at that time, prevailed : one, the 
 FEDERAL, rei)resented by Hamilton; the other, the 
 Demockatic, represented* by Jeflcrson; and that up- 
 on these two ideas as bases, the two gcreat political 
 jmrties, Federal or Whig, and Democratic, were form- 
 ed. In the foiirtli chapter, these two different ideas 
 are represented by two new characters, Laredef 
 (Federal), and Takcomkd (Democrat.) 
 
 The separate and combined history of all is then 
 traced down to the j)criod of the Rebellion, 1861; and 
 the anomalous condition of our political society at 
 that stormy period, — the sudden (;han<,'es of parties, 
 i*nd the evident tendency of the times toward perma- 
 nent change, are fully shown. 
 
 In the sixth chapter, various characters, to repre- 
 !*ent the times and classes ©f our people, are intro- 
 duced. The restless energy of the Northern people 
 is represented by Entekfkisk; the peace men of the 
 Xorth, by Namkcakp; the war Democrats, by Tar- 
 <.;omedraV; the Northern white laborer, hy Blanco; 
 the neutral men of the Border States, by Lartuek; 
 the slaveholder and rabid secessionist, " by Kkdlo- 
 UEVALs; and the slave, by Nkgros. In a Council of 
 these, and the characters already named, a full view 
 of the times to which the chapter refers, is exhibited. 
 . After this comes the war. Chapter VII.. wherein 
 appears to better advantage the true character of our 
 people North and South. Then, in Chapter VIII., we 
 liavc the period from the surrender of tlie Rebel arm- 
 ies to the present, so far as the war and its effects are 
 txincerned. 
 
 In the ninth and closing chapter, we have a picture 
 of the United States, represented as a great Land- 
 scape, in the midst of which an American President- 
 ial campaign is represented in the recent contest be- 
 tween Gen. Grant and Schuyler Colfax on the one 
 part, and Gov. Seymour and Gen. Blair on the other. 
 
 I have no apology to make for the names of anyof 
 my characters, nor for the name of my book. The 
 Hebrews and Greeks and Latins were wholly unac- 
 quainted with American names and affairs; and 
 besides this, I am wholly unacquainted with the lan» 
 irnages of thoHc nations ; hence, viewing the j^ubject 
 from both of the^e points, the reader muj?t be isatisfieU 
 
PRKPAC^E. 7 
 
 with purely American inventions; and when he 
 would know the etymology of any of my titles, ag, 
 for instance, " Redlohevals, " he may read the name 
 y<»e/'S€d— backwards, and he will thereafter read it 
 understandingly. 
 
 The Poem is intended to give a view of the various 
 things written of, and hence the name ^'Mybxobaua.*' 
 I only aek the public io deal tenderly with my book. 
 St Is my j9.»t child» 
 
MYRIORAMA. 
 
 CHAPTER 1. 
 
 KEMAllKS. 
 
 Baeh piomirtcnt act of men and nations has its inflncucc in 
 forming their character, and lias its effect upon the histoiy and 
 progress of the world. Progrcs.s is the law of man. Freedom Is 
 the result of man's connnotions. Virtue, Liberty and Indcpend- 
 <^ncc are the true and v>voper representatives ot a perfect state 
 of Freedom. Ilence they are here presented at a place wher« 
 all the important acts in man's history send up their rays of 
 hope which meet where the spirits are. 
 
 Monarchy, being their enemy, opposes their designs. King- 
 craft represents monarchy. They meet duriiigr the period of tn« 
 i"evolution in England, soon after Cromwell's time, when the 
 best spirits ot the Old World were looking to America for safety 
 from oppi'ession and religious intolerance. Wisdom, a spirit 
 which all will recognize, suggests a pro.cticnl course. A Coun- 
 cil of all the elements, (represented as spiiits,) which tnter 
 into the constitution of all governments, and especially ouw, 
 is held. Each of these: as Labor. Pride. Avarice, Etc, repi"e- 
 sents its own i)eculiar office in the new society; and after an 
 interchange of thought and feeling, intended to represent th« 
 condition of the public mind at that time, and the circiun- 
 stances attending the early settlement o!i our CA)untry, flare 
 s^pirits start on their mission'.. 
 
 ?^prc;ul out tlic map of man's mi.sfortnncs, 
 
 His .strtig-^iics and dctcatcd liopes, and mark 
 
 The spots whore, in the dim perspeetivc of 
 
 The years, eaeh had its origin and death. 
 
 Look o'er the wasted tields of war— tlie wide domaitt 
 
 Of power's stretch, where tieiy passions held 
 
 High <;arnival o'er graves of heroes slain ; 
 
 Wliere battling millions, swaying on the verge 
 
 Of death like angry waves at sea, poured out 
 
 Their blood like rain. Go back through all 
 
 The darkened past and glean from out 
 
 The granary of ages all heroic deeds; 
 
 All battles lost and won ; the rise and fall 
 
 Of empires and their glow ; the birth and death 
 
MYRIORAMA. ^ 
 
 Of noble men, — oases in the wilderneiss 
 
 Of life, — and trace the lines ot hope which gleam 
 
 Through all the gloomy mist of j^cars. 
 
 See Moses and his chosen seed depart 
 From Kgypfs galling chains and marcli through land 
 And sea not knowing where, but guided by 
 Jehovah's light, pursuing still where faith 
 Directed on, and though their leader lost, 
 How- faith fi-om father down to son descended, led 
 The wandering sons of Abraham into 
 The promised laud. 
 
 „ , , , , f^ee Babylon's drunken kinfir, 
 
 Belsbassar, trembling as he found himself 
 Entombed w ithin a wall of human fornjs 
 All clad in the menacing garb of war, 
 While prophecy engraves his horrid end 
 Upon his golden walls. The noble Seven sec 
 nho toward the sunrise rode their prancing steeds 
 On Egynt-s tempting soil, that he whose charger 
 tirst did neigh the others should command. 
 Behold the stroke which cut the Gordian knot, 
 And see Great Alexander stand astride the w orld. 
 
 Back through long lines of kings, behold 
 
 The glai-e of glittering empire shine. See power stand 
 
 tpon the ruins of decaying wealth, and splendor 
 
 Grow amid surrounding death. Do hear 
 
 The cry of captive slaves, and listen w ell unto 
 
 The murmur, ns it rolls itself along 
 
 The grow ing lines, which gave to Some 
 
 Her Tribunes and bade them there on Freedom's 
 
 Outposts slccidess vigil keep and safelv guard 
 
 Tlie people's liberties. See Carthage, proud 
 
 Amid hej- burning temples, smoke, while shouts* 
 
 Of brave defenders tilled the heated air; 
 
 And hear the lisping oath of Hannibal 
 
 The youth, inspired by hate his father bore 
 
 To Rome. 
 
 See cities, nations, customs, w aste 
 
 And fade; see old things pass away and on 
 
 Their ruins rise the new. See Cadmus teach 
 
 The world to read ; to reason Socrates, 
 
 And fight, great Casar. Hear tlie voice 
 
10 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Of Aristotle, Pythagoras, Plato, too, ' 
 
 Philosophers ot old who raised their portion 
 
 Of the veil that hid the wrongs of man from view. 
 
 Trace up the expanding power of Rome ; 
 
 See nations fade from earth where'er 
 
 The imperial army comes, and in the lapse 
 
 Of time the wave recede which, in its fury, all 
 
 Her pomp destroyed. See other nations rise, 
 
 And like a meteoric star, a time 
 
 With lustrous glare astound the world, then sink 
 
 To endless night and death. 
 
 A moment spend amid 
 The wreck and carnage of the hiter time, I 
 
 When Spain her Philip, stained with martyr's blood. 
 Held out to the world's disgusted gaze. 
 See Cramner burn for sin; and l..ady Grey 
 Her gentle life lay down beneath a «ad 
 And wicked instrument of shame. Behold 
 The land o'errun with mjriad hosts of men 
 At war, not knowing why; see victims sore 
 Beneath the sword of vengeance full. 
 And hear the cry of martyrs going up 
 To God while Christians sacriticed their live-* 
 To feed a love of wrong. See Luther and 
 Melanchton, with their brave compeers, 
 Men bold of heart, borne up by faith in right, 
 Build lasting monuments upon the graves 
 Ot sin ; and hear the wail of countless 
 Theueands as they fall in effort to 
 Destroy despotic rule. 
 
 See Cromwell and 
 His patriot band, with all the gallant men 
 Who led that moving age; — their marks are left 
 Upon the scroll of time in living lines. 
 And just where blood-red stains are thickest on 
 Its gory face. 
 
 Look out upon 
 The world of life, I say, on these and every 
 Varied scene where man has w rought, where element* 
 Of matter and of mind have been at war; 
 Where freedom struggled in her chains, or wealth 
 And power lashed their victims into Bilence; 
 Where ambition struck the world aghai^L 
 
MYRIORAMA. 11 
 
 And men were born who played upon the strings 
 Of life while nations dan<;ed to the fretful 
 Music; where love of right inspired marohing 
 Armies on to brave lony: years ot war ; and where 
 A Christia!) faith the pan;i:.s of death removed, 
 Or cooled the tortures of the stake. 
 
 "Wherever man has strugi^led in his hopes; 
 
 Wherever freedom lurketi; wlierever truth 
 
 Was hushed, or heaven hid from vi»^w : 
 
 Wherever mind has been at war with mind; 
 
 Wherever hand has pushed the wheel of time 
 
 One jot ahead ;— oh, there, on each and all 
 
 Of these do look, and mark you well each saered spofe. 
 
 Behold I From each of these runs out a ray — 
 
 A shining line like lingering ray of sun 
 
 When day prepares himself for coming night,— 
 
 A glistening thread up darting from the spot 
 
 Where some one act of earth had done its part 
 
 In forming what we call man's history. 
 
 Tlie number of these silvery lines cannot 
 
 Be told, but see them as they start, and trace 
 
 Them on along their brilliant course. They bend 
 
 Themselves, extending out, and upward speed, 
 
 Inclining toward each other till, high up 
 
 Above the rocking earth, converging still, 
 
 Within the bosom of a beauteous cloud 
 
 Which hovers o'er the sacred mount where man 
 
 First heard the written law proclaimed. 
 
 They meet, a focus of ascending rays ot hope. 
 
 A thoughtless, roving, happy cloud, hung out 
 tJpon the morjiing air. Its fleecy folds 
 Were Alms of clear white ether, lined 
 With curving, crooked, rolling seams 
 Of varied shape and color; yet were all 
 So softlj' met and blended in each other. 
 Fold o'erlapping fold of thinnest vapor formed 
 And wrapped in nature's simplest beauty, — 
 Bays of light straight streaming through the whole. 
 Here gold, there silver edges painting, — that 
 'Twere never known if early light, cut loose 
 From other realms — adrift and left at ease 
 To roam — liad here reposed a time to look 
 At earth ; or, whether angels had assembled 
 
12 MYRIOBAMA. 
 
 There to draw a tbin<? of beauty, and thus 
 Upon the blue of heaven hunt? their canvas out. 
 But tliere it was, high up above the heavy air 
 Of earth. Around, tlie spotless blue of heaven's 
 Wide estate extending ftir and near; 
 >.'or speck nor other thing in all the realms 
 Above. Alone, amidst encircling blue, 
 And resting on the arch of earth it la}' — 
 Tliat pure^ white morning cloud. 
 
 AVithin its folds 
 There sat a form of lieavenly mould, with face 
 Of pensive cast, with eyes of peerless blue, 
 Deep seated and serene. Long, waving hair 
 Swept down her back and sparkled in 
 The streaming light, while from her shoulders hung 
 A loose, long, llowing robe of whire. in places 
 Gathered up upon her snow-white arMi<. 
 Her face, though wearing signs of care and toil. 
 Was flushed witli hope; her eyes were X)eeriug out 
 Into the trackless wilderness of air. 
 And every feature spoke a certnin tongue. 
 Expression mild yet lirm; thoiigli pale, a fresh 
 Returning health overshadowed all, and pure, 
 Sweet beauty, mingled with a high resolve. 
 Shone out in every line. Though old. yet yoiuig; 
 Though weak, yet strong; defeate<l oft' 
 On many an earthly field, now braver 
 For reverse, she gazed into the air. 
 
 A scroll within her hand she held which, slowly 
 Rolling out in part but leaving much unseen, 
 She dropped her eyes upon the picture there, 
 And thus in silence Liberty reposed. 
 
 I>ook back along the fading shadows of 
 
 Departed years when time began, and see 
 
 Creative wisdom shining tlirough primeval niglit, 
 
 And fiom a glorious Center issue forth, 
 
 In lines diverging out from tlie eternal sun. 
 
 Unnumbered ages with their myriad worlds 
 
 And all to tlicm belonging. See all the sons 
 
 Of God rejoice, and stars togetlier sing 
 
 When, looking out upon the va.st created thi-ong; 
 
 Jebovah saw "'twas g(X>d." See Eden fair 
 
MYRIORAMA. 13 
 
 And lovely in her pristine garb, where, arm 
 
 In arm, in holiness enshrined, the happy pair 
 
 First roamed in peace. A little farther down, 
 
 The prophet speaking see, who tells of coming love, 
 
 Unwelcome truths proclaiming to 
 
 An obdurate world, and bidding all prepare. 
 
 Still later, see the angels as they tell 
 
 Judean shepherds how the lonely Nazarene 
 
 Was born, and hear them sing of "Peace 
 
 On earth, good will toward men." The Cross, 
 
 Then rising up, behold; — its holy victim there 
 
 Displayed, while weeping nature veils her face. 
 
 From out this dreadful scene the sword 
 
 Springs up, remains unsheathed for years, 
 
 Until Christ's Kingdom is established on 
 
 The earth, when, dripping with the blood 
 
 Of millions slain, the gory blade fiills back 
 
 And pens take up tlie tragic tale of truth, 
 
 While trembling thrones fall down in dust. 
 
 'Twas thus the picture shone whereon 
 
 Fair Liberty looked; and when the blood-red stains 
 
 Upon the sword did meet her patient gaze. 
 
 She seemed to listen for the prayers of those 
 
 Who once sang requiems o'er her grave. 
 
 Just then the concentrated shout of millions, 
 
 Struggling for the right, was wafted to her ear, 
 
 When, starting back, she dropped the scroll 
 
 From out her trembling hand. But to 
 
 Her great surprise, another spirit form. 
 
 Before unnoticed, gently stooped, and picked 
 
 It up. 
 
 She would have turned. But, "no : 
 5fot so," he said. "Long years agone we met 
 As friends. No less our friendship now. 
 Th' unwritten memories of all the dismal past: 
 The birth and death of nations with their good 
 And evil left; the overflow of Europe's rushing tide; 
 The spread of truth ; the untold mysteries of death ; 
 All these and countless more unnamed, are drawn 
 Upon this sacred scroll ;" and down— down- 
 He let it roll, disclosing as It opened out. 
 The varied history of man, until 
 It reached the living, active now. 
 
14 MYRIOKAMA. 
 
 Resuming: tlu'ii, unci rollin«^ up the scroll 
 
 The while he spoke, he said : "All these and raor» 
 
 Arc penciled there. They all are past 
 
 And shrouded in the mist of time. But here 
 
 They live, and arc to us as now. Since last 
 
 We met, fair angel, much of this ojreat chart 
 
 Was drawn. Thougfh scorn and hate 
 
 Have bound us oft 'to earth, and stifled lonfj 
 
 Our prayers, at last, thank God, 
 
 The tremhlinir of the thrones has left us free, 
 
 And here a<?ain we meet." 
 
 II i> noble torm 
 Bent down, and on the forehead of his fair, 
 Pure listener he pressed a fervent kiss, 
 And took her fondly in his arms. 
 A tender, long and'fond embrace. 
 And Independence wept great tears of joy. 
 
 While thus they stood caressino- and caressed 
 
 In hol3', tender love, another spirit came, 
 
 A form of beauty, and of modest mien. 
 
 Her .stature small, enshrouded in a g:auzc 
 
 Of purest blue, all save her sad and downcast face, 
 
 Which wore a sorrowful expression. 
 
 Her hands within each other lightly held ; 
 
 Her head somewhat inclined to front; her feet 
 
 In resting posture set; her eyes dropped down 
 
 Toward earth ; in silence thus pale Virtue 
 
 Stood within the cloud. Although no watchman there 
 
 Her presence to announce; no guard 
 
 Or watchful sentinel to usher in ; 
 
 Uncalled, unheralded she came upon 
 
 The scene; no one more welcome there tha»i she. 
 
 Her silent, noseless tread their joy did not 
 
 disturb, for never yet was good o'erwhelmed 
 
 Or put to shame by being done within 
 
 Her aacrcd presence. Nought but evil does 
 
 Her breath confuse. Good men, and deeds 
 
 Do court her sweet, serene assent, 
 
 While puritv looks up to her and calls 
 
 Her blessed? They welcomed her approach ; 
 
 Most warm and fervent was that welcome. 
 
 A liand bv each outstretched, took hers 
 
 Within its grasj), exchanging words 
 
 Of gladness and inspiring looks 
 
MYKIORAMA. 15 
 
 WTiich only separation long can give 
 To friendship's iiice". 
 
 A time upon 
 Each other's foces gazed the friends, and 
 After pouring out their passions long entombed 
 That now might freely vent themselves, 
 In slow but measured*^ tones, deep sounding 
 Through the cloud, and far and near 
 Along the open corridors of space 
 In fearful earnestness resounding, thus 
 Did Independence kneeling, pray : 
 *'Great God of all ! inspire our hearts with praise. 
 Our faith in truth make strong. From death 
 And every ill preserve us. The path in which 
 We are to walk, oh, now direct us. 
 Our hearts uplift; our arms do strengthen; and 
 Our hopes encourage in the right. 
 From further bondage, Lord, protect us, and 
 tn thine own good time, the temple build 
 Where all thy worshippers may kneel 
 And pray to Thee unharmed. Thy will be done.*' 
 And bowing low, a deep and reverend 
 Silence passed, when they arose. 
 
 Above 
 Them through the trembling cloud, in accents loud 
 And clear, a voice came rolling down, and said 
 "Well done. This meeting was ordained ot God. 
 There's labor now to do. Look down upon 
 The earth. Behold the nations boiling, and 
 The streams of men wild rushing to and fro 
 Without a king. Those tides upon the sea 
 Of human hopes and fears will waste 
 And back to ruin run except a light 
 Be hung upon the heavens to attract 
 Their gaze and lead them safe to shore. 
 Go, stem the wave; the scattering flocks 
 Collect, and bring them to the fold. Direct 
 Their wandering steps aright, and lead 
 Them forth into the promised land." 
 
 The voice 
 No more was heard. But while in wonder still 
 They listened for another sound, as yet 
 Its lingering echoes stayed, a shining hand 
 [n front of their astonished gaze appeared 
 With flngcr pointing west. A moment hung 
 
18 MYPJORAMA. 
 
 He ptoocl in bold defiajice, tnll. athletic, full 
 
 And rouncled frame; h\^\i aichin^*; brow 
 
 And qiii.eriiig lip: bold, massive foreiicad, crowned 
 
 With thick chirk ciu-lin<r hair; large sparkling" 
 
 Eyes of gray— great globes of light; deep heaving 
 
 Chest, respi'rifig full like swell 
 
 And fall of ocean wave behind the storm 
 
 Jtist passed ; each nerve and fibre of 
 
 His towering form with hidden rage 
 
 Vibrating, and each muscle to its utmost 
 
 Tension stiamg; his beaming face alive 
 
 Witti inwaid tire; his clenched right hand 
 
 The trembling llambeau holding v.lale 
 
 The left hung stitlened by his side. 
 
 There lie stood, his feet firm planted on 
 
 Th' etiiereal Uoor; about his loins 
 
 A golden vesture hanging; there, oh ! there, 
 
 Magniticent stature of a man. what 
 
 More noble 'ncath the Gods ti)an thou I 
 
 Kingcraft i)roc^eeded thus: '-Hold back thy wrath. 
 
 Ambitious !)eing. most no!)le 1 confess 
 
 Tlioa art. Kesh-aiu thy struggling rage. 
 
 And hear wiuit i v/ould say. A little 
 
 Liberty hat'j made thee wild, and set 
 
 Tiiee iTigh above the plane of thy ability. 
 
 App;iarance hath deceive! tiiee grievously. 
 
 Not yet absolved from all allegiance 
 
 As it seems to tht.'e, 'twere well that thou 
 
 SliouhUr listen now to him who still has power 
 
 To do theo harm and »nar thy brightest iiopes. 
 
 Be'iold tiiose rays descending fro}n this cloud 
 
 To earth. Froi'n tliem tiiy inspii-ation cotiies. 
 
 And they arise fi-om out the dead. The living thou 
 
 Wouldst lead who walk upon their speechless graves; 
 
 And they do move and breathe in my dominions. 
 
 My siil)jects are they all; protected by my power, 
 
 And pay me homage. If thou wouldst plant 
 
 Thy nation in the western land whereto 
 
 The tinger points, and there build up 
 
 A peoi)le who would call thee king. 
 
 Remember, then, that land is also mine. 
 
 My people now h iv.^ footliold there. They sow 
 
 And plant Mid re>p; are I)Oin and dio in my 
 
 Pomaiu. 'Twere well that thou sbouldst be 
 
MYRIORAMA. If 
 
 Respectful then, to liim upon whose broad 
 
 possessions thou w ouldst phmt thy little nation, lest 
 
 When all thy work is rinislKnl I should claini 
 
 The fruit of this thy useless labor. What may suit 
 
 My pleasure in the time to come to do 
 
 For thee and ihy designs, the future may 
 
 Diselose. SulHcicnt for thee now to know 
 
 M}"^ right should be respected, lest in timo 
 
 A jrreater evil come. TUe rage and rant 
 
 Of unrestrained ami)itlon often lead 
 
 To ruin, and the fairest hopes oft'times 
 
 Of ill-conceived advantage fade from view. 
 
 So saying, with a haughty look he turned 
 
 And beckoned to his train ; and soon it camo: 
 
 A splendid moving scene of kings on thrones, 
 
 And high-born courtiers, ministers of state. 
 
 In dazzling chariots drawn. Fair women too, 
 
 Companions of tluir lords, in rare attire robed. 
 
 With gold bespangling all their forms. Great crOTirdU 
 
 Of men and womiMj in their order passed, 
 
 From nobles down to slaves, in every 
 
 Possible ai ray. By petty captains led 
 
 Each class, and these obeying higlier rule. 
 
 The whole revolving like^l grei'.t machine 
 
 13y common power moved. ' All nations in 
 
 Their varied aspect shown, and life 
 
 In every phii^e; the pride of wealtl) ; 
 
 The vvretC'M dness of wnnt; the crushing power of 
 
 The tyrant's rod; and all the unnamed 
 
 Agonies of denth slow wi-ought upon the poor; 
 
 These, and all tlieir kindred sympathies, 
 
 In state before the monarch passed iii most 
 
 Obsequious reverence .'ind awe. 
 
 The awful jjngennt gone, great Kingcraft turned 
 
 Again unto his auditois and said : 
 
 *'B;liold how all the world of man obeys 
 
 My call. Life ;ind denth nre in my hands; 
 
 At my comnijind do natiojis rise nm} fall; 
 
 And all uumi p:iy me homage. Deride 
 
 I^ot then my power. " 
 
 To this plnin speech 
 Bold Independence thus replied : •' I've heard 
 Thee. Kingcraft, well. Thy mvful train 
 Of serfs I've seen, and looked with pain 
 
2() MYraOIJAMA. 
 
 upon their doleful, forced obedience. 
 
 Tliy words of wiirnin;;- too, I've heard; thy threats 
 
 And words of promise uttered. But now,* once 
 
 For all, 1 tell thee plainly, 'tis too late. 
 
 I'm free. To choose is mine ; to frown 
 
 Is yours. We'll plant our nation where 
 
 The linger. points, and woe betide thee if thou 
 
 .[nterfeVe.*" 
 
 Just then an aged S]>irit came. 
 Entreating them be calm. His form was tall 
 And spare, high, rounded head, witli white 
 Long flowing hair ; a modest face from which 
 A beard of grayish caste liung down upon 
 llis chest; of piercing steady look his eye. 
 And voice of clearest'tone. 'They looked upon 
 Him as a friend. Consent instinctive came 
 rron\ all to do him great respect. 
 
 "Be calm," 
 Repeated he. " No one so srreat. or wise, or good. 
 That nuiy not still another lesson learn. 
 Vm old, you see. Old Time has slowly crept 
 Upon my face, and each revolving year 
 Has left* its traces there. These turrows ,^re 
 The channels worn by time's incessant How; 
 These scars, the chafing of the storms of life. 
 Of man in all his varied state, has been 
 My constant thoughts; and his alfairs 
 In all their changing phase, my never 
 Ceasing study. His sorrows and his pains ; 
 His pleasures and his hopes; his gains. 
 His losses and their sure attendant ills ; 
 Disasters Avhen they come upon his path; 
 t^uccosses, when in mercy God has sent them; 
 All of these, I've watched and traced 
 Their causes out. 
 
 "The Great Creator of 
 Us all unfolds His pi m of government 
 To men as sin and tleath give way to truth. 
 No favored class with Him until His law's 
 Obeyed, and stubborn wills are bent to shame. 
 From out the sacred mount beneath this cloud, 
 He sent his written law. The light broke from 
 The darkness of that hour, and then did mea 
 From thunderings of Sinai, the law and life 
 Both learn. His law is lite. No evil comes 
 
When that's ohoyrnl. To nil of <^oorl 
 His phurH adapted woll : His holy law- 
 Is eas}' of obcdiiMU'i': ir-< nature iixed. 
 Its s«:«)pe is iniiiiite, and is the same 
 Wherever found in all the wide extent 
 Of niaUcr or of nnnd. 
 
 "The evil nn<l the '^ood 
 W'l' Si'e ; the ciinu^ the riot r.nd the waste, 
 Pervadinii' all I in; deeds of men in life. 
 Are landmarks in the troublous waj'' 
 To guide the nfter traveler where he'd fi:o. 
 Who follows up the <iood comes safely home; 
 While evil leads us all ast i-ay. 
 The wondrous plan is so arranged 
 That out of death and sure deeay oft tinu's 
 Spring's up the pure and <»ood ; and human life 
 Is so made up of i;"ood and bad, that he 
 "Who will, may save liimself nuieh wron*;'. 
 "An open booi< is all the i)ast of man. 
 Whose lueid pa<.'es all may read. Who there 
 Will look ui)on"the dismal record writ 
 And ponder well the lessons tau^-ht, will see 
 How niuehof evil may he shun. Look down 
 The gloomy list of failures and distress; 
 The other, hrighter then, of gain and rieh 
 Success. Those, who wouhl avoid, or these 
 Attain, let him not repeat the foolish wi-ong 
 Of them that blundered, nor reject the plan 
 Wliieh brought success. Take counsel ol the i)ast. 
 Young noble man, and thou, i)roud king, pass not 
 Its lessons by unheard. Your wild dispute 
 I heard, and vv)lunteer advice. I pray 
 You heed. You hoth may learn w itliout 
 Regret, a lesson all should know : That when 
 We can't compel ol)edience to our will, 
 'Tis better not to urge the purpose, lest 
 Our weakness be exposed. 
 
 A war 
 Between you hangs about an untried Held 
 Of labor. One would build a nation u]) 
 On lands the other claims. Impassioned hojx; 
 Asserts itself in words of fire, while, 
 With reason too. respectful hearing 
 Po\yer clainjs. Take counsel of the age. 
 The founding of an empire in tiie west, 
 
23 3iyjaORAMA. 
 
 Inviting to llie ardor of a noble manhood 
 As it is, may still reciuire care in its design. 
 
 On life's tempestuous sea tliere i-o11 
 
 Great breakers w liiefi betimes (lestroy 
 
 The strono'e^c bar(iue«. 'T\v ere weiJ 'to sail 
 
 Around them if we can. Tiit^ linish.cd douj..', 
 
 Of parts minute— of separate iilcntii^' 
 
 'S composed. The n<*bie shi}> w hieh skims along 
 
 The watery p]:iin, upon a certain plan is built. 
 
 And thus a natioi. too. Wiiiiin its structure rests 
 
 A compromise of elemonis and rl^>:hts. 
 
 Immortal principles, like those iirst seen 
 
 From Sinai, arc nilxcd and interwoven tliere. 
 
 "Wliile Justice liobls the scales, and i^iijert^', 
 
 Ilestralned in part, gives nerve and iiope • 
 
 Unto the henrt. sweet "dcrcy ple;uls for all 
 
 The poor, and Kinjiccratt, in his re^iai robes. 
 
 Gives streno-tli. Bold Independence, proud, 
 
 Deliant as lie is, tlie tcnrplu gaianis 
 
 Wherein the people dweli, a'nd Virtue 
 
 Purifies tlie state. Ambition, rro^re.-s, too, 
 
 And Labor, all of these and more. «lo have 
 
 Tiieir part in sucli grand eriicrpris^:. 
 
 Better now consult witii th<>m, and hear 
 
 What they would say ; for ca-h does represent 
 
 A principle of life, which sure will enter in 
 
 To all your puldie ))lans, Then, in 
 
 A common council held of all who have 
 
 An interest to serve, if pos>ib!e. a plan 
 
 May thus lie aptly formed attractive and 
 
 Complete. wher<' "dratli and i)rcnKilure 
 
 Decay may not lie hid beneath the <;urner stone, 
 
 And "when success would seem to shine most clear 
 
 The upraised dome would topple down 
 
 Within a day.-* 
 
 AVhcn Wi«dom thus had said. 
 He looked upon the four and waited for reply. 
 Without a further thought tliey all replied: 
 •"Tiswell. If thou wilt bear us company, 
 Then let the Council meet without delay." 
 
 By unseen power in an inst.'^nt moved. 
 The cloud in which ihey stood ai^l sp.^ke. 
 As If some magic wind had swept along 
 
MYRIORAMA. 28 
 
 To blow it off. had disnppyarerl. and in 
 Its Kteail a inysiii* temple, witli its duriie 
 And lofty cokimnf? our in front, antl at 
 Its entrance p{'erfni.^.sen;inel.s 
 Tiie sacred nede-t;iT pan oiling. blow- 
 Came down from heaven ovcriioad, and shut 
 Them in. 
 
 No iv.TM", app r<'.nt iiKt'.rvoncd 
 The while tni.-? ni;igio cUanxe was wrought. 
 It cam« npon taeu'i quieU as thought:, and like 
 To all the deeds t!ie i^'ather doe.-, tiiough process 
 Of formation and c-f change, before our eye«> 
 In everla«itiug progre-^s works, the thing 
 As it is seen is perfect in itself— conipiele, 
 And wheii'or how created, mortals never know. 
 In all its Mulshed frame, it spi-ings upon 
 Tiie gaze, a- tiioiigii 't had always been. 
 And what it wa-; a moment or an age 
 Before — what form, if any, vhen assumed — 
 Its history or its nanu-. we cannot know : 
 'Tis-jtherc, and that suiriccth here. 
 
 "Within that spa(df)us temple thus let down 
 
 Upon then), sat the solemn council to 
 
 Deli!)erate. With in the center and above 
 
 The rest, sat Justice, cold, sedate, reserved 
 
 And upright. Like Arctic iceberg uas his face. 
 
 But through it ran some traces of an inner fount 
 
 From whence in pi'oper seasons flowed 
 
 Life-giving strear.is. His eyes, expressionless. 
 
 Were satcllires reflecting borrowed light. 
 
 Bold, statly form was his, but motionless. 
 
 Upon his rigiit tlie noble young man stood» 
 
 With Lii>erty and Virtue "at his side. 
 
 Sweet; Mercy in her robes of peail. 
 
 In all the gentle Iteauty of her tender sex — 
 
 Her face an^-elic and serene— sat next 
 
 Upon a golflen stool. Ambition too. 
 
 In all the fire of ycuithfid hope, a fair, 
 
 Imposing form, o'erreaching. proud 
 
 Its mien, and car.''ess yet withal ; 
 
 And next to hin> defiant Progress stood, 
 
 With look of firm, determined air. 
 
 Untiring patience and control. His hearty 
 
 Like Cotopaxi burned, but .-teady, cool, 
 
24 MYIUOnAMA. 
 
 Deliberate liis oyo. 
 
 Upon the leffc 
 Of Justice, Kingcraft stood, witli Avarice 
 Cold and slavisli. at iiis side, whose eyes. 
 Like two devourino; tlaines. slionc out 
 i-'rom otluM-wise an open blank — a dried 
 Up waste of face. The next tliere stood 
 A self-important imp of darkness, straight 
 And still", a paragon ofCxccllenrc, 
 Made up from odds and ends of wickedness, 
 Ilard striving to attract the public gaze 
 And concentrate it on liorself. 
 The Devil, tlius improved in general plan. 
 Was there in female form and known as Uride. 
 Direet in front sat Wisdom in 
 Reflective mood. 
 
 Within the center of 
 This semicircle, stood a bold aiid manly form. 
 Of stature tall and straitiht, with mus('les 
 Swelling in their strength ; high, jieaving chest, 
 And limbs of finished shape. Ui)on 
 His light, brown skin, in crooked lines 
 Of varied color, tliere were drawn 
 llude traces of :i wild adornment, wliile 
 Upon his head, hmg plumes, fnun some 
 (ireat fairy bird fresh ])hicked, were 
 Tastefullv arranged. His face was oj)en. 
 Broad, without expression, lit up o?dy by 
 An eye of steady gaze, wherein Ihere Inrked 
 A hidden Hre. Upon his shoulders hung 
 A short, loose sack of cobn- like nnto 
 A golden sunset mixed Avith evfMiing gray; 
 And round his middle clung a blood- red scarf. 
 In such hal)ilinu'nts as these, in stu])born 
 Silence anil resei-ve. this spb^idid son 
 Of nature sat,— bold Aborigines. 
 
 Behind tlie skirts of Pride, so neat 
 And dressy round her little body hung. 
 Sat crouching at her feet in most 
 Dcjecjted mood — the very picture of 
 Despair — in loose and wealiier-beaten garb — 
 The chains upon his swelling limbs, held fast 
 Within his hands to hush \]\v\y ]\eartless noise, 
 Despised, unwept, submissive liabor, 
 
MY III GRAMA. 25 
 
 In council Avith the spirits there. 
 
 The g'ohlen li^ht of morning shone 
 
 With mellowed softness in u[)on 
 
 The sacrect council, as in solemn mood 
 
 It sat in that ethereal hall. 
 
 A holy silence rei^ii,-ned amid the group. 
 
 Their hidden thoughts, within themselves. 
 
 Like sleeping mountains lay. and nought 
 
 But calnicomposure r(\sted there, so far 
 
 As outward signs revealed the latent germ. 
 
 Slow rising to his feet. Great Wisdom spoke : 
 
 "Exalted beings, spirits of the air. 
 
 Bold representatives of all the deep — 
 
 The struggling thoughts and hoi)es of man, 
 
 Here risen from the sleeping dead of earth 
 
 In high del)are. hear what I would saj^ 
 
 And then decide. Far out within 
 
 The shadowy tiujc to come, a nation is to live; 
 
 A people born of Freedom, in a land 
 
 By two contlicting lords now claimed. 
 
 In fertile soil the seed's already' sown, 
 
 And soon where now in stately silence 
 
 I^ature reigns, the busy marts of men 
 
 Will rise, "independence with his grant. 
 
 From God, ejectment brings against 
 
 All intervening rights; and for defence 
 
 Great Kingcraft pleads a prior claim. 
 
 By reason of his long established rule. 
 
 If other rights there be. oi- reasons pro. or con. 
 
 Why or whj' should not this enterprise 
 
 Proceed, let them now be told and heard."' 
 
 Then Independence rose and said : 
 "From all of earth's allurements and 
 Her deadly snares, hy slow, deterniincd ste])s. 
 At length I'm free. Througli many ages of 
 Distress, defeat and shame. ])y unseen hand 
 Borne up. I've passed, till now. in God's 
 Good, chosen time, he sets his finger on 
 The verge of heaven here and points me to 
 The western land. He bids me hapten there 
 And with me t.-rke the scattering tide of men 
 That now so wildly runs o'er idood-slained tields- 
 Of earth, and build my people there. "Tis on 
 
^6 MYllIORAMA. 
 
 This sjrant and b}' Supreme command, I claim 
 Tiie ri^iit of (r-ntry tliore. to (io and he 
 What seemeth ri^ht to him.'' 
 
 Next Kin.!?craft spoke. 
 " B3' right of ancient nse; by all the laws 
 'Mon<>' mortals known, that land is mine. 
 Throuojh storms and seas, my subjects sailed 
 Long years aj>*o; they found that western world; 
 In my «»-reat name possession took. 
 And in the book of time 'tis so recorded. 
 'Tis part and pan^d of my kin<i:ly realm, 
 And now upon the map of my dominions it 
 Is fairly marked. I hold exclusive right 
 And have no compromise to make." 
 
 Ambition quickly rose, while Irom liis eyes 
 
 The hidden lire of his earnest soul. 
 
 In streams of inborn eloquence ran out. 
 
 And in a tone of hurried grandeur, thus 
 
 He spoke : " Whatever God commands, let men 
 
 Obey. If conquest needs be had ; if war 
 
 Must come 'twixt Independence and 
 
 This monster king; if blood of men must flow 
 
 Before he yields his grinding grasp where Liberty 
 
 Wwild plant iier foot; if all the great expanse 
 
 Of eastern world will notsutlice to till 
 
 His thirsting veins, and nothingless than rule 
 
 Of earth he'll have, then let the tocsin sound. 
 
 My voice shall be for war until Ihe world is free." 
 
 And glowing, burning spirit as he was,. 
 
 Amid a murmur of applause he took 
 
 His seat, wliile Labor, poor, dejected being, shook 
 
 His chains and muttered in a smothered tone, 
 
 ''Blessed 'oe the name of God^^imen !" 
 
 And Pride, with bold, repulsive look 
 
 Did shudder in her ire and demanded that 
 
 The wretched being in his rags and chains 
 
 Be driven frotn the liall. but no responsive throb 
 
 In that august assemblage came. 
 
 And burning with her disappointment, turned 
 
 Herself with scorn about, and strutted 
 
 Proudly out of sight. 
 
 When Avarice had raised 
 His husky voice, all eyes in wonder looked. 
 In slow and haughty phrase, of hidden truth 
 
MYRIORAMA. V 
 
 Thonsjh full, anrl snpercllioiiR air, he said : 
 ^'Thirquarrel'^ none of nsy bea;etting. My name 
 Is known wherever mim Iuir been ; and in 
 The land now in dispute, my votaries reside. 
 To me it matters not how ends the light; 
 I deal wit'p. men. their passions and their feuds — 
 And not their plans. 
 
 Then Mercy mildly spoke,' 
 The while her tiny hand she pointed toward 
 The warrior chief". " Hear him, " she said. 
 To liis utmost lie3;>-ht then rising up, 
 In slow, clear words the chieftain spoke: 
 *» My home above the great long tree-tops 
 Of the distant western mountain, 
 Is happy now and peaceful. 
 In that pleasant land of slumber, 
 Wliere the Overruling Spirit 
 Watches always o'er my people, 
 There's many a thing attractive. 
 I love bold indep(^ndence. 
 Fair Liberty and Virtue; 
 And they may make their home there. 
 Mv people, iionest. living justly, 
 Aspiring ojdy to be happy. 
 Great Justice v.' irh his mandate, 
 jAnd Wisdom with hi;^ learning 
 Would Mnd with theme welcome. 
 '•They are a trusting, icarless people, 
 Brave and generous in their nature; 
 They only ask that tliose they welcome 
 Will not, in the coming future, 
 Cheat them and betray them ; 
 And further, tliat their native freedom 
 Remain forever unmolested. 
 Kingcraft. Vvith his wealtli abundant. 
 And Avarice, with his look of treason, 
 And foolish Pride, so stiQ'and fretful, 
 Would not there be fondly greeted. 
 Except they'd swear upon the altar 
 Of the Great Almighty Spirit 
 They'd not disturb our ancient pleasures. '^ 
 
 Thus finished Aborigines; and in a glow 
 Of splendid passion, prond Ambition sprang 
 In front of him with Independence at 
 
•is MYRIOKAMA. 
 
 His side, and in an earnest voice, botli spalio 
 At once. " Bold broriier of the west, 
 Have hope and not a tear. Tlicse arms, 
 As far as in tiiein lies, the rich reward 
 Of fairness will bestow, and fi-om tlie tread 
 Of King's, we'll keep thee tree forever. 
 B6 content. •' 
 
 ' " 'Tis well, the chieftain said. 
 Thy promise, if 'tis faithfully observed, 
 Is g'uaranty of peace forever. 
 But have you power over tliese reserved 
 And darker looking spirits ? Will they swear 
 .Vnd promise me as j'ou have done? 
 And will the\^ in the coming time deceive us?" 
 
 " God above docs rule. Leave this all to Him," 
 Said Justice. •• What he does is litly done. " 
 With peaceful look the chiefr:uu t(H")k his seat. 
 Then Virtue, drawing up her veil, with voice 
 Of purest pathos, and so gentle tliat it fell 
 Like starlight on the scene, i-epeated — '"Peace 
 On cartl), good will toward men." 
 
 Labor, thus 
 Encouraged, meekly then essayed to speak. 
 *" Most noble spirits, may I ask that now 
 These chains be loosed upon my limbs? 
 In your new and happy nation, must 
 I toil in want, as in the past I've done? 
 Oh I can you not at once release me here 
 And set me free"? T j)ray you morft devout, — '' 
 And Kingcraft bounded toward him like 
 A beast of prey, to strike the wretched being down, 
 But gentle Mercy stood between the two, 
 And poor, meeksufterer staggered ))ack. 
 Then Libertj^ did soothingl}'^ declare. 
 That •' in the happy time to come, he, too, 
 Should bask in lieaven's sunlight, free 
 From bonds and fetters. There slie'd watch 
 Him in the western world and pray 
 The Lord for his deliverance. •' 
 
 Wisdom, then, in somewhat liappler mood, 
 Addressed the council thus: 
 ''This interchange of thought has shown 
 That i)eacefully this contest will not end 
 
MYPJORAMA. 21* 
 
 At this uppoiiited time and place. Through- all 
 
 The wondrous universe of thin^cs, 
 
 Beneath the surface lurks a vein 
 
 Througii which God's spirit permeates 
 
 The wliole and sends up higher planes 
 
 Of life. His ends hy means to us 
 
 Unseen. His will obtains. Whatever He 
 
 Permits within the sphere of His 
 
 Eternal plan, performs its part 
 
 In making up a better world. In all 
 
 The changing scenes, the later than the first ^ 
 
 More pure, and nearer the supernal end. 
 
 This now unsettled aim will prove a good 
 When He is ready to disclose the end. 
 Go build your nation there. Let all 
 Your varied and opposing forces join, 
 
 In proper balance held each to its plac-e 
 To make the people good; and if, in time, 
 When, in the distant blue of coming years 
 Another epoch come by reason of your wide 
 Diverging thoughts and modes of action, and 
 You fail to weave yourselves into a web 
 Harmonious and sound in all its parts. 
 Then let the will of God prevail. All things 
 He doeth well. " 
 
 Justice bowed assent, 
 And with a searchin<^ look, and voice 
 That rolled like evening thunder overhead, 
 Responded thus to all that had been done : 
 *' In what you undertake be just, be kind. 
 Be merciful, and look to God for help. " 
 
 A sudden light of brighter glare then darted in 
 Upon the happy group. Ten thousand 
 Twinkling stars, outbursting sprang 
 Upon the disc; unnumbered happy spirits 
 From high above came down in groups 
 And clapped their hands in joy, the while 
 They shoutod in angelic chorus : '' Hail^ 
 All hail the den/ ivhich gave to Liberty 
 Her birth. " They sang their joyful song. 
 And moved about in endless circles of 
 Delight, until within the glare of this 
 Besplendent light, while loud long sliouts 
 Of cheer rang through the upper air, 
 
3# MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Slowly, like a mist nnyestic i jsino- up, 
 Dissolving as it went into the (listanoe 
 Moving lngh, the holy temple faded from 
 
 The view, and then a moment gone — 
 
 The spirits moving West the while. — 
 Twajj vanished as a midnight dream. 
 
MYRIORAMA. 31 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 The territorv occupied by the early colonists, and the thirfccca 
 States, with their unocciUJic I appeudagcs-theu- topography- 
 is shown The treatment of the Indians by the more avaricwus 
 of the settlers, with the wars resulting;, and the superstitio.a 
 and intolerance of the times, as sliown »" the judicial cogni- 
 zancc of witchcraft, and t\v^ b.inish.ujat ol llodger Williams; 
 together with the gradual growth of s avery, and the PreJ«<3»cf3 
 of race, are detailed iti the personal history ot each spirit And 
 also, the virtues of a large muority ot the people, and the in- 
 fluence of the spirit of freedom, as well as the causes ot tho 
 foreshadowed Revolution. . 
 
 Upon the land like m:intling' shroiul, the nignt 
 Had creot. Unnumbered happy stars 
 Their laui^hin^- light sent peering tiirough 
 The deop^blue air, a .sleepless watch 
 Keposing nature o'er ro keep. 
 
 And stillness, soft and sweet^is childhood n, dream, 
 Upon the earth did rest. Oh, happy land,^ 
 Outstretched up)n the bosom of the sleeping earth, 
 Thy slumbers fanned by l)reeze of night; 
 Thy peaceful rest made happy by the voice 
 Of God in silent st^arlight speaking, like 
 To faithful sentinels on post of duty; 
 Above thy smiling face, extending high, 
 Tiretherial arch, wiih diamonds set- 
 Resplendent coronet of night— in deepest 
 Grandeur hanging. How lovely thou ^ 
 
 In this thy native vesture sleeping. Thy plains, 
 In God's green coveriui^ spread out upon 
 The lap of night and softly drinking in 
 The gathering dew; thy fount;iins, streams. 
 And rivers all in silence musing in 
 Their midnight reveries; thy valleys and 
 Thy hills made fragrant l).v t'te breath 
 Of nature's purest odors ; thy deep. 
 
.52 MYRIOEAMA. 
 
 D ...... . 
 
 A 
 
 Beton? cbe scoruss oi arter reajs disiarbt?d 
 Thy peaceful rest. 
 
 But lo«>k : ■ . - now. 
 
 A grevisb li*zlit upon the - \v 
 
 Is - ' - • ■ - -- remalliffht 
 
 If ice 
 
 B : ... - -rh 
 From air. »v iLaiu oir^ ixr^yui oi that dark 
 
 Itshe:.: " / " ^ ir. 
 
 Their - 
 
 rntn :!-. ^^gtt- 
 
 Her scarry : . ip. 
 
 Bemoves L - . - ng 
 
 Nature wakc^ to xiic. Twe :^uii — ^reat burning globe 
 
 From out the yawTiin?»lenrhs t-k^hlne, in slow 
 
 Majestic mien. r. - " - • -^^i^ 
 
 An'5 dirts nrKT-n - ng 
 
 j.^--^...- his:...- 
 
 T^ . aneoual 
 
 T - -ealr: U 
 
 TLcy i>lay their luu;^ ^ \i; wii^I^ia 
 
 The' venlant valleys elves 
 
 A ■ =tart the r. _ - = : 
 
 T indsparl* 
 
 Q...v-.„, leaves: an.- _.--_ . - 
 
 The dew. All nature wakcc? irvm her 
 
 Repose to kiss the :- nvn-jr Ti?*:'rT^. A.? they wave 
 
 Their rich, gre-r _ ' r^nce 
 
 Bow the forest 
 
 Of prtiise. Gtt v.. snow-capt 
 
 Peaks to m: : :. T : _ - _ .nd shake 
 The mists «: : :::_ L : .. -vn 
 
 Their sides young oiSv a.les liicoe. an=.l hound. 
 
 jy^ ft ik*Di ^^'■^n'Z tr*~'ni leils^e to led 2^ 
 
 I - 
 
 With :fiowers. spread their carpets oat 
 
 For mir. 5." ^. ^east to walk on. From 
 
 Many r wigwam springs i 
 
 The n rior up, while beasts shake oC ^ 
 
MYRIOKAMA. 1^ 
 
 Their Ia2.y sleep, and birds do plume them§elv« 
 For flight and sin«: their sweetest notes. 
 The land breaks forth in one ofrand hymn 
 Of praise to God the Eternal Kinjr, 
 :\nd nature smiles to vSee herselt so fair. 
 
 Twas here the finger pointed from the cloud; 
 Twas here the scattering people were to come; 
 Twas here the infant nation should be born, 
 In this fair land w here nature in her 
 Simple beauty reiji-ned supreme, so pure. 
 So unrestrained in all her wild abode. 
 This happv, virufin, free America. 
 
 « * * « * « 
 
 Tvvo hnndred vears and more had passed 
 Since then. At -^nd thereof we stand, and trac« 
 The story on. Beginning then, when first 
 The sons of IJbertv did set tlieir fe^t on shore 
 Of this the promised land,— the day on which 
 The youthful nation moved within the womb 
 Of time in warning of its future birth; 
 When love of freedom and the right 
 Drove tides of men from eastern shores 
 And wafted them to this; when rage, and hate 
 Of libcrtv recoiled and on the crest 
 Of the re"ceding wave, with Hope, sweet 
 Angel for their guide, meek sufferers rode 
 In safety home: when all the public mind 
 Was fretted, whipped and stung unto despair, 
 And flying victims sought the western world 
 For peaceful exercise of right; when first 
 Our mountains echoed with the ringing song 
 That Christian freemen sung; at that 
 Immortal epoch in our country's life 
 We take its history up and trace 
 The onward tread of freedom's march. 
 
 The fortresses of nature where, for all past tim^ 
 The world of progress stood at bay. 
 Begins to yield as christian sunlight melts 
 Their icv stavs. and savage wildncss 
 Falters back in front of the advancing light. 
 The hunting grounds of savage chiefs. 
 Beneath the culture of true working men, 
 Rich fields of ripening grain become; 
 
34 MYKIORAMA. 
 
 And where the native Indian warwlioop once 
 
 Did echo tlirou*j:n the vales, now thcM'e 
 
 The woodMian's axe is heard, and forests full 
 
 Before i» is stroke. Small towns arise 
 
 And tiiese by slow decrees to cities grow, 
 
 Wliere but a few short years before, 
 
 The wigwam and the viliay:e stood. 
 
 Ttiiis rusti<; nature yields her rei^n, and in 
 
 The course of years, the <>-olden wheat 
 
 Her rich, ripe li irvests yichJs; tlie ;ir.)wing grass 
 
 In rippling waves overspreads the fields. 
 
 And tasseiing corn makes glad the farmers' heart, 
 
 Wliere !)easts and hunters roamed unharmed 
 
 !Not many moons ago. 
 
 As time lifts up 
 Her moving feet, and sets tliem down ahead, 
 The sons of Liberty increased in sti^^ngth, 
 In nnmt)ers and extent of place. 
 Their growing power and possessions drove 
 Kesistaiice back, and trade and commerce grew 
 Apace. The children too ot ali the 
 Other spirits. Justice. Wisdojn, Pride, 
 Ambition, and the rest, increased 
 Their number and their wealth; each holding fast 
 To all he gained and striving hard tor more. 
 Long years of struggling toil and change, 
 Of sickness, deatli aiid savage war. 
 These patient pilgrims worked in faitli. 
 From chains and Kings themselves had come, 
 And in their hope to be forever free. 
 They knew no labor too severe, or pain 
 Too great to bear, if by enduring it 
 Another step toward freedom's star 
 Was gained. This never dying hope 
 Was ever in their hearts. It was their meat 
 And drink; their shelter froui the storms 
 Which in their new-made homes did beat 
 So mercilessly on them. This hope, 
 Their guardian angel in the dtirk 
 Ami di-eaiy ni -his of trial; for it 
 They struggled ►n ; for io no dark despair 
 Oerwhelmv^'U Lueir trusting hearts. li8hone 
 Through all the dismal night; it laughed 
 AVhen morning came, and m ide the heat 
 Of noontide cool. It sang in every breeze 
 
MYIUOKAMA. 
 
 And rode upon the threatening storm. 
 Bi-i^ut an^ei thou, tlie goitleu star of hope, 
 How lon^- we've foHowed thee tliroujt^h all 
 The thorn}' walk?; of life; how many years 
 Of darkness thou hast lighted; liow many 
 Pilgrims love thee, and thy name. 
 
 King Phillip with his bloody band, and he. 
 
 The Wnnipanoag chief, — the bold, 
 
 Brave Metainoia, and hl?^ tribe, 
 
 With Iiunch-eds more no less renowned, 
 
 Their flihted arrows, with unerring aim 
 
 Struck deep in many a heart. Brave men 
 
 And free were tjjey. Tliey yi(;lded up their landi 
 
 And liomes, and ancient usage with 
 
 Their lives. They braved the flowing tide 
 
 With manly eourage, but they tell and sank 
 
 Beneath the waverthough not until its crest 
 
 Was tinged with white men's blood. Along 
 
 The channels of those flowing years, 
 
 A thousand milemarks point tlie way 
 
 To blood aiul death, where (Jhiistian meri 
 
 And sayage fought and died on many 
 
 A hard coritesred field; and here and there 
 
 All o'er the land, in little tnounUs of earth, 
 
 Where now the plow share runs and homes 
 
 Of happy childr n rise, tiieir bones lie hid, 
 
 Forgotten and unknown, save only where 
 
 Recording angels note the deeds of men. 
 
 Mount Hope, and all the tragic scenes 
 
 Of war so near it played, hath for themselvea 
 
 In history a place, where children yet 
 
 Unborn may read the dreadful tale" 
 
 Of pilgrims slaughtered and destro3'ed 
 
 By Indian tomahawk. Wyoming tells 
 
 Her tearful story too. where l)hKKl-staincd rocki 
 
 Of PennsylvaniiVs rugged liills bespeaiv 
 
 The travelei's eye and whisper to iiim of 
 
 A time when thirst for blood in savage 
 
 Kature raged, and Cliristians fell 
 
 A sacrifice to terrible revenge. 
 
 These and many more. 
 
 So struggled on 
 Through all these long two hundred yeara 
 
3e MYIUORAMA. 
 
 And more, those faithful, earnest men. 
 A tremhlin)^ few iit Plymouth then, 
 With here and there alons? the watery beach 
 Of wide Atlantic's wave, another little band, 
 To many now had g^rown, and westward still 
 The tide rolLs on to Mississippi's bank. 
 No mountains intervening-, forests deep, 
 Or river in its rolling Hood, could stay 
 Their onward march. Before their strong 
 Unyielding will, all else gave way, and now 
 A busy, active, (/hristian people dwell 
 Where once the savage, with his bow and shaft, 
 Hjid roamed at will. Beneath their feet 
 The wastes of nature lay reclaimed, 
 And churches now, and cities rear 
 Their heads where forests then denied 
 Approach, and mountains hid the view. 
 'Twas thus they toiled, and tlius they won 
 The rit'h reward of persevering hope. 
 And uurnedt faith in God's direction. 
 
 We've sc-fn the steady progres.=: of that band 
 
 Of Spartan heroes true, who with them bore, 
 
 'Mid all the changes of that clianging time, 
 
 The flag of freedom up ; and how, 
 
 Through many bitter years of pain and toil 
 
 They never faltered in their onward march; 
 
 But braving every storm which came 
 
 Upon their path, and holding fast 
 
 To faith, they won at last the golden prize. 
 
 We've seen them grow from feebleness 
 
 To strength ; from little brother band 
 
 United by one hope, one end and aim 
 
 And only one — their freedom— to a people stromg 
 
 And brave, and spread o'er wide extending tracte, 
 
 Diversitied their interests and plans, 
 
 With all the elements of national wealth. 
 
 If concentrated in one common whole, 
 
 To make a nation equid with the best. 
 
 From small and feeble colonies at lirst ; 
 
 A few determined men, set down 
 
 On narrow cape along Atlantic's shore. 
 
 Or farm upon the James scarce large 
 
 Enough to feed the hopeful band who trod 
 
 Vpon ltd iioil, a thriving people now have growa» 
 
MYT?IORAMA. 8T 
 
 •Hiey tamed thn envuuv wild : away 
 
 Tbe foifsts elcnird : i!.*' Indian with h\^ '^toiHJ 
 
 Resolve compelled to vi<dd; -vn Immo l^ears 
 
 And bats in old<'n tim*' hixd >^nuned _ 
 
 And winked the time away, there cities 
 
 Built tliey up. Aero^^s the rivers aiiu 
 
 The plains tiicir liehl^ ^xt^nded f:ir. 
 
 And wilderness with thrilry eonnueree spread. 
 
 Their number? multiplied with wondrous sijctd, 
 
 That now. the time whereof we write, 
 
 Three millions stronu' they'd orown. and trom 
 
 The little pilgrim hand, lo thirteen great 
 
 And noble States of Christian men. 
 
 We'll now take up another vein, and trace 
 
 The footprints of eacdi master spirit 
 
 As 't is stamped upon the passing tmie. 
 
 To see what inlluenees eacli has had 
 
 In making up the people and their name 
 
 As now we sec them. We'll look beneath 
 
 The surface of events, and down the lane 
 
 Of these two centuries nnd more : 
 
 We'll follow up the unf<dt synipatliies that in 
 
 Their silent tread had left their intnge on 
 
 The times, and learn what work they've done; 
 
 How much of evil have they sown, and what 
 
 Was reaped of seed they'd phmted there. >> e 11 looK 
 
 Alon"' the deep and hidden stream of mind 
 
 That°uns beneath atfairs of men. and when 
 
 They sleep or wake, or toil or laugh, their 
 
 Natures moulds and makes them a hat they are. 
 
 We'll see the silent contest of conllicting aims; 
 
 The mvstic mixing up by slow 
 
 Degrees of strange incongruous elements, 
 
 Which to unpractised e}'es do seem 
 
 A com(dy whole; how princndes, unlike 
 
 in nature and design, by silent contact came 
 
 In time to permeate th(^ whoh.>; and how 
 
 The onward moving will of God. 
 
 Deep underlviug all, ijermitted this 
 
 Contagion, this intcrehange an<l mix 
 
 Of spirit, this combination of d»?sign and aitu» 
 
 Unlike within themselves, in tlie aftairs 
 
 Of men, to consummate His just intent. 
 
 We'll see what progress spirits made 
 
38 MYinOKAMA. 
 
 In mill ti ply inii' kind, ami fixing on the ehild 
 The impres? of Mic parent will ; how oft 
 Unguarded passions Interwove tl)eni.<elve.^ 
 With good, and nnwatched sin has left 
 Its slimy track tlirongh much of these 
 Good pilgrims' hopes. 
 
 First, then, we'll sec 
 The work which Avarice, in his secret plans, — 
 His low and f)a>e desiiiiis, ha<l done. 
 When first the little hjiiid had set their feet 
 On shore, this restless, tliievin<>" spirit eanie 
 And followed all tlieir way-. When ni.iiht 
 Came on and in their tin}- huts they slept. 
 He crept upon tlje breeze and whispered in 
 Their ears a siren son^if oi" tjain. 
 He told them of fair lands and lich 
 Within their rea(di w lii<'h only they 
 Could see and hold. Jle conjured up 
 Bright dreams of gold, and blew them 
 Into life. He painted wealth and opulence 
 In shining ^lare upon their yielding brains; 
 He opened up tiie earth to them, and showed 
 The latent treasures there with all their wealth 
 Untold : he painted maps of distant lands 
 Upon their hearts, — ore.it mountains filled 
 With gold, and flowing vales wh(M"e diamonds 
 Sparkled in the night ; of undulating plain-? 
 Where ease and wealth grew up like corn 
 And waved their heads in richest air. 
 With these and kindred things, by slow. 
 Unceasing work, he filh;d their niinds, 
 Slow pouring in uj)on their simple hearts, 
 liikc fell miasmn, all the evil lie eouhl coin. 
 By night, by day, incessantly and lon^. 
 This silent, devilish thing did work 
 Upon their hearts, until the weaker ones. 
 Less able to resist than many of their kind. 
 Gave way and fell into his snare. 
 
 The subtle working of his dangerous art.s. 
 Like anaconda, wound them in its coil, 
 And poisoned all the good that years 
 Of trouble there had sown. His evil work 
 Was seen by better spirits and deplored; 
 But by a fatal compromise with sin 
 
MYIirOKAMA. 39 
 
 Which first in Eden Jiad been made, ho won — 
 This wicked spiiii— won his end, in spite 
 Of all their eilorts to defeat his plans. 
 
 By slow and steady steps his ehildrcn «rrcw, 
 And love of gain beuan to s(;ar their li(>arts. 
 "Without a tl»ou.j>ht of ri.nht or wroiiij in what 
 They did, tliey look the lands of trusting men 
 >Vho bade them welcome in the ohien time. 
 Nor ofiered them rowar<l. The unsuspecting 
 "Warrior on liis native chase, dreamed not 
 Of want or what would meet him in 
 His happy home where, ganie secured. 
 He then should wander hack. But so it was. 
 His lands, his home, where nuniy countless moons 
 In peace he dwelt; where graves of fathers lay 
 And many other sacred spots, here— there— 
 The white man came, and he was crowded out. 
 In patient, earnest effort, he appealed 
 To all the g^ner()us impulses of men. 
 Bespeaking patient audience to his wrongs. 
 He ottered peace and safety then and for 
 All time to come. His manly heart he pledged 
 For this, and justice ojily asked as pav. 
 His native home v ith fondness did he'love. 
 And could not yield it thus to wrong.— 
 For wrong it surely was: the Great Supreme 
 Declared it was. 
 
 But Avarice liad done 
 His work. His chlhhMi pushed the red man out; 
 Destroyed his wigwams, and his lands fenced up; 
 His game they cai)tured, and the graves wherein 
 His fathers slept, they ran their i)low-share3 through, 
 And cleared away his forest lumncs. 
 His native, simple spirit turne<l at thig, 
 And in his bitter disappointment did 
 He wage terrilic war upon the trespassers. 
 The better pilgrims did not dare to see 
 Their neighbors fall, lest thev in turn became 
 The victims of revenge; and thus in self-defence 
 Were they compelled to countenance 
 A wrong. In order to sustain themselves, 
 They must defend their neighbors, though 
 Their trouble came of wrong themselves 
 Had done, because their colony was weak. 
 
40 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Eneourajiicd thus, the sons of Avarice played 
 Upon the weakness of their friends and won 
 Thti lands of Aborigines witliont retnrn. 
 
 By oft repeated strMt:i.:!j:eni and wrong* 
 
 They multiplied their gains, and blood, 
 
 Ancl death, and earnage. as u f've seen. 
 
 Grew eomnion in the huid. \\ hat tlie good 
 
 Would have avoided, they'd no power 
 
 To prevent; and thus fronj year toyear, 
 
 As time grew on, tin* t'eiid iiM-n^ased, 
 
 And bitter wars w«'re w aged. The other's ^oo(J 
 
 "Each one was bonnd to wish, and when 
 
 The trouble eanie, no question then 
 
 Of right or wrong was a^ked ; but safety 
 
 For the wlioh.^ was nioiivc strong tnough 
 
 To bind them in rlieir r( nnnon iieed. 
 
 Such means as tliese eombincd to work 
 
 A patient toil among the better class; 
 
 And thongh nineli more of evil Avarice did. 
 
 Might here be told, h't thi< siifliee. and know 
 
 That while much mischief liad he done, 
 
 Had poisoned many, a virgin hoart 
 
 And sowed prolitie seed, remaining still 
 
 Unharmed were mneli the greater part 
 
 Of them uliose history we wiite. 
 
 And to their lasting honor it is said 
 
 Their virtue was a shiehl against 
 
 His wicked darts. Thfy paid tlie hnlian for 
 
 The lands of his tht'v tiiok. 
 
 lint foolish Pride 
 pid little headway make am*>ng 
 iThese Rturdy son^ of toil. Quite true, 
 The faithful coadjutor oftentinn'S 
 And steadfast f: ii-nd of Avaiice, yet 
 Her manner, as it always is, was i)ad. 
 And so repulsive, that iier very name. 
 Despised and hated a-^ it was. and ever 
 Bhould so be. was driven from their thoughts; 
 And though she dwelt there long, and made 
 Ilel" house witli better things, it happened 
 That for very shame she ebanged her name. 
 And waited for a tietter titue to come. 
 Without companions in her maiden name. 
 
MYRIOKAMA. 41 
 
 In part she passed her time awny. Although 
 Her seed she sowed, as yet but little fimt 
 Appeared. 
 
 Poor, honest Labor. ])a(ieiitly 
 And long had born*; his* round of toil. 
 Each pa^M? of tliis j;ro«rres.sIve book did hear 
 His name in lar;;est ty^>e. If forest cleared, 
 Or city built: if valleys sniiMl, or tields 
 With bloomin.i>' <rrain 'looked jray ; his brawny arm 
 Had done it all. But by some freak 
 Or frenzy of the times, liis children, while 
 They t^rew mosr rapidly in numbers and 
 In streniith, betwixt themselves had drawn 
 A line dividinic white from black. 
 In honor those, dishonor these had grow u. 
 The reason none aftirmed. Peilsaps 
 If never Pri<le had wormed hejself 
 Between, no dillV.rence had been, 
 For surely both alike had toih;d. But so 
 It was; and while in cliains the one. 
 The other free, together had they grown 
 And none more valued there than they. 
 
 Determined In his work, his interest 
 
 Guarding well, old Kingeratt grew quite larg(j 
 
 And fat."^ When savage warfare raged. 
 
 And Pilgrims* blood Van fast, he sent 
 
 His troops of war to helj) them tight 
 
 And drive the red nu-n back. Without 
 
 His timely aid mueh damagt! had been done. 
 
 If danger threatened, King<M'aft came: 
 
 And when disasters stalkeil ax.-ross their path, 
 
 He hired mcreenai-y trooj>s to drive 
 
 Them all away. When dangerous feuds arose. 
 
 In very kindness— (no other motive, sure, had he) — 
 
 T* arrange the ease, he sent his viceroys out, 
 
 And by his generous oversight of things. — 
 
 His kind protecting guardianship, w hile they 
 
 Did all the work, he woji upon, their hearts, 
 
 And great, oh, very great grew he. So much 
 
 Attention to the rule he gave: suclj deep. 
 
 Unselfish interest in their good. 
 
 That while they dug and plowed and built, 
 
 He heldthe compass in his hands. 
 
 When fields of eoru were harvested 
 
40 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Dneouragci! thus, the sons of Avarice played 
 Upon the weakness of their friends and won 
 *Ihu lands of Aborigines withont vetnrn. 
 
 By oft repeated stratii.irein and wrong 
 
 They multiplied their <>ains. and blood, 
 
 Andf death, and earna<^e, as we've seen. 
 
 Grew common in the buid. \\ haf die ^ood 
 
 Would have avoi(hMl, they'd no |H>wer 
 
 To prevent; and thns frx>in year to year, 
 
 Ab time grew on, tlie tend iiicrf^ased. 
 
 And bitter wars were w asod. The other's goo«J 
 
 "Each one was hound to wish, atui when 
 
 The trouble came, no question then 
 
 Of right or wrong was a'^ked : but safety 
 
 For the wliole was nu)iiv(' strong enough 
 
 To bind Iheni in their < i nnnon need. 
 
 Such means as tliese ('ombincd to work 
 
 A patient toil among the b«'tter class; 
 
 And though mueii more of evil Avarice did, 
 
 Hisfht here be told, let thi< sutlice. and know 
 
 That while much mischief had he done, 
 
 Had poisoned mnny a virgin heart 
 
 And sowed prolitic seed, remaining still 
 
 Unharmed were much the greater part 
 
 Of them whose history we wiitc. 
 
 And to their lasting honor it is said 
 
 Their virtue was a shiehl against 
 
 His wicked darts. Tfit'y jmid tlie Indian for 
 
 The lands of his thev took. 
 
 But foolish Pride 
 pid little headway make among 
 irhese sturdy son^'of toil. Quite true, 
 The faithful coadjutor oftentimes 
 And steadfast friend of Avarice, yet 
 Her manner. a> it always is. was bad. 
 And so repulsive, that her very name. 
 Despised and hated as it was. and ever 
 Should so h*\ was driveji from their thoughts; 
 And though she dwelt there long. a)id made 
 HeY house With b^Mler thi?igs. it happened 
 That for very shame she changed her name. 
 And waited tor a f>ctter time to come. 
 "Without companions in her rwaiden name. 
 
MYRIOKAMA. 41 
 
 In part she passed her time awny. Altluyagh 
 
 Her seed she sowed,us yet but little fiiut 
 
 Appcared^^^^^ honest I.abor. patieiitly 
 
 And Ion? had borne his' round ot toil. 
 
 Each paL^e of this i,rojrresslve book did Deai 
 
 mtlLro. in larjrest lyDe. If forest c eared, 
 
 Or Vitv built: il'vallevs smiUal, or tields 
 
 Wi^ iloomin- ^raindooked jr.v ; Ms brawny arm 
 
 Had done it all. But by sonie fveaK 
 
 Or frenzy of the times, his <hildren, wh Ic 
 
 Thev <^rew most rapidly in iiuTnt)er> ana 
 
 In strens-th. betwixt thenistdves had drawn 
 
 A line dividing white from Idaek. 
 
 In honor those, dishonor thi'se had grown. 
 
 The reason none aihrnuHl. Perl.aps 
 
 If never Pride had wormed heiselt 
 
 Between, no ditference had been. 
 
 For surely both alike had toded. l>ut so 
 
 Itwa=; and while in ehains the one. 
 
 The other free. to<r:ether had they grown 
 
 And none more valued there than they. 
 
 Determined in his work, his interest 
 Ouardin<- well, old Kin<i:eratt grew «iinte laigo 
 And fat.^ When sava<re warlare raged, 
 i^nd PiUi-ims' blood ran fast, he sent 
 His trooi.=< of war to hell) tht-m tight 
 And drive tlie red men l)aek. \V itliout 
 His timelv aid much damage had been done. 
 If danger threatened, Kingeraft came: 
 And when disasters stalked aeross their path, 
 He hired mcreenary troops to drive 
 Them all awav. When dangerous tends arose. 
 In very kindness— (no otiier motive, sure, had he)— 
 T' arranire the ease, he sent his viceroys out, 
 And bv his generous oversight of ihinp.— 
 His kind protecting guardianship, while tliey 
 Did all the wojk. he won upon their hearts, 
 And great, oh, very great grew he. 80 much 
 Attention to the rule he gave; sucti deep, 
 Unselfish interest in their good, 
 That while they dug and ploweil and built, 
 He hehtthe compass in his hands. 
 When- fields of corn were harvested 
 
42 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Or \vint(^r stores prepared, 'twas merely for 
 A tithe to feed the tarviii^ir poor, to pacify 
 The thron«jr, a very little too indeed, to clothe 
 The kin;j, he sent his tax collectors out. 
 By gentle means at first, like morning dews 
 Upon the early pastures falling v^own, 
 lie fed and fawned tliese ^trusting men. 
 As time went rolling l)y,'so pleasant was 
 His kingsliip then in all the soft 
 Cajoleries of sweetened lies, by slow 
 Unseen attempts, — one point attained, 
 Another then in prospect near. — his power 
 Over them increased until, no more 
 Their will respecting, he uiuuasked 
 Himself and showed his brazen front. 
 
 His petty, grasping wiles too well he kept 
 
 Concealed. Wlien fire must be built 
 
 To burn wierd witches ui), 'twas m -ndy lit 
 
 He said to purify the tainted atmosphere 
 
 And chase contagion out; and when 
 
 To banishment he drove an independent mind, 
 
 *Twas freedom's interest he served, that liberty 
 
 Of speech might grow, and make men wise. 
 
 Oh ! wretched monster, how I hate thee now 
 
 In all thy da/zling infamy ! Away ! 
 
 May shade of night o'erta'ke thee soon 
 
 And hide thy hideous, repulsive shape 
 
 From human view, and there remain 
 
 Until thy just reward be given thee. 
 
 At length they felt the chafing of his yoke. 
 And saw the lurid glare of red hot chains 
 Fast forging for their limbs. The cold 
 And clammy coil the serpent gives 
 Came o'er their hearts, and then remonstrance 
 Oft repeated came, nvsistance next, and last, — 
 But no, — not now, again we'll talk of that. 
 
 What Aborigines had done or left undone; 
 "What part he took in this dramatic scene; 
 What good or evil in his plans; what wrongfii, 
 If any, he inflicted on his neighbor's rights, or in 
 His person suffered, need not now be named. 
 Aj^ain, before this song determines, he may apeak 
 
MYRIOKAMA. 4» 
 
 His own nnd olliers >.vron;^p. Till tlion let liim 
 Kei)'>st», nui\ \\c will look at Mercy, swccl, 
 Sweet ani;el, as she rtstt* with in the view. 
 
 For each specifie ill of mnn, slie linds 
 
 A balm, a pure, a holy (-nre. WIhmi pain 
 
 And want, and all the Icngtliened train 
 
 Of dreadful war rolled hy ; w hen shH>j)let-s nights 
 
 Of lon<j: and |»ati(nt wuteh did stretch 
 
 Their gloomy sliad«>ws out; when hate. 
 
 And all tin; tlery |>:iss5ons ra<ir(*<l 
 
 And laid tlieir taint ln;i" victims low; 
 
 When sickness, death, and jiiiawinsi: wot^ 
 
 Fell hard npoti them in tlx'ir new-inade homes, 
 
 She came to their relief and iicntly poured 
 
 Her vials out. The lin^xerinu- pains of de^ath 
 
 She smoothed; i)n'vcnte»; n)any a stroke 
 
 Of fallinjr tonjahawK. and often turned t])e edfj^e 
 
 Of well dire<'ted knife. No enemy she knew 
 
 From firmest friend. Wheiever s'utterinji: eame 
 
 She went with liealiiijr in lier words; 
 
 Wherever toilin<r pil;iritn worked, or watched, 
 
 Or slept, or [>ray<'d. she trnned his fare 
 
 The while and l»reathed into his thirsty sonl 
 
 The brightest words of «heer. When sleeping babe«, 
 
 By cruel savage slain, their little spirits gave, 
 
 She vvra!'.ite<l them in her robes of love 
 
 And took them gently home. When happy, 
 
 Laughing girls, to torture and revenge 
 
 Fell helpless sacriti«e. their plaintive cry 
 
 For help she heard and told them to her Ciod. 
 
 If ever winter storms blew snow-drifts round 
 
 Their beds of stra\\, or cold and liunger chilled 
 
 Their aching limf»s; when children cried 
 
 For bread and none was tht>re to give; 
 
 When patient mothers wrai»|)ed their babe« 
 
 In arms of death ; when watchful fathers prayed 
 
 To God for aid lU many a troubled hour. 
 
 Then was Mercy the rt*. to comfort and 
 
 To warm the fr< c/.ing heart. 
 
 Bright angel ! oh. 
 How often in tlie stillness of the cheerless night, 
 When want and dosfltution stared in every star, 
 And lowered in the passing elouds. Invs thy 
 Sweet voice been heard and felt. Go on 
 
44 MYKIORAMA. 
 
 In thj- unfjcHc work. The God who heaiH 
 The widow's cry reward thee. 
 
 His roots withio 
 Tlie virgin voil Anj])iti()ii planted deep; 
 And, like a skillful <>ard(!ncr trained 
 In fruitinfj: vines, whene'er the tender shoots 
 Appeared, he pruned thoni l)at;k, that when 
 By age niaturtul, and not till then, their lull 
 Grown fruit might yield without a fear 
 Of failing strength. A prudent si)irit this: 
 He guarded well his hehl. His hand 
 To eveiy labor he apidied, and lent 
 Jlis genius everywhere that nerve 
 Was needed or sui-cess attained. The henelH 
 Of all his patient work to them lie gave 
 Nor asked return. In war he hurled 
 A fearless and a certain shaft ; in pea^e 
 Jle labored hard for good of tljose he loved. 
 In every place, in every wojk, Aml)ition\s hand 
 ^Vas seen, and never faltere<i he, 
 Nor gave a sign of yielding h()[)e. lie ehiii^ed 
 The fleeting hours past; he cheered 
 The irksome toil, and always gave reward 
 To others, not hiniself. His ejid, his aim. 
 His hope was in a star by them unse<!n — 
 To them not risen yet above the deep. 
 By stronger vision of prophetic light 
 Which he possessed, that star by him 
 Alone was seen and known in time 'twould rise. 
 It8 sure approach would eon)e when all 
 Things else w<?re ready. Hence his duty now 
 To husband well his means and guard 
 The wayward instincts of his sons. 
 Their interests he made unite in one 
 Or other ultimate design and end, and while 
 lie kei)t from view his own renown, 
 By zealous industry his po\> er iyyaw 
 And stronger grew until his friends 
 He could not number. I'reparing for 
 Himself, he strengthened others' hope}?, 
 And thus lie made the people steadfast, tnnt 
 And happv. 
 
 The child of Liberty 
 Was every, throb and generous impulse of 
 
MYRIORAMA. 4^ 
 
 The heart. Without their cherished mother, none 
 Would thrive or live. Witliiii the veins 
 Of every hardy son her blood did How; 
 Her name on every lip, her praise on 
 By^ry tongue, in every eye her burning fire. 
 Her influence in every heart was always felt; 
 And though the chill of Avarice, betimes, 
 Or shining glare of Kingcraft's golden throne, 
 8orae weak ones led astray, yet Liberty's 
 Sweet voice, like heaven's music, in their souls 
 Was ever ringing pleasant notes. About 
 Her people watched she well, and every break 
 Where stranger gods might make approach, 
 She guarded with a mother's care. 
 Her time she occupied in fostering 
 Among her children that devout 
 And holy love of freedom which she nursed 
 Within her own pure heart; and though 
 In later years, her voice was hushed to whisper 
 By the heavy lash of Kingcraft's will. 
 Yet never was her image bunished from 
 Their loving hearts. 'Twas there it lurked, 
 Like hidden germ, combustible at touch; 
 And when her glorious name was sounded in 
 The hush of night, or in the glare of noon 
 A chord, a sympathetic something, in 
 Their hearts vibrated in a sure response. 
 
 The brightest star whicli shone upon their path 
 And led them through the wilderness of years, 
 Was that of Independence. His duty was to go 
 About and hold his star in view. He nerved 
 Their arms for labor, emboldened he 
 Their fainting hearts, and taught them what 
 Reward for patient watch and work. 
 The camp wherein his soldiers slept 
 He never left ; he guarded all their toil ; 
 Rewarded all their labor done, and showed 
 Them how, in the far off time to come, 
 !tfo human master would they know. 
 He watched the wiles of wicked Kingcraft too, 
 Ahd curbcil the reins of grasping Avarice. 
 He stimulated Progress ; Labor lie encourged; 
 He cherished Liberty and virtue; Mercy he 
 Delighted in her angel work by pointing; out 
 
46 MYinORAMx\. 
 
 .Wliero <^l;f' ?v.i.L'"1it (><> hor dccrls of lovo; 
 But Vv'ulr Ih' i);it(Ml. _\ v\ Ix' !o\ «•() ; {or much 
 Of luM- misloitmic rniin' fVotu vant 
 Of prop' r KiiowlcMliic <>1 Iut tM.< and 
 Naturjil p; sirion. He h'd lii.^ cliilflnMi step 
 By slci) iiiioiii;ii all lliis (li'<'ary liinr of work. 
 And taii«j:lit tluMii whal >\ as lio| e. For love of liim- 
 The piljirlnis li\etl. and in his n::mo they died. 
 Throiiiih all the gloomy round of want,* 
 Privation and dislicss. they followed slill 
 With cheer his risin<i star. 
 
 Tn visions of 
 The eorninu' time, with here and rlirrci a start. 
 Did rro;j:res.s ior the in(»sl i»art (Inam 
 lli> time away ; hut oncf or twiiM' \\) every n^ot 
 Or two. lie prophisied (he liettcr day ahead, 
 A.S when upon the ,urave of ('olton Mather stood 
 lie up and told of sliamef(d murder done 
 By law of superstition made: or wept 
 WhcJi Ivo.sjer Williams lo(»ked his last upon 
 His native iiome. and siiowed to him 
 A land wlnne 'twas not criminal to think. 
 Api)recialed not to ;j:rcat extent until 
 In later years, nor yet admin-d much 
 Except as tril)ntary to success in time. 
 It happened the condition of the state 
 Was s«u'h in earl^ time, thai; this indusf rloui? 
 Pioneer eoid<l do hut little work. The tim-j 
 t'or him was comiiiii" hut hy slow decrees; 
 And thus we see. tliat while apparently 
 He slept, his dreams were of tne future yenrs. 
 IHs voi<'e was theref. re weak. hi> Held 
 Of Inl'or circumscribed, his lime had not 
 Yet fully come. 
 
 Pale Virtue, silent watel er, 
 IJnassuniinji. ow dest. i^nre. her name 
 Throujxh all the land revered ; in vale and on 
 The nnvunlaiu t«>" tier praises did the 
 Pilgrims sin*?. Within the l>ar(iue that bore • • 
 The settleis out she eaine; she tauuht 
 Thcni low to read to love, to pray. She helped 
 Th'm l>uild their churches np nncl scIiooIf, 
 And dedicated t'n m to t;od and l.i'>erty. ■ ' 
 
 She i>urilied tleif ph^a?inres, blessed 
 
MYlirORAMA. Jit 
 
 To them their pains, and tan<::ht the little ohgh 
 
 Of Ohrist. Upon each pilsj^rinrs i»r:ive 
 
 She built a cro^is; eacli evil turned to <;ood; 
 
 From darkness brouglit she li*?ht, and in 
 
 The midst of deepest pain a pleasure to 
 
 The sufferer slie broui'ht. Within the hearts 
 
 Of these her child reni friends, her name 
 
 Was deep en«>raved. Sh<} tau<2:lit the mothers how 
 
 To niar their children up; to train an lionest race 
 
 The fathers how ; tlie sons to carve their names 
 
 In truth and virtuous renown; to live 
 
 In modest purity the dau^j^liters, and 
 
 To fit themselves for future mothers of 
 
 Their kind. Iler CMiristian work, had done" 
 
 A general f^ood, had leavened all the State; 
 
 Porot a truth, no nobler, belter class 
 
 Of men and women ever graced the earth 
 
 Outside God's chosen few, than those 
 
 Our Revolutionary ancestors. 
 
MYRIOEAMA. 
 
 CHAPTEFv lir. 
 
 REMARKS. t 
 
 Ambassador represents Amoricans pcUtionhiff t]>o KiDg of 
 England for redress of grifvMiu-t>s. flic MinistiM- rc'iirescttte 
 that class of IJrilisih statesmen -who oj)[)osed the kin.j; iu hts vrlir 
 against the coloniOh; us l>urke. Tli-; .>t<tnu is typirtil of lUo cota- 
 iug war. Then comes the l>eolMr;)i i"n «)f luricju-iuleuce, ajpd 
 tholicvohitioii. The statometit-; o!" (he iiH-ssen,i,aT show the st«{0 
 of public e\citeniciil iu the counliy in the carlj stagies of tho 
 war, ' • .^ 
 
 Within the coiUcr of the hind \vho>5e name 
 
 We i»rHi.se, a monntain nin^a- nplifls 
 
 Its rug«;oti hills from which, in youthful *j:lee, 
 
 Bright JShenandoali sin«».s her cheerful song. 
 
 Ili^h up ahovo [he n'St, ont^ lifts her crest. 
 
 Where pines and oaks in happy concert dwell, 
 
 And wave, and how their swayinjir tops 
 
 A8 passin** hree/es play atnid tlieir bou<;hs; ^ 
 
 Ami there a towerin;*: rock ui)rears his lieati. 
 
 On either side, and to the rear ol this 
 
 Majestic son of earth, as thou<rh to ^^uard 
 
 Iliin from the storms; which sometimes play 
 
 Around him there, two nohlc oak tices stood 
 
 With wideontytretehin<r arms above 
 
 In happy friendship meetin.ir. and 
 
 A vine which wound itsellanjon^ the hough* 
 
 In deep, rich clusters han^^^in^ o'er tlio rock, 
 
 In silence nestled there, ami formed an arch 
 
 Of everf^reen above the liall. 
 
 Within 
 This hifjh retreat that nature made 
 For haunt of forest kin«:s, in pensive mood. 
 As back and forth he i)aced the rock, 
 Old Kinjjcraft with himself communed. 
 Bomewhat disturbed in thought he see|ned. 
 His head was forward bent, and deep 
 Low murmurs, rather breathed than 8poke» 
 
MYKJOllAMA. 49 
 
 Sometiinns escaped liir^ Slow and constant thui 
 Ho paced, and lUtiLtercTl hfokcti words 
 Till sonicllnn;^— what, lie did not say,— 
 Arrested I'linlier nioveiiieiit and he stopped, 
 A sudden, nervous slop. To wlioni or what 
 He spak(^ it matters not, i)Lit this is what 
 Ho said, his ri;^ht liand laid upon 
 His bre;j<t: '-To say that I am weak, 
 Unable lo rrstrain'this discontent 
 Amon;^ tlie people, and by ri^^id law 
 Enforced, [)r()tect myself a^rainst 
 Prosp»;ctive harm, would falsi (V 
 My hijrh prerooativo. To yield one point 
 Of this attack, a sin<;le inch of i> round. 
 To such unreasonabh'. men. would be 
 T' acknowledge there is error otj juy part, 
 And that is forci<in to my just (lesiVrns. 
 If J surrender now one {urthin^j worth 
 To their demand, iiow lon^' btifore 
 Another, and anotht-r, on tlie same 
 False principle 1 must yield? My ri^ht 
 To their abj(M;t «d»edi<ui(e 1 claim ; 
 'Tis undlsjMited l)y the nations of the earth ; 
 And in tht! law of mortal num "tis writ 
 That subje«!is sliall obey their kinti^s. 
 *Tis my undoulded r'l^^ht to le<<islate 
 My will, and unto that compel 
 Obedience. To slacken now my hold 
 Upon the law, relinquish what 
 Is !e<;:illy my ri<;iit. and pander to 
 The whims of this tumultuous throng. 
 Would t»reatly weaken that most just respeet 
 And reverence for kin^fs which their 
 Peeuritv imperatively does require. 
 Upon tlie power I possess to hold 
 Men subject to my soverei<i:n will, 
 My throlui its •greatest safety does attain; 
 Its props and stays on that'foundation rest» 
 And that alon<i. Each separate item 
 Forminjr part thereof, as ties and beams (> 
 In temples, is essential to the whole. /i. 
 
 Destroy a .part, a ^xrcatin- strain's upon the rest; 
 The whole is that mut.-h less prepared 
 To bear the wei<;ht upon it placed. 
 My Ki'^'iit prerogative is to command; 
 4 
 
50 MYRIOKAMA. 
 
 Their duty to obey. This commotion and 
 Distrust arises eh felly from the whims 
 Of disappointed ;i'^])irant% for fame 
 And hi;;h renown." The inlluenec possessed, 
 VVliate'er it be, upon the people by the chief 
 Conspirators, if so far indeed "t lias {rone. 
 Must be at onee destroyed, and nothing left 
 Undone to nip the llower in its bud. 
 Amon^- tlie j^ravest duties of a king it is 
 To rid his suhjet-ts and himself of all 
 The dire consequences of revolt 
 By banisliment or execution of tlie Case 
 Alarmists who (kdude them into sin, 
 And tlius inoculate tlio body of tlie state 
 With all the virus of their damning heresies. 
 The leaders must be hemmed about 
 By strong exacting power, and taught 
 To feel the weight of rule by law enforced. 
 Whatever of alYe<'tion may my subjects have 
 For these disturbers of tl/e pence, I'll turn 
 To bitter hate, and so destroy tiie bond 
 That binds them to each other, if 
 iSo be my fears are not ill-founded. 
 This rising spirit of resistance to 
 My just authority, as thus encouraged 
 By such as from tlieir prudent training in 
 My schools, much better things Td reason to 
 Expect, must be at once, if not 
 Abated by advice I sent them, to 
 Their own destruction turned. A due 
 Ifespect for all the high and noble purposes 
 For which 1 reigii. compels me to deny 
 The slightest of the claims they represent." 
 
 "Disgrace upon my name if dangerous feud 
 Within my realm arise and not directly and 
 Completely quelled by strong restraint; 
 And yielding to their least demand, admits 
 My right to hold them in subjection 
 To be at least of doubtful origin. 
 Proceeding such as this would put the right 
 Of Kings to rule according to their will 
 At argument, and this cannot be done. 
 'Twouhl soon deitroy the very base on which 
 Tiicir just authority' is built; and men, 
 
MYKIOKAxMA. 51 
 
 When not rii«iirt nl in their acts by certain rule 
 
 And well digested law, would waste 
 
 In riot, crime and quick decay. 
 
 In heaven discontented spirits .soufuht 
 
 To call in question right of God, the tj^rcat 
 
 Eternal Kin.u', to rule and rci<jfn within 
 
 His own dominions. They did teach 
 
 Deluded followers how disaffection would 
 
 Ensure success, and l>y the overthrow 
 
 Of Him who rightly did demand of them 
 
 Obedience, the light of freedom would extend 
 
 Her brilliant rays, and each would be 
 
 A Kin"- within his little selfish self. 
 
 In early rout and terrible discomfiture, 
 
 That foolish enterprise did end. 
 
 In ruin hurled o'er battlements of heaveo. 
 
 Fell they down to endless discontent 
 
 And death to spend eternity in shame 
 
 Deluded by the false, deceitful 
 
 Garniture Ambitio]! wears, how so(»n 
 
 In sorrow and humiliating pain. 
 
 Unregulated passions often we(^p 
 
 And pray the tnonntains to remove 
 
 Them from their shame?" 
 
 " My will 
 Is iirm : no half-way measures to alla^v 
 But for a moment longer growing pain, 
 And then return to curse me; no, nor long 
 Unmeaning messages for present use 
 Made up, aiid held for naught whenever 
 Changing state may make such holding weU 
 Advised. No, no : Jcannotcompromi.se 
 My name, and barter thus my liberty 
 Away. I'll send a warning to them'now. 
 Commanding their assent to all 1 choose 
 To do, and in the meantime will surround 
 Myself with true and trusted friends." 
 
 Whether anything was left unsaid 
 
 That he intended or did think, or whether 
 
 Then had come the appointed time 
 
 To cease, sure it was that when he spoke 
 
 Of calling round him "trusted friends," 
 
 A. scarlet girded spirit winged itself 
 
 Near by, and rested at his iect. 
 
B2 MYlllORAMA. 
 
 "What news? How blows the wind lielow 
 In nothiT atniO-sphere? " iiiqu red the Kin^. 
 To which the messenger replied : "My King, 
 The dis(!oiitent is "leut. Contagion spreads 
 From man to man. The body of tlie State 
 Is terribly diseased. " 
 
 ''Do they rise? 
 Do they threaten a revolt? Is my just 
 Authority denied ? " 
 
 "Unorganized they aro 
 As yet, but like a slumbering tire 
 Beneath tl»c mountain's crust, a spark 
 At any moment may ignite it into life. " 
 
 •' What do they demand ? '' 
 
 ''My business ia 
 To make report of the condition, as it is; 
 I know not wliat they want, nor asked 
 What they ^vould have. " 
 
 "Go hen oe, away, 
 To my commanding captain, and inform 
 Him of tile Llueatened break. Mis troops 
 In proper disposition let him jflace, 
 And then await my further will." 
 The herald quickly took to wing, and through 
 The distance lost himself to view. 
 
 Then turning round in angry scorn, 
 His breast hard striking with his nervous hand. 
 In volleys loud and louder. Kingcraft poured 
 His venom out in imprecations and 
 Disgust. ''Contagion! Discontent! Diseasel 
 A slumbering lire. — ah ! indeed ! Ha, ha! 
 Great words are these to come from low 
 Vile worms my kingly arm has never ceased 
 To give protection to; most glorious return 
 Is tills for all the tender mercies of my throne 
 So lavishly bestowed in every time of need. 
 This riot sliall be quelled. My power sliall 
 Be felt in all this fevered land. 1*11 cool 
 The slumbering fire, arrest contagion. 
 And settle discontent. I'll cure the loul 
 Disease which threatens death, and make 
 My edicts heard, wherever wind of heaven 
 Blows. Tliis infamous and base return 
 
MYRIOKAMA. 88 
 
 Of evil lor the jrood received shall soon recoil 
 
 Upon their fhistarii heads; and when 
 
 The sober second thou.2:ht does (iome, they'll cui-«e 
 
 Tiie fatal day wiien wilc^ and .-^n;n-«;s 
 
 Of wicked leaders led thcni into wronj^. 
 
 I'll crush the devilish ser|»ent out of them. 
 
 And turn it back to stin^;' the iraitor h<!arts 
 
 That wanned it into \\i\'. Til ^et my do^,< 
 
 Of war wliere tl\ey may bay tiiese wretelies 
 
 Into silence. " 
 
 A moment here he paused 
 To think, as it appeared, if he had l)een 
 Or not betrayed into excitement and alarm, 
 And whether his much boasted strength 
 Was altoi^ether real. While tlius he paused. 
 A periodic sound, in quick succession heard — 
 Approaching;!^ nearer and still nearer 
 As it was repeated, fell upon his ear. 
 He looked and trembled as he pized. 
 In brilliant plnma<»:e clothed, with win.2: 
 Of steady, noble bearin<r, swiftly comiii<;^ on 
 In bold descent down toward the ro(dc, 
 Another spirit cleft the quiverinir air, 
 And stood' before the astonished kinj?. 
 
 •'What do'st thou here? " His kin,£?ship rudely said, 
 ♦'Why darken this secluded place with thy 
 Unwelcome sluulow ? Hust thou news? 
 Another tale of discontent :nid shnme? 
 What thou hast to say. if au<iht. do quickly 
 Saj% and leave me to "myself again." 
 
 ** By a solemn council of tlie people, held 
 In just accordance with a ri^iht they think 
 They have. I am accredited with message 
 Unto your majesty himself. They badi^ 
 Me say that there "is much ahum, lest what 
 They love most dearly, and cherish warmest 
 In their heai'ts. may be. by thy command 
 Soon Avrested from them. They do claim 
 That due respect for what of good 
 They've had from thee, they've always shown; 
 But while that proper reverence for thee 
 Has often led them to espouse thy cause 
 For tenn3orary safety and repose', 
 
M MVRIUUAMA. 
 
 ■Twa^ liOb because of any llxod intent 
 T' abandon and di!-:oracoVnlly desert 
 Their original design. 'Twa?i more for this; 
 That when in ^veai<ne^^>; and in want 
 Against most dreadful odds they labored 
 With a steady iiand, 'twere mn^t, niiuisc 
 To add to their misfortunes and distress 
 Another ill. wliich by a proper patienct? 
 They could avoid." 
 
 "That spirit have ihey now. 
 And think that this is pr<^p«n- time 
 To represent tb.eir most respei-tful protect here 
 Against wliat tht;y eoneeive to be 
 Unnecessary evils. If in tliy esteem 
 They are and shall l>e subJeeYs of thy realm. 
 They humbly pray that tluui'It extend 
 Thy laws in eqiud foi-ce to all 
 Thy chosen peopk'. In toe house of great 
 Debate, where law is made for them, " 
 Interpreted and -lien enforeeil. they see 
 No justice or ])ro})riety in tiieir exclusion. 
 If wealthy do tiieir fclh)w subjects ai'ow 
 From traiiic <»n a common sea,' 
 'Tis great injustice tiu-y conceive, tliat they 
 Should more tiian others lill th<', Iai)s 
 Of such with ^old. And tlien. when quiet reigns, 
 And no disturbance thieatened. or revolt, 
 Or barbarous invasion comes. 
 Their poverty, ihey humbly sliow. 
 Excuses their request to bt> lelieved 
 Of mercenary troops and n);iny ills ♦ 
 
 Attending tiieir protra<-ti'd stay. 
 I'm authorized, your majesty, to state. 
 That what of ditlerence "now"' between 
 The sons of Independence and yourself 
 Obtains, may be rtMuoved. or mellowed dowH 
 To evils bearal>le, by wliat they think 
 A very simple process, and a jiist return 
 For their renewed allegiance.*" 
 
 "If thou'lt remove 
 A tax or two w liich they believe unjust 
 And not administt-red in that equal wav 
 Which makes men feel that even though 
 Oppressions, cruel, undeserved, upon 
 Themrect, each bears no more thari thai 
 
MYRIOBAMA. 55 
 
 Upon his neighbor; if thou wilt deii^n 
 
 To hear their voice in thy i^ival parllMiuent, 
 
 And read ihe pliii?) jx^iitions which they iscnd 
 
 To thee; and if menacing troops, 
 
 Unneeded liere, thou wilt remove, with useless spies 
 
 That Iian^ around and prey upon 
 
 The people's lihertic.-; ii ia r«'Sp(M;t. 
 
 To what they elaim, rh<urit do Ihe.-e aet>, 
 
 They pledjje tluunsclves to eounsel quiet and 
 
 Eepose throughout the land, and promise true 
 
 And faithful aid to all thy lawful rule. 
 
 Having thus communicated all I had 
 
 To say, if now your majesty will deign 
 
 Accept my thanks for tiiis most proper 
 
 Audience, by your gracious leave, to them 
 
 That sent me I'll return. " 
 
 Kingcraft heard 
 Him with a look of utmost unconcern, and in 
 A posture of reserve and kingly dignity. 
 ''Bear back with thee this word : " he said. 
 *'My iron arm encircles all the land, 
 And I'm prepared to v,ell enforce what I 
 Exact; — most perfe(it and complete obedience.'* 
 With modest -how. Ambassador moved back 
 And gracefully withdrew. His work 
 Completed now, and bearing thence with him 
 The curt reply, he went tiie way he came. 
 
 Alone, and in unsettled mood, the monarch 
 
 Paced again his wonted round, but uttered 
 
 Not a word. So deep and agitating were 
 
 His meditations; so absorbed within himself, 
 
 He had not heard the distant nuittering 
 
 Of coming storm, nor seen the clouds which then 
 
 Did hang in fearful blackness toward the west. 
 
 Uprising slow, in massive volumes there 
 Together rolled themselves the clouds. 
 With lurid streaks of lightning flashing in 
 Between, and deep, low rolling thunder. 
 Uphigher rose the blackening pile 
 Extending out its creeping, crawling folds, 
 With here and there an upper edge 
 In golden sunlight tinged a moment, then 
 Behind another rising coil of cloud was hid. 
 
56 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 The clreatlful mass at lenflfth began to move, 
 Enlargin;^* wide towaicl every point of npaco, 
 Up. down, to side, ourgrowing as it came 
 With f^lill increasing blacknc-ss on. — 
 The lightning phiyetl ami Hashed in streams, 
 Sharp, quick and awful as they hhized 
 Their lustrous sparkling darts athwart 
 The blackened tVont, and sent their javelins through, 
 While peal on peal of loudest thunder eanie 
 And went amid the ghiro, and volilng through 
 The hills, did shake the very mt»untaln's base. 
 A little nearer iiow. the frcMul wind 
 Came whispering through the trees. At first 
 In solemn moan it eame, but soon increased 
 Its vohnne and its force, until the great 
 Oak trees and pines shrank back in terror 
 From the eoniing storni. They bowed and swayed 
 Their heavy lops from .-ide to side, to front 
 And rear, like feathers in an evening ])ree/,e. 
 It came in (iercer blasts and stronger still. 
 No waving now, nor swaying to and fro: 
 But there,' half-bent and "trem'.ding in 
 The rushing stortn they stood, their tops 
 Low reaehitig down, as ii:irder bhnv the wind, 
 And cringed and creaked in terrible 
 Resistance yielding, wlnle fast through 
 Their straightening": branche»; swept the 
 Frightened air, and bent their limbs togetlier. 
 Then came the pelting rain, in large round drops 
 At lirst—then whirling, dashing slieets 
 Which splashed about in broken spray, 
 -Or danced against the rocks, and then 
 Tlirough little furrows tritrkled ofl"in fast 
 Increasing streams upon the ground. 
 
 Dark and threatening was that dreadful hour. 
 The storm, no whit abating yet, in wild 
 And awful riot blew. It rained and howled. 
 And roared till half the day was gone, and then 
 Its strenjfth began to waste, when softening down 
 Its force by fast degrees it ceased, and cleared 
 Itself away, while s(vund of rushing 
 Torrents lumlding down the mountain sides. 
 Bent out their roaring echoes through the vales. 
 The suu looked out behind the parting clouds; 
 
MYRIORAMA. 57 
 
 The trees, no longer riven by the .storm, reared up 
 Their he:i(ls n,ii;;iiii and s?uijj: 'their wonted song;. 
 A few stray «!roi>s still l'aliin<i: of the rain. 
 Did lintj:er on ht'liind, throii;>h which 
 The sparkling sunlight shone in rays 
 That eye miiiiit see, when th' seven colored f-pan — 
 The beant«.-oiis bow of lieuven, raised itself 
 Across tiie quiet hills. 
 
 From out the distant 
 Blue, and through heiK^ath I hat lovely arch, 
 With rapid speed sv^eft Mercy came, 
 And knelt at Kingcraft's feet. 
 
 - Most noble monarch, "■ 
 She began; " T piMy thee hear my i)laii)l. 
 Thou hast it in thy po^ver to prevent 
 A storm of deatli. Heboid that spanning arch, 
 That golden bow of promise, bright 
 Harbinger or offered peace; and pledge me, if 
 Thou canst, to make no war u)H)n 
 Tlie sons of Independi'uce. The word which tliou 
 By the Ambassatlor did'st sen«l to tlxTU, 
 They've heard. No hope, as they believe, 
 Of reconciliation left, they have 
 Determined to rebel, and free themselves 
 From thv restraint. But still, 'tis not 
 Too late. If thou wilt niake nu; bearer of 
 The welcome news that thou'lt relieve 
 Them of the bimlejis which they bear, or think 
 They do. and yield in some, though small 
 Degree, to what they ask. that blood may vet 
 Be stayed, I'll pledge myself that they'll 
 Desist from further disaJiection. 1'hink 
 Oh I Monarch, think, what dreadful, horrid thin^ 
 Is war, and spare the land this scourge.'' 
 
 She waited for re]dy. " Leave n»e instantly " 
 He .said. "Thy sofl appealing words and looks 
 ITnnerve me. Leav lu" now, that of myself 
 My counsel may I take." 
 
 *'No word of hope 
 To send ? " nhc as'ved. " No ! " he answered 
 With a frownij g sneer, and that very 
 Moment did tlu^ i-ainbow disaofjear. 
 In tearful none w. Mercy then retired, 
 Just as the scailet-ginlcl mesi^cuger 
 
r»« MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Again appeanul. '' 
 
 "Airs Will, "said ho, 
 " The forts an' manned, and every point 
 Well £;nanled.-' 
 
 Then answered thus the Kin^j: 
 "Go, wateh the movements of tiie malcontents: 
 There's ti'oiible bi-ewing now I fear. 
 Have my legions rea«ly for my call ; 
 And bring report as seems thee well. 
 Be quick and cautions as you go." 
 And bounding up lik»^ startled roe. 
 The messenger departed hence. 
 
 A noble .Minister of State. — no firmer fiiend 
 Of Kingcraft lived than he,— came slowly near 
 His kingship now and thus addressed him ; 
 
 *'Most august sovereign, thou in whose service 
 
 r am proud to live; for whose advan<rement 
 
 And success it is my pleasure to exert 
 
 My every eflbi-t. TIk; honor of my King 
 
 And all his subject people is m}' warm 
 
 Desire and most resolute ambition. 
 
 Upon thy fair es<;utcheon now for me 
 
 To bring disgrace would be my lasting shame ; 
 
 And naught, believe me. noble King, but what 
 
 Upbuilds the interest and the gloiy of 
 
 My state, is my concern." 
 
 '•• I've somewhat now 
 To say to thee of matters which, as I conceive, 
 Have much of moment in th«Mn ; and what 
 In deepest friendship thus is said, I pray 
 Thee hear and such attention give, as meets 
 Thy better judgment of the course of right. 
 I greatly fear that on the verge of the 
 Immediate future hangs a di-cadful war 
 Which, in its terminal ion, may aHect. 
 In greater or in less degree, your majesty'H 
 Fair name and just success in time. 
 If now, by honorable means and fair, 
 The which in no event can cast reproach 
 On thee, thou may'st be instruuK^ntal to 
 Avoid, for all inankind as well as thee 
 And those who owe thee their allegiance, all 
 Its carnages spoil and horrid hitvoc, 
 
MYEIORAMA. 50 
 
 The reason of the case, jio I»''>s uietlnnks. 
 Than voice of (^od. -nvl honor of thy namo, 
 Requires that the wonl <i.o forth at oiiee. 
 And let the j^'atheriniv storm call in 
 Its growina: wrath .i:\cl spend itself 
 On unresi.sti?!,<>- air. " 
 
 " Thus, then. I put 
 The proposition unto thee: If heated war 
 Approach by certain siirus, and all its dread 
 Calamities cun he prev<Mited. and no just 
 Reproach attach to Iiim who tliriists 
 The intervening? hand,~if war is harsli. 
 Disjjustino-, and most <'rue]. tlion, 'tis not 
 Improper, hut most surely ri^^ht. to speak 
 The charmin.ii; word and stay its tide. 
 In ppeeial and supreme de.uree is this 
 The case, when he >> ho wiilino:ly confers " 
 Ureat blessiniis on his kind by timely 
 Intervention for their liood, combines 
 "With Ills philanthropijy a solid, lastin<j: JJ:aia 
 Unto himself in temporal estate. " 
 
 " Amon«? these hills and vales of jjrreat 
 
 Fertility, where, in the early time, 
 
 Their fathers came in honest fjiith, to build 
 
 Tliem homes for future comfort and report.*. 
 
 Where nature in her silent beauty reijined 
 
 Supreme, a hardy race of men has ;»rown; 
 
 And in their hearts deep down implanted, lies 
 
 An overmastering" love of liberty. 
 
 So strono; with them this ardent'love. 
 
 It seems almost an instisict given them 
 
 Of God for everlastin«i- use and help. 
 
 Between this people's prosj)ect and 
 
 Your majesty's desi«!:ns, for many lon*^ 
 
 And dismal j'ears to them, has lain 
 
 Almost in sleep, a latent, deep, untold 
 
 Diver«renee of resultinir end. By right. 
 
 Of law as known to mortal men below, — 
 
 Discovery and conquest. — thou hast 
 
 Never ceased to claim tiie land as thine. 
 
 But long before thy arm was thrown around 
 
 Them in the form of government protection, 
 
 They advanced upon the bold design; they braved 
 
 The ocean's tide; they faced t-ie dangers of 
 
^ JIYEIOllAMA. 
 
 A route of grcntopt peril and fatigue; 
 And this tliey did by voluntary act. 
 Twas not at thy command tin;}- sailed 
 And settled in this land. Xo order from 
 The throne unto the which obedience 
 Did bring tliem liere, but truly the 
 Reverse. They came without"^ and oftentimes 
 Against thy piiljlished will. So far 
 Thrown oil" from thy immediate reign — 
 An ocean 'twixt you intervening wide — 
 Upon their own resources tlirown, and cast 
 Upon tiie waters of uncertain life to shift 
 As best, in God's own juovidence, they could, 
 A restless spirit, which not well docs brook 
 Restraint, has grown up like a native plant 
 Indigenous within the soil. The trainiu"' of 
 The just and equal laws whicJi hold within 
 Thy realm has not extended always 
 Unto them. Tiie land whicli they inhabit 
 And thou clalm"st, no physicrd connection has 
 With thy dominions proper; 'tis j-ather an 
 Appendage hung upon tlie outskirts 
 Of the imj)erial state, like couK't 
 Having no appointed sphere in space 
 Where heaven's orderly arrangement rules. '* 
 
 "The beginning of this people dates 
 
 Amid the troubles ot our own domain. 
 
 When war and great commotion i-aged 
 
 Throughout tlv unconqucred world. 
 
 8uch origin no other people ever had. 
 
 They asked to sever their allegiance then 
 
 To all the eastern world, and that 
 
 They thouo^ht they'd done. But questions such 
 
 As this are settled 'twixt contending foes 
 
 According to the stronger arm, without 
 
 The voice of reason taking any part therein 
 
 As necessary consequence; and stronger thine, 
 
 Their weaker arm has given way in part. " 
 
 "Their weak and feeble start in life did leave 
 Them prey to stronger power, and when 
 That power, by a seeming good, vouchsafed 
 To them its strong protecting arm, a just 
 Return would indicate respectful treatment. 
 
MYRIORAMA. 61 
 
 And so with tliem and tlice. Thouf^h thou 
 
 Hast ever called the land thy own, and too 
 
 As well the pt30j)le there, and jravc them laws 
 
 And jjfovernor.s. thy rUiht in this, to them 
 
 Important matter, they did never reeo^nize, 
 
 And now deny. Of tliy fast encroachin<r 
 
 Power tliey seriously complain. Unequal laws 
 
 Burn sears within their freedom lovinj? hearts. 
 
 And spies, and troops of war upon 
 
 Them quartered, and without consent 
 
 Of those concerned, they deem a previous wrong. 
 
 Ambassadors, with prayers to thee 
 
 Respectful have they sent, petitioning 
 
 Redress for this and other causes of 
 
 Misgivino- and alarm. Their manly prayers 
 
 Are clearly written out in language chaste 
 
 And pure, and mortal never read 
 
 Petitions abler— than were these. 
 
 The learning of the nations, my chiefest 
 
 Thought has been, and nowhere in the realm 
 
 Of moving mind are nobler themes, 
 
 And better stated, than in these 
 
 Petitions from America." 
 
 "Their 
 Remonstrance hast thou heard without 
 Redress. Of this do they complain. Their oft 
 Repeated message to thee sent, and as oft 
 Repeated failure of success, has given cause, — 
 (If just or not is other matter for debate — ) 
 For great alarm an<l grevious discontent. 
 Their last appaal unto your majesty 
 To them has been returned witii strong 
 Peremptory comm md for most complete 
 Obedience.' To this demand, so often made 
 By thee.— as oft by them deplored, I fear they may 
 Not alwavs tamelV yield sul)mission. 
 And further do I fear, that if a struggle come, 
 As corns it will, unless by thee 'tis stayed 
 By yielding up the point disputed long. 
 Thy power great 1 know it is— may prove— 
 (With great respect 1 say the word—) 
 Unequal to the thing in hand. They may 
 Compel thee then, with all thy strength 
 Of name, to yield whar they demand and more* 
 They now make ready for resistance to 
 
62 MYEIOilAMA, 
 
 rerpetnaliorj of tliy reign as kin«i^. 
 
 With tlutifiil obedience, 1 do 
 
 Most earnestly declare as my belief, 
 
 Their lipirit is so brave, their hope so strong. 
 
 Their delerminalion not to yield 
 
 To further rule so univer.uiliy is spread throughout 
 
 The whole uprising? mass, that they, 
 
 In ultimate result, will stand upon 
 
 The iield as conquerer, and by the future 
 
 Judgment of mankind acquitted of 
 
 A wrong. " 
 
 "Most gracious sovereign, so well 
 Thou knowest, 1 need not here lepeut 
 Th» great expense ineiirred to build 
 A lasting fabric out of brittle and 
 Resisting parts, does greatly overrun 
 The value of the thing complete. 
 Compulsory obedience at best 
 Not always is the wi.^est, nor in return 
 Prolific otherwise than in its greater loss. 
 These people, independent in their thoughts. 
 And fertile in resounun-;. — far removed 
 From where thou really reiguest king. 
 Will surely war upon the(^ if thou force 
 Them to the wall. The end of such a war, 
 No good to man at large would yield. 
 But loss of much that miglit be left of worth 
 To all; and also much be left. I fear 
 For thee to wish were otherwise. " 
 
 " If, then, 
 So little good, but greater harm must needy 
 Result from war, 'twere wise, methinks. 
 It were avoided. If in thy great wisdom 
 It wore lit to grant to them their will 
 Without conipulsion, it would come 
 As gracious gift, and not as forced 
 Bequest. 'Tw^ere better thus, that what 
 Thou wilt, if anything, conclude to yield 
 To their desire, should to them appear to grow 
 From magisterial clemency. — a choice, 
 A great gratuity sprung out of love 
 And due regard for good and future weal 
 Of subjects from the rrown, much rather Ihaa 
 That after long refusal of the grant. 
 Resort to war compels a greater sacrlilcb 
 
MYItlORAMA. «X 
 
 When streams of blood have flowed. 
 This much tliou still hast left thee then. 
 Without resort to arms. This much 
 Can well be done, if done in time, without 
 Dishonor or expense. If lon^i^ deferred 
 A greater ill may come unto th}' self.." 
 
 ♦' If now I've slTovvn thee that t'were well 
 To g:rant a little liberty to discontented men 
 Which would befit thee well, as thou 
 Art noble, strong and f?reat, and the}^ 
 A people good, industrious and brave, 
 Without a tittle or a jot of what belongs 
 To kings in honor to themselves 
 E'er being lost; that war may come if this 
 Thou dost not do, and all its wretchedness 
 Thou mayest thus prevent, and so confer 
 A lasting good on them and all mankind. 
 The work I undertook is ended. At 
 The risk ot thy displeasure have I spoke 
 What best it seemeth me for good of all. 
 And more especially the good of my 
 Most gracious king. What I have said 
 I pray thee pouder well; my earnest 
 Argument, so feebly stated, justly weigh, 
 And what to thee does seem 'the best, that do. ** 
 
 The minister received the value of 
 
 His argument in estimation of his king. 
 
 In these emphatic words : 
 
 ''If thou dost take 
 The part of traitors, and with all the power 
 Of thy gifted mind, do show and press 
 Their wants on my attention, deserting thus 
 That high position in my heart which thou hast 
 Ever held, for their attractive company, 
 Then let the penalty of treason tall upon 
 Thy head along with them thy friends, 
 ril have obedience, and only that." 
 **Most gracious king," t!ie Minister began; 
 But not a word would Kingcraft hear. 
 All further audience refused, that he 
 Might he ir report of Messenger returned, 
 In sad discoraiiture his faithful 
 Minister was forced away. 
 
MYRIOKAMA. 64 
 
 With look of great alarm o'er?pread 
 'Hisj uervosi-5 fai-e tiie Messeii>jor brgnn : 
 ''The whole huid l^urns as with a living firo. 
 The secret uioimtuin caves are used 
 As arsiiorios an(i iiiau:».zi!ies for the 
 Citizen soldiery. Already biood has flowed; 
 They won't siihnii^ At Lexington 
 And Bunker liilh like unchained devils fought 
 The wicked wretches. The fields, and woods, 
 And byways lined like Egypt witii her 
 J?warming- locusts. Without organic rule 
 Or discipline, tliey fight upon a bold 
 And native plan>— each for hiniselt. Just where 
 To strike them with eflect, is puzzling sore 
 Your noble captain's brains. If wheeled 
 In line of battle for a gallant charge 
 Your faithful troops change front, when least 
 Expected and from strangest ph\ce. like storms 
 Of blowing iuiil. their leaden rain they pour 
 In Oiilllading streams upon th' astonished 
 Troops. An(i when on march fr<mi place to place, 
 In unsuspecting line, like tliunder from 
 A cloudless sky. comes pouring in upon 
 Them volley after volley from all sorts of guns. 
 Like Fompey's legions, at a tramp sprung up, 
 They're everywhere. Their madness is 
 Contagious. " All are fired by a kindred hate 
 Of all your majesty's designs. The rich 
 And poor alike; and sex no barrier is. 
 Fair hands of maiden girls, of wives 
 And mothers ply tije needle at the lamp 
 To tit the men for war. The very hoys 
 Do talk of tyranny and revolution. 
 By some unusual means, the spirit spreads, 
 And all the land is rising. The very air 
 Seems freighted with the smell of ja ar. 
 Bold Putnam in the furrow left his plow, 
 Nor took farewell of wife or child, to join 
 His comrades on the field of blood; and from 
 The mountains, in his peasant garb, 
 Stalks Allen forth as lion from his sleepy 
 Lair, and rushing straight, wixh hundreds two 
 Or three, upon Ticoncleroga. does demand 
 The place in name of Great Jehovah and 
 The Continetal Congress. And thus, 
 
Froia b.'ui to worse hourly it grows/' 
 
 "Do iny officers and troops stand firm ? " 
 Asked Kingeraft. "Are tiiere si<»ns of breaking 
 In tiH^ir ranks ? what ol' tiiis ? " 
 
 " With few 
 Exceptions such is true. The traitor 
 Franklin whom tiiou had'st deputed 
 To exchange the mails, has been displaced, 
 And he has joined the people." 
 
 What more 
 Ho would have said does not apjiear. But wh«a 
 He spoke the name of Franklin, Kingcraft 
 Started back, and raising both his hands 
 In great astonishment, while wildly 
 J^taring toward tlje east, he bade the Messenger 
 Be still. In breathless silence stared 
 The two -with eager listening ear, as softly througii 
 The trembling air came wave on wave 
 Of oft repeated ringing sound : again, 
 And still again, they came in quick 
 Succession growing fast, till sjjreadiiig far 
 And near o'er all the land, tlie inspiration 
 Gaugiit at every point, the verj- air. 
 Like storm-tossed sea, was jarred and lashed 
 Into unnumbered rollinij:, circling waves 
 By peal on peal from a thousand ringing bells, 
 And fervent shouts from a frenzied throng 
 Of people singing Independence Day. 
 
 Above, and louder than the ring or shout, 
 A voice like that which thundered forth 
 From Sinai when Moses read the law, 
 Was heard, and to its unmistaken tones 
 The trembling King gave open, though 
 Reluctant ear. And thus the voice proclaimed : 
 
 *"Tis proper when a people would absolve 
 T lemselves from all allegianee t > their king, 
 The causes should be named wiiich liave 
 Impelled them to the separation. These truths 
 To be self-evident we hold, tiiat equal are 
 All men created. — by their Creator are endowed 
 With certain rights "inalienable, 'mong 
 The which are liberty and life, and the 
 5 
 
R? M Yin GUAM A. 
 
 Pursuit of liappine^J.^. ITo froiu whom we nowr 
 Absolve ourselves, has iloiie us ijivvious wrongs. 
 Affaiust our well-known will lie makes 
 Obnoxious anil une({ual laws; a*r:iinst 
 Our solemn autl respeetful protest, lays 
 Upon us nu>sr oppressive bunlens: dissolves 
 Appointed boards wheivhy our very hearths 
 Lie open and exi)Oseil to ail the danV^'rs of 
 Invasitui or intestine leiul : as answer to 
 Our prayers in eurses eomes his spleen : 
 He make>i his will the law of tenure and of pay ; 
 Defeated has he jnstiee, and prevented riuiit; 
 Compelled by foree the ciuanerin^ii" of his liired 
 Troops; destroyet! our lawful traile; the tide 
 Of population lias he stayed; exeiied 
 Insurrei'tiou ; attempted savaii"e massaere. 
 And foreed us ott to liuht a.uainst our?elves. 
 A prinee with eharaeter thus uuirked 
 By every aet whieh may define a tyrant. 
 Is' rider mosi uutit of any people tree; 
 And henee. we hold ids Aiojeets friends 
 In. pi-aee. and iMiemies in war. the same 
 As all the rest (^f men. lleneeforwaini. :\s 
 Of riiiht we ouuht to be. ^o now do we 
 Oeelare upon our saered honor, we 
 Are free — forever free. " 
 
 The rin.sriniA" and 
 The voice had ceased. I'pon his facH- 
 In very raiio did Kiuireratt tall. 
 And darkness seen\ed lo shut his vision out. 
 Like ISaul, his blindness came because of siu; 
 But unlike him. the ballled monarch did 
 Not pray for knowled,ue what to do. 
 In terrible ama/ement lay the friiihtened King^ 
 Until returuin.<;' reason eanu> a.uain. 
 When risinii' to his feet, he bade his friend. 
 The trusted Messen^ircr, "depart again 
 And boldly prosecute the war." 
 
 Lie watched the shadow of his parlinix friend. 
 As in the distance it ^rew fainter by 
 Detcrecs. — then claspino- liiiht his hanvls 
 Beiore him. with an earnest look upon 
 The blue above him and the depth beyond. 
 His lips lYoni souie emotion slightly pressed, 
 
JVlYlilOUAMA. 67 
 
 Slow risinf^' in the air he went iiwa\ . 
 
 And now low, liollow rnnil)linu' «oiuid> 
 
 Came slowly llirouiih the nuuintnin ^lens. 
 
 And smiiin^ir valleys echoed haek the roar. 
 
 Quick l)ins:s of sinoke in min.siled Miic 
 
 And white in rapid cnrlinu wreathed 
 
 Up darted toward the lowerinu- sky. 
 
 As from the month of belehinii' eaiinon poured 
 
 The sulphury Masts, then lost^themselves 
 
 In air. Sharp ratUiiiii- notes Irom muskets liorne 
 
 In hands of fre<'men rnshinu- to the tii,dit. 
 
 Came daneinii" on the breeze; and shoiif>. 
 
 And prayers, and curses loud trom men 
 
 By passion frenzied, ran alotiir the hills. 
 
 The plaintive moan of wounded soldier a^ 
 
 He lay upon the hlooiiy fiekl uidior.-ed. 
 
 And piteously prayin<i- liel[> tVom hand 
 
 Of heartless foe, while o'er hi< lu-okm limbs, 
 
 Forgetful of his pain, the battlin,!:- 
 
 Squadrons ran. hun«i: d(.»lefully in air: 
 
 And deep into the heart with'solemn force. 
 
 The v\idow's wail, and orphan's cry did sink. 
 
 A stron>>'. unnamed sensation, as 
 
 Of unseen dauii'in- pendin^i" near with no 
 
 Defense auainst the throateneii liurt to ur^**. 
 
 Fast settled in the soul, in every nerve 
 
 Vibratinii". As to ear of seaman w reeked 
 
 Comes music from an unseen Island near. 
 
 Inspiring" in his sinkin«i' heart a hope 
 
 That even though surronndiny; death 
 
 Fast closes in upon him now, in time 
 
 A better day may come and some bright 
 
 Angel save him yet,— so came these note-. 
 
 Of warning to the hearts of pilgrims' 
 
 Brave and hopeful sons. 
 
 Ah. yes! The times 
 l"hat tried men's souls were coming fast 
 Upon til' excited throng, and every breeze 
 That played aeross the startled land, with some 
 New pain or hope was heavy freighted. 
 The blii/e ot war swept wildly through 
 New Kngiand's hills, upliuhting 
 Every o-'k-n, and leaving in its fearful wakr 
 The smoke of burning towns, and streara.-. 
 
6S MYRIOllAMA. 
 
 Of scal(lin<? tears:. Yes war, di'vonring war. 
 Had really" bi\uiu I. 
 
 The sons; of freedom held 
 A solemn fasr, and ollVrod iij) to Uiju 
 Within whose luiiids tlie desiinle.'^ of men 
 Ami nations lie, their lmm!)le prayers; 
 lVtilionin;j: the throne of the Eternal fving 
 To nerve their arm>, sustain tiieir hearts, 
 Their eanse espouse and m:\ke it liis ; 
 To uuitle the!n with unerrinir iiand 
 Throuirh all tiie troutile of the eomin<r years; 
 To lead them safely throii;>ii the storm, 
 And teach them how to ^hiin its swifr. 
 .Devouring- vortex. V»'irh earnest, fervent hearts 
 They in-a\ ed the Omnipotent Head 
 For stren)i,th to hold them up; for f^raee 
 To keep them pure: for hand divine 
 Itineath their youthful State to rest 
 And hear it safely up througii all the i*oar 
 And earnaire of the war: for love to spare 
 To them humiliation (>f defeat, and worse 
 Than death its ^^ure resultinii- ills. 
 Did ever Christian pray with ji'reater zeal, 
 More earnest and devot'Ml heart. 
 Than in the midst of their atllietions 
 Did these undaunted |>atriots seud 
 Their pure appeal-^, with love of right 
 Bedewed, to Uod their Father, Friend? 
 
 The listeninir angels heard them pray, and 
 
 Catehing up their fervent supplieations, bore 
 
 Them on to i.'.0(\ \u clouds of light. 
 
 Keturning from their blessed mission there; 
 
 As toward the earth descending eame 
 
 With iovful wing th' angen<' l)and, 
 
 Upoirtlie garment Liberty had worn 
 
 When tirst we saw her in "the morning eloud, 
 
 In seven separate streams across the white 
 
 Tliey poured the blood which pitying angels soooped 
 
 "Whih^ fresli and warm iVom his pantiui" heart it tlowed 
 
 Of freemen s »ed lii tirst encounter with his king. 
 
 These stripes of red ami w hite, thirteen in all, 
 
 Unto a held of bhie cut out from heaven'ij air, 
 
 Did they attach, wherein they set 
 
MYRIORAMA. C9 
 
 A /galaxy of bri:2:ht and sliininir stars 
 
 In number same as \v*M-e tlu; stripes. 
 
 To shait of u'litterinii" >P'^ar. this tlag- 
 
 Was iiunt?; jvih] in (he taioiis riiiliLly ••lasju-d 
 
 Of bold majestic ea.i>lo irom tlu; mountain cliff 
 
 "With shield of bristliii^ij: arrows plumed. 
 
 They plaeed the snear. and hade the noble bird 
 
 Convey it to the earth and b't the i)i'ople sre it. 
 
 Then down fri)m liis lotty hi^hc with swooping wing, 
 
 The eagle eanie. and over mountain, tield. 
 
 And valley sailed he with his saered flag. 
 
 T!ic noble sons of freedom, while they looked 
 Upon the brilliant symbol as it passed, 
 Caught up its inspiration, and in one 
 Uplit'aval from tlieir bounding hearts 
 Of universal hope, they haiieii with joy 
 And inexpressible delight — with songs 
 Of praise, wiih prayer, and every other form 
 Of soul out-prturlng from its inmost depths, 
 The Star Spangled Banner, 
 
 Each lieart inhaled 
 The stirring air in which the quiek 
 Contagion spread ; and from the lield. 
 The worksliop, and the beneii; from counter, desk, 
 And forge,— fiom every place where work 
 Was done l\v brain or iiand, came forth 
 In endless streams determined men 
 And brave. Fair hands, in many a dreary night. 
 When •• husband's darling " round her lay. 
 Of loving wife, or other, vounger. fairer still, 
 Whose dreams of distant lover's good 
 Kept fresh witliin her virgin heart the hope 
 Of coming joy, did ply themselves 
 Uneevslniily and tast to make 
 The deadly cartridge, or prepare 
 The soldier's uniform. Xo liand but had 
 Its work to do. and noblv did it. Sacritiee 
 And toil, are feeble words to tell of what 
 They did and still were wont to do, in aid 
 Of them their husbands, brt)tliers. sons. 
 And fathers in tlje lights— those noble daughters 
 Of the Revolution. 
 
 Worthy women thev ; 
 Bright and shining jewels in the darkness 
 
70 MYLMOKAMA. 
 
 Of tluit ilri;i>hu! i\nu\ Nvho.>o I'lunM'inii" li^xhr 
 M;ulo irhul tho wny tho woary soKliiM' wmt. 
 No praise loo ^rcai lor tlioni ; no euK>uy 
 (^an oviM- wUh suHu'iiMil trnrh portray 
 The pricolos*! worth ot' tlu-ir ilovotion ami 
 Self-sacrilUinii' work, wlion h( arts 
 Of storner <rnlV nuuh' it|> would miail. 
 May jirooii ami tVosh within »un luari^ 
 hi ovorlasiiiiii- traiirain-f \\\o 
 The memory ol' their virlius. ami Ihrir nanios 
 In eliaraeters of liulit inetVahlo \\]}on 
 MTho soul of every treem;iM lie eDuravoi). 
 Kt^rovtM- tluM-e to rest. 
 
 Wiih iiohh' 
 Washiiiuion to h>ail. the sojis o\' lml(>i><-ii.li'ii.t' 
 Now w ore musti'ml t'or ilio ti*iht : ami «>ik 
 Ami fa-^ter on. he led his armies to tho Iroin. 
 Iten«'alh Iho >tars and <tri])es they mart-hevl 
 And et>tintermareluHl, and prayeil and fiHiuht. 
 No I'vil loared the faithful l):nid whilo V'roedom'.^ 
 Ikmner tloated (^'or their heads, and on 
 The soil of l.il>erly they trod. In (iod. and in 
 Tho ri^ht. thoir trn^tinii* hearts wero llxid: 
 And what of ovil miuhi hotide them on 
 The way. or danuer inl«MV<>ne, 'twt»uhl only 
 Purify their faith and make it stronger still. 
 NVilh Justiee (>n Iht'ir ^idc. and >tronjA" 
 \])provinu," ot>n-^rioni(^ in their w ork. 
 They etiiered h«ddly in the line of war. 
 On many a hard fomiln li«'hl they mot 
 The trained and veietan troops o\' Kin^n»'ralY'< line. 
 C-ontestinir ineh hy inch «'a<h fool oi' earlli 
 O'er whii'h tluy fonnht : their eomrades slain, 
 On every hand lay >oatlerin,ir o'er tho Held 
 Made >a'ered I>y tho hhn>d thoy spillod. 
 The ]»lain of oarnaue spread o'er all the hmd 
 Krom Massai'hn<etts' ]>ilN to Carolina 
 Ami the North, and every hill-tt>p was 
 A parapet iVonj whiidi in splendor w.avetl 
 The hlootly hatmers of t-ontemlinir arnues. 
 Oft mitmlinii' thronirh the horrid din 
 Of raiiinu- battle i^ame the savaue yol! 
 From Indian ihrivit; his sv'alpinu' knife. 
 And I'aithiul toujahawk. with dripping- t^lovxl 
 In barharoiis ven^oanee held he up 
 
MVUIOKAMA. 71 
 
 To view. :iTitl fonrful was iho deht 
 He made liis; victims nr>y. The *lire 
 Havoo ot relcn!le>«^ w.n"\ wirh nil 
 Its wrervlRHlne-'S ami paii». wUliout 
 A ray ot" nnli.::i iliiiiX wanmh. now s\ve[>! 
 Across iho land. Irs desolation and 
 Its wasie appeared a< armies passed. 
 And what was left within their wake 
 Untoutthed. the torch ot' savai;e burneil. 
 
 For seven lon.sr and bloody years. 
 
 Made nienjoralile in the hearts of men 
 
 For many a trntlst'iil rea--on. war. as man 
 
 Had never waped. de^troyed the land. 
 
 The wave ot battle swayed with varyini? 
 
 Success tVoni year to year, to tVont, to rear; 
 
 Now oju\ then other iaiiieil and lost, — 
 
 The contest nnileciiled. — neither army 
 
 Yielding. But in tise latter halt' ot' tho>e 
 
 Immortal years, the hosts ot' Kiniicratt 
 
 BciTtin to hesitate and falter in the tield. 
 
 This nerved the liearts of Freedom's sons. 
 
 And strenirihened well their arms. 
 
 New eouraire thns int'u<ed into their veins, 
 
 New tire ran alon.si" their patient lines: 
 
 Enthusiasm stimulated all their hearts; 
 
 The «rallanr captains houted the convaiami 
 
 For tlnal, desperate attack: and with 
 
 Their ponderous wei^^ht they fell once more 
 
 Upon the yielding lines of roval troops. 
 
 The battle riercelV raided, but' Liberty 
 
 Prevailed. The lon.s: rt'd lines of Kin«ierati*- men 
 
 Did waver, stajr^er back, and tinally 
 
 Did break in wild confusion from the lield. 
 
 And lett the victors masters there. 
 
 CornwalHs unfunded low his arms, and bowed 
 
 His royal liead lu'ne^uh the banner of 
 
 His victor chief; while Washin^rton. the <rood. 
 
 The brave, the noble man, revered 
 
 in every freeman's heart, stood master of 
 
 The land. Brave T.a Payette. Rochambcau too. 
 
 And Kosciuski let't their names en.irraven deep 
 
 In every freedom lovina: heart wheiwer man 
 
 Was counsollin*? with God and I.ibertv. 
 
72 MVUIOKAMA. 
 
 The kin-Iv rule was broke. Tlio Juini1)le [^vs.y^ir 
 
 Of honesty could now be heaiHl, Jim! conns 
 
 Of kin.Li's and queens flew open to 
 
 Our. lays, our Franklins. Adamses 
 
 And JetVersons. The voiee of freemen now 
 
 Was that of men and peers. The v^orld 
 
 Had moved a step ahead ; Am.'r:.;i \v;i> fre--. 
 
 TwQvo nsele^^ now t«> udl of all 
 
 The varied suiVifrin.u- of Miat eventtul time, 
 
 Or count the wronu'^ inirnted. in (iod".-. 
 
 Groat book iibme they're writtiui out 
 
 In full, and there they'll b<> revealed 
 
 At proper time to shame ihe enemies 
 
 Of peaee and virtuous repose. 
 
 To speak of all the vtdliant sous o\' war 
 
 Who. in tlie Kevolmion carved their names 
 
 With bloodv swords in everlastinjr fame; 
 
 Ot Gates. Monttvomerv. and IJreen, with Marion, 
 
 And rutnani. W olfe, and all their brave 
 
 Compeers; to reiiister the name of every one 
 
 That made itself immortal th.eu. would be 
 
 To write each man and woman's name 
 
 Within our blessed land who then esj>onsed 
 
 The cause of Freedon^ when the clouds of war 
 
 Were lowerin.ti' thick anumd them, tor none 
 
 Superior had. exce])r to .uive tommand. 
 
 Each did his part and much he had to do. 
 
 The price tlu'V paid wa- <ircat. but llIuM-ty 
 
 Was wiuth tlie cost. They t\)u,iiht a< never man 
 
 Had fouiiht beiore. In storm and rain. 
 
 No less than in the noontide sun. tluur chosen work 
 
 Thev did; and whether on tlie fro/.»'n Delaware, 
 
 Alm'ost in nakedness, they crossed to further shore, 
 
 Or on the mountains of Viruiuia left 
 
 The blood I'v^nn out their shoeless tVet 
 
 On many a pointed rock, or mid the sliocking 
 
 Carnase of the sava.ue slauuhter house 
 
 They sacrificed their honest lives, it mattered not 
 
 To them. One sacred duty must: each one 
 
 Perform, and that he did because he loved 
 
 His land. A noble band were they : Brave, .s;ood 
 
 And true. Tn peace eternal rest their 
 
 Sacred hones. When in the dreamland there 
 
 Does Jesu3 call his chosen flocks to^'ether, 
 
MYRIORAMA. 73 
 
 Jlmonof His cherished himbs will rise 
 And answer to the call e:ieh member of 
 That faithful army. 
 
MYllliOKAMA. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 111-31 ARKS. 
 
 The formation and adoption of the Constitution of l'«8T. The 
 Hamiltonian, and Jcffersonian.— or the Federal, and Demo- 
 cratic ideas of government, leaving the question of the right 
 of Seccs^sion open. The public feeling at that time on the 
 subject of slavery. It is intended here to show hoAV these 
 fwo questions weVc left in such condition as afterwards to be 
 the subject of a war. The Union, and the departments of 
 Government— Legislative. Executive au'l -ludicinl. The pledge 
 of the people to ■•protect and 'iciend " (iiv Inion and Con- 
 stitution. 
 
 "All hail, brave partners of iny toil I 
 
 Ye kindred spirits of the deep 
 
 Illimitable sea of mind wherein 
 
 The eagerness of hope has noised itself 
 
 To life, to this most sacred council welcome ye. 
 
 As in tlie time of trial and of war, ye shared 
 
 With me my pains and bitter disappointments, 
 
 So now, when Freedom reiijns. and smiles 
 
 Of peace with pleasant prospect come. 
 
 And happier times do beckon, enter ye. 
 
 As ever have ye done, into my joys 
 
 And pleasantness of life. 
 
 '•And ye, 
 Fair watchers at the conch of Freedom's child. 
 Sweet an«iels of my stormy life, 
 Whose gentle care "has pnrilied 
 My sorrows all and blessed tliem to m\' good; 
 Whose guardian watchfulness about 
 My noble sons Avhen wasting storms 
 Beset tliem on tlieir way, has kei)t 
 Them safe above tlie wreck ; thrice welcome ye. 
 
 '• Amid tlie shadows of these blood-stained trees 
 Made hallowed by tlie memory of the dead 
 Whose ashes rest beneatli their shade. 
 
MYRiOiiAMA. 76 
 
 Wlijle SiK-qt!(r];:ii]na rolls her lucid iUh' 
 In rippliD^j; niurmuri^ at their iaoL 
 We conic to look upon our labors done. 
 And for tlic l)irth and futTne ot our 
 youtlifiil State provide, " 
 
 Thus did Independence greet 
 His fjrcid <-onip(M'rs. They, in turn, with .great 
 Delight con5;-ratulated eacii the other's joy. 
 So long a time since (;arly nieetino- held 
 Had passed,— all marked" it was by bloody 
 Indices that pointed them to death. 
 But yet, oh. happy termination ! all 
 Was turned to ))e{terf:ne; and now. 
 Though storms had rudely torn their hearts 
 And closed their pathway up. again, and free 
 As air of heaven, here they meet, in happy 
 Council meet. Much cause had they for joy. 
 
 Other spirits now were tiere tlian those 
 
 We knew before. Two noble sons 
 
 Of Independence ^at beside their sire. 
 
 Fair pictures of paternal mould. 
 
 The elder, LaredeC of stern and steady look, 
 
 Seemed thoughtful and sedate. Tlie other, 
 
 Tarcomed. with tace of liberal mould 
 
 And watchfu.l eye of peerless lust)-e, 
 
 A child of Kingcraft, too, was there 
 
 Whose strong appeals of peace unto 
 
 His sire mad(i when war with Independenc<» 
 
 Raged ijad brought paiernal retrilnition on 
 
 His head, and having lost the guardianship 
 
 Of him wlio~e cause lie v.oiihrhave served 
 
 By reason of his secret love of quiet and 
 
 Repose.— thrown out adi-ifc from the 
 
 Ancestral home — must now needs come 
 
 To these as friends wliom tie so unsuccessfulh'- 
 
 Had served by plying all his energies 
 
 Where h-ast they h;id oAYv.vu and, too. 
 
 With him tlieir direst enetay. Somewhat 
 
 Uneasy with his new companions, yet 
 
 With visage pleasant and serene, as one 
 
 Of having done his duty conscious. 
 
 Did Compromise in council sit. 
 
 With look of (.'agcr, crafty cunning, 
 
76 MyiUORAMA. 
 
 Overshadowing^ (3veiy feature of liis face. 
 
 Keen, restless eye and well tiinimed beard, 
 
 And in a golden cloak, sat Capital. 
 
 Two sons of Labor, too. were\liere,'of origin 
 
 The same and destiny as well, yet, as 
 
 Before we've said, betwixt the two 
 
 Aline did rnn dividing' white fiom black. 
 
 And these two spirits represented both. 
 
 Each wore a weary look, but Blanco's face 
 
 Was satisfied and calni, while that 
 
 Of Negros was of doleful caste 
 
 And shining black. Tjpon his head 
 
 A turban wore; a band upon his w-rist; 
 
 And on his wrinkled forehead deep 
 
 Was burned his common title. — " Slave. " 
 
 The cord dissevered now which Ijound 
 Them once together. Kingo-att was nor there- 
 with this exception and addilious named, 
 The council was conii)osed of tho?c we knviw 
 Before with sinul;ir arrangement. 
 
 Congratulations ended, now rcsuu)ed 
 The intrepid warrior w ho welcomed here 
 His coadjutors. 
 
 "Through liel(!s of blood 
 I've led our noble armies on to victory. 
 We've driven Kingcraft fj-om the tield 
 And scattered all iiis troops of war. 
 The land is free, blessed b(5 the name of llim 
 Who held us up when all lieside had failed. 
 Each spirit hei-e save three has done 
 His part, and done it well, to bring about 
 This happy consun)mation. The voice 
 Of Wisdom in tlie cloud we ne'er forgot. 
 And good results have couk; from frequent 
 Counsel. But though the child were born, 
 'Twere 3'oung. not aide scarce to walk alone; 
 Too weak to bear the weight of years 
 Fast crowding in upon him. In armor strong 
 And safe mu.st, he be clad to shield 
 Him from the poisoned darts of arrows 
 'Gainst him hurled, before wesejid him out 
 Into the world of nations. He must be 
 Baptized in blood, ami too, a name 
 
MYlilORAMA. 77 
 
 Be given him whereby tlio world may know 
 Him when he eonies. 
 
 *' We're free T said. 
 But lessons of the past, by sad experience 
 Learned, have taught tliat vigilanee 
 Eternal is the prioe of lH)erty. We need 
 More strength ; a eeiitral power recognized 
 By all, of delegated duty, which unto 
 The outside world shall represent 
 Our will combined, and regulate our own 
 Domestic difl'erence when we disagree. 
 If ever such occur. A common danger. 
 Hound us pressed, united all our sti-ength; 
 But now the danger far removed, and we 
 Would send our youtiiful nation out upon 
 The sea alone, her rigging must be trimmed. 
 Stability and power must we have; a fabric 
 That the whirl of j)assions which sometimes 
 Befall a people in their path, cannot destroy; 
 A durable and stalwart craft with power 
 To outride the billows as they come. 
 Divided as we are in thirteen parts, 
 Each one a sovereign in itself, the charter 
 Of its Independence signed by Kingcraft's own 
 Kight hand, yet of itself too weak ' 
 To tight the world, or stand against 
 The other States if they should ever, in 
 The shifting scenes of 'time, be led 
 By evil work of Avarice or Pride to join 
 Their strength ag linst it. 'Twere well 
 In the beginning, while we're pure, to so 
 Secure ourselves with guards and bulwarks 
 Round about, that w ar of foreign prince, 
 Or feud intestine, should so great an evil 
 E'er befall us in our course through life, 
 Cannot destroy our walls. Our strength, 
 Divided, very weak, is great when 'twere 
 United in a perfect whole. To husband well 
 Our means of power, not too much from each 
 Detracting as to leave it at the mercy of 
 The creature it creates, is what needs now 
 Be done. Though Kingcraft be defeated, and 
 His legions routed to the shore, yet 
 Our w^eakness in this new, uniinished, and 
 Divided state, one day may tempt 
 
78 .MYKlOivWMA. 
 
 And fall a proy to Ins vovt^i^ii-e. Prudoiu't' -unv, 
 Mny savo ns tiiuch icinor>o. 
 
 *•^t^('ll \vo;k 
 As tliis befits us lioiv. y.wvh spirit. 
 Whoso niicovcrotl arm (ii«l lu'lp us in 
 Tlio tiuht (o liniii tlie m'lv.v wlik-li wo on;ov. 
 Has oarnod hi-* riiiht to have a voio«^ 
 In roarin*i' u|) thi> iinn tM'ium lU that nvc 
 •Propose to buihl and i'iMi-«HTau> to Freedom. 
 fiCt each, if aiiiiht h<' ha\e to say. ikuv speak.'' 
 
 >Vith brawny arni half baie. then I'laneo ra!.--ed 
 
 And said : - .My pnninee is to work. 
 
 Not govern. 1 only asU thai my prerouative 
 
 Be %vell si-eured in what yon nntk'rtake. 
 
 I want this i'i>ntinent to latior on 
 
 Whore 1. and iho<e wh«> aid my loik n.vy show 
 
 Our hnndiwi»rl\ without resira.ini. ami reaj) 
 
 Our just rewanl. " 
 
 With feartul trembliuir in 
 
 Uis voiee untutored. Neu'ros raised to speak. 
 
 But Triile. with w idl diiHN'ted stroke, prevented him, 
 
 -•Let \i.i. be lu'ard," said dnstii-e. in eomnnind; 
 And rrid«\ thouirh none a'nashed. did stand 
 In an^er back. Thus, then, the slave appealed : 
 
 "Most jrraeimts spirits, if n\v hunil>le voiec 
 Is heard. I make hut one request. All else 
 Is nausiht to me. Remove these marks 
 \ml b.Tmls. antl >et me free lo work and to 
 lveeeivi> the woiih of what 1 e:u"n. Behold 
 What honesr ])ride ujHtn his brow niy brother 
 iilaneo wears. He has broaihed the air 
 Of Freedom but a few sh.ort years. 
 Methinks it 1 were free, we'd all bt^ happier 
 For it, and of greater wortii as men. 
 For many vear-^ tout ther have we t«5iled ; 
 Mueh labor done, nnu'h hardship borne; 
 In all, however sluut of what was riuht 
 Fve eome, to do my duty well ha^ been 
 >ty eonstant aim. ami nothinii" a>ked 
 But servant's fare. Fve earned my treedom as 
 1 think. Not to learniiii:' trained. "m> thousihts 
 May not be wis(>, but this to me seems elear: 
 "Twere better now to urant my plain request. 
 No w ron^ ean eome ot this. My prayers 
 
MYKIOKAMA. 
 
 P'or freedom to my Great Eternal lilaster, ni<?h( 
 And day are offered up. This my ehains 
 Cannot'prcveiit. One day they inay be heard 
 And answered to my earthly master's ruin." 
 
 " You shall be free I " said Liberty. " althouorli 
 [t take ten thousand years to do the work." 
 ;* Amen I " witii one aVcord the others said 
 Vave Pride and Avarice, who stood 
 With soowlinii" faees back. Then frisking td 
 The front with passionate emotion. Pride 
 Thus modestly be^an : 
 
 •• ^ly presence in 
 The land has been a thorn in Liberty's side. 
 The ease with whieh I move ihrou»li life; 
 The flutter in the world I make. 
 Commanding admiration of the kings 
 And princes on their thrones, has given 
 Virtue pain, and Independence much 
 Concern. My value as a handmaid in 
 The work of "building up a nation in 
 The earth where none was known before. 
 They do not now appreciate. Without 
 Advantage of a living tutor's skill 
 To mould its character and give it tone. 
 How soon the infant nation would decay 
 And die. Naught else of all the various 
 Accomplishments ot earth so well 
 Betit the young and inexpert as that 
 Whieh makes them proud and keeps 
 Their heads upraised above the dirty throng. 
 In otllce such as this, to best advantage 
 My matchless worth is seen. But to the 
 Future not so much as past I'd have 
 You look to see me as I am. When dusky 
 Savage dared to lift his hand in self defense 
 As Freedom's sons appropriated much 
 Of what he called his lands, and had 
 The brazen impudence to claim from them 
 Respectful audience to his ridiculous 
 Complaint. I taught them how with 
 Proper self-respect to scorn his low appeal 
 And drive him from their presence. By my 
 Advice they took the niggard's lands and put 
 Them to a proper use. It made them rich ; 
 
80 MYEIORAMA. 
 
 It. gave thorn pfond position in the loud; 
 And iiave them \vli^rewit:hal to clolho 
 Theirdauoliters and to train them in 
 The school of pride. To regulate 
 Their passions have I taught the people, 
 And with some propriety tlu-.r prejudices train. 
 That line, bj' God iiimself laid down. 
 On either side of whieli, so properly arranged 
 And, separated by theii- eolor, are the races 
 Known, with care and deep concern 
 I've taught them to respect. Between 
 The races black and white, by earnest zeal 
 And constant efibi't, have 1 raised 
 A hatred up so virulent and strong 
 That danger of am:ilgainaiion need 
 Not now be entertained. This source 
 Of national disturbance then, is drowned 
 By my devoted work. Besides tliat due 
 Kegai-d for self I've planted in the white 
 Man's heart, and nurtured well its growth. 
 With less success perlmps, but more 
 Determined zeal, I've crushed the opening 
 Bud of liberal thought which in its crude 
 And humble state lay Ind beneatli 
 The hideous skin of this degraded w retch 
 Who here, amid this circle of the demi-gods» 
 Dares crave attention. Though little knows, 
 Or ever can, by years of alject bondage has 
 He learned to "know the servile plane on w'liick 
 By nature's mandate he must ever walk 
 And serve his master well, Betwec n 
 Him and the white, that proi>er prejudice 
 I've nurtured long and trained, forbids 
 That he be free. "—And Negros moaned aloud, 
 *' No less, indeed, " continued she, " the fact» 
 As all the world so well docs understand, 
 That such is not his state by God 
 Ordained. To serve is his estate, for so 
 'T has alwavs been. The poor must serve 
 The rich— the black the white. To have 
 An equal voice in law or government, 
 Would rapidly destroy his usefulness 
 In any place he'd till. To make him 
 Equal with ourselves would be to thrust 
 Aside with very scorn the edict of 
 
MYPJORAMA. 81 
 
 Jehovah's law, and down to his low 'level 
 
 Let ourselves distfrace fully to fall. 
 
 In patient service let him live and run 
 
 His lowly round. The further tact 
 
 That Christians are his masters, augurs for 
 
 His future well. To serve for such belits 
 
 Hiiu for a better life, if God has so 
 
 Designed. 'Twill train and christianize 
 
 His ignorant, benighted mind, 
 
 And make him better servant. 'Twere wrong, 
 
 To him injustice, as I think, to hear 
 
 His stupid dream of toil and chains, 
 
 And kindred stuff, and lend an ear 
 
 To his unreasonable prayer for freedom. " 
 
 Then Virtue in reply declared : 
 
 "'Tis great injustice to denj'^ the humblest child 
 
 Kespectful hearing. That glaring word 
 
 Upon his forehead, and the band upon 
 
 His wrist, are evidence at once 
 
 Of bonds and most de^i^raded life. 
 
 In bondage such as this to hold a man ; 
 
 To force unwilling service from his shackled limbi» 
 
 And brand him where the world maj' see 
 
 His sad condition as he toils, in all 
 
 Its parts is wrong. — a burning wrong, 
 
 A damning sin. To claim ourselves 
 
 What we deny to him, is true hypocrisy 
 
 And shame :— unjust, disgraceful to 
 
 The last degree. His arm has helped 
 
 Us build our homes, and faithful has he been. 
 
 Against his will brought hither, now 
 
 That he hath served us well, do let me loos© 
 
 His bands. " 
 
 And stepping forward toward 
 flira as in very joy his fettered limbs 
 He raised and held them out to meet 
 Her gentle hand ;— a moment more. 
 And they had fallen, but a stronger arm 
 Than hers between them placed,' with mild 
 Persuasion the apparent weapon of 
 Attack, he turned her from her good desigri, 
 "While Negros wept in bitterness of heart 
 At this unmerited dishonor. 
 6 
 
82 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 'Twns Capital tliat came between, and thns 
 
 Sp iko lie : " Btitwecn myselt and Labor lies 
 
 A stronii' miv'uddinu- cord of sympathy. 
 
 Our duties and desiiiiis, 'tis true, are not 
 
 Tiie same, yet we are strongly bound 
 
 ]iy ties of interest to eaeb otlier's hopes; 
 
 To him my preseiiee is essential as his life. 
 
 lie lives aiid moves within my rei.irn ; 
 
 My atmosphere he l>reathes, and «iies 
 
 At mv ex)ense. Without my potent aid 
 
 He withers as a frosted phiiit and falls. 
 
 Essential thns to him, his service is 
 
 To me no less important. Wealth, 
 
 The product of our si.ren.u'th united, springs 
 
 Up liUe a cultivated flower, and spreads 
 
 Its fraiirance round to beautify 
 
 And bless the land. The evidences of 
 
 Our usefulness are seen on every hand. 
 
 And stare you in the face from every door. 
 
 On land nd loss than sea, we have 
 
 Our mystic art at woik, and gold 
 
 Rains in your coffers as we toil. 
 
 Your trade and commerce have we built, 
 
 Ko less have m ule your social good. In bone 
 
 And sinew of the body politic; 
 
 In every fibre of its vital frame. 
 
 Our life lies hidden and impels the whole 
 
 To move. ^Vhen our strength is brought to bear 
 
 The mountains move, the forests clear 
 
 Themselves away, and cities as by magic raise 
 
 T.ier busy heads. We're omnipresent in 
 
 The land. Without ns you're destroyed. 
 
 My interest in the land is great;—" 
 
 " 'Tis true, '* 
 The spirits all declared. 
 
 " There's much 
 Unfinished j'et to do; " he then resumed. 
 Betore us lie great boundless tracts 
 In nature's garb, where fields must bloom 
 Ami civilization rule before another 
 Hundred years roll by." 
 
 « 'Tis true, " again 
 The voices said. 
 
 »• As wo develop strength, " he said, 
 *♦ And power, which we will, new avenues 
 
MYRTORAMA. 83 
 
 Of wealth Mill show themselves around 
 Our way unci these must he improved. 
 My life is restless, as 'tis usetui. I 
 Must work. Your (.-onnsel .ind your aid 
 Must I heapeak in shapin": my 
 Peculiar entl- ; lor as you all no well 
 Do understaiid. success of my adventures. 
 Aided by the hand of Labor. r,o your joint 
 And several good conspires, and my defeat 
 Is yours. " 
 
 Again they said : '' 'Tis true. " 
 
 ** The harvest, sure is plenty, " he resumed, 
 
 *'But laborers are few. 80 soon ns one 
 
 Of Labor's sons outgrows his bonds 
 
 And Freedonj's arms encircle him. 
 
 With one of iny descendants joins he in 
 
 A happy marriage, and unto rliemselves 
 
 Be>fin their life anew. This rotjs WMi of 
 
 My strength in such proportion as the loss 
 
 Is great or small. O'er sucli. my ride 
 
 Is weak; — indeed, ofr-timcs to their demands 
 
 Am I compelled to yield. But such as still are held 
 
 In bondage do ol)ey my will, and do it well. 
 
 Their wortii in great degree depends upon 
 
 Their close ol)edience to their master's will. 
 
 For reasons such as these, methinks -twere ill 
 
 Advised to set them free from service yet, 
 
 And not until it can be better spared 
 
 Than now. " 
 
 Ambition, in Ids usual warmth, 
 Delivered thus his thoughts: 
 "The end and aim of dl onr hopes 
 Is liberty for man. The corner stone on which 
 Our tem|>le i-ests. is e<]UMl riiitit of all 
 To this inestimable good. The right of one 
 To hold his f<-llow as a slave, no soul 
 By love of Lil)erty inspired dare admit. 
 To buy and sell his sinews and ids bones 
 For gold, is sin most damning, and 
 The nation that perniits it tnust incur 
 Divine displeasui-e. When we build 
 Our nation up with chains upon a part 
 Of those we liave as props, that hour ia 
 Our inmost vitals do we plant 
 
84 MYRIOEAMA. 
 
 A canker with its spreading poison which 
 
 In time must work its end and send 
 
 Disease to all our parts. To make this nation free 
 
 In fact as well as name, to rid the land 
 
 Of sin in all its forms and make the world 
 
 A better place for man to dwell, has been 
 
 My aim, and to that end I now declare 
 
 My life, and all my en erotics of will, 
 
 Shall ever be most sacredly devoted. 
 
 My voice is for the freedom of this man 
 
 And all his race. The golden thouglit 
 
 Which Capital has urged as best. betra.ys 
 
 The weakness of that strength that builds 
 
 Itself upon the ruins of deciaying 
 
 Liberty. The tender bird untledged 
 
 Remains within itslitcle prison wall; 
 
 But when, with tiuttering pinion plumed. 
 
 He looks upon the broad domain of heaven 
 
 And calls it his, he's free, and goes 
 
 Without a rein upon his wing. 
 
 So Labor, from his fetters free, combines 
 
 With child ot Capital, and builds himself 
 
 Anew in life. The blood of Freedom swells 
 
 His veins,— he feels iiimself a man. 
 
 And slavery ne'er again shall capture him. 
 
 Why not to all apply this glorious 
 
 Indulgence? Make him free as man 
 
 Should be, and then adapt your pliant will 
 
 To what his new condition needs, and thus 
 
 Exert your omnipresent power to remove 
 
 The burdens of our rai.'e. and of our ills 
 
 Believe us. Employment such a^ this 
 
 Would forge a golden chain to bind 
 
 Us to th' eternal throne above, and make 
 
 Us chosen people of the living God. 
 
 Go, burst his ciiains; let freedom shine 
 
 Upon his darkened soul, that it may live 
 
 And bloom as well as chine, and make 
 
 Unto thyself a name immortal. " 
 
 As he ended this appeal cacne Mercy by 
 His side low nestling, while her loving eyes 
 With all their beaming luster looked 
 Appealingly on face of Capital, and said: 
 "Do, pray, permit me loose these pinching bands 
 
MYRIORAMA. 85 
 
 And eet poor IsTegros free. T know he'd serve 
 Thee better and with truer, braver hetirt. " 
 
 But Capital replied "Fair nnjre]. no : 
 Not now. Not man}' years more yet 
 Of toil, but suf'h as we do need for certain ends 
 Already named, and then that pleasure thou 
 May'st have. -Tis not my wish forever thus 
 To hold him. but for the present let it so 
 Remain. His service must we Mave a time, 
 And better 'twere in bonds. Thy frail 
 And tender nature does befit thee not so well 
 For ripened judgment of the sterner things 
 Which meet us in the round of life. Let us, 
 Of harder nature made, decide whafs best, 
 And for a little time have patience with 
 Our i)lans. " 
 
 Like starlight through the dropping rain, 
 Out through her tears shone Mercy's eyes. 
 As sorrowfully yielded she her happy work. 
 
 Then Avarice leered his serpent eye 
 Askance, and spake to them in this wise : 
 "Some claim have I to your attention here. 
 The tenure of your lands in great degree, 
 On my suggestions rest. In part at least. 
 The wealth you now enjoy, of my begetting is. 
 You owe me much : to that extent you're in 
 My power, which for good or evil is intense 
 And well controlled, as you'll have reason yet 
 Tolearn. To whom I will, destruction comes. 
 And wealth and place to whom. My arm 
 Is shield in manj' a dangerous work ; 
 My coil is as the serpent's— stronger as it grows 
 Near time of meal. Upon this son of Ilam 
 A claim I hold, and on his sons 
 And daughters noiie the less. I brought 
 Them here for service, toil and gain ; 
 And not until their work is done, and I 
 Have nothing left for tliem to do in this 
 Their servile state, will I consent to change 
 His plane. The words of Capital are true 
 And titly spoke. Those bonds, so sore 
 And painful to the eyes of certain here, 
 Are locked, and I do hold the key. The work 
 
86 MYRTOllAMA. 
 
 For \vhi(;li yoirrc met can not siicceod 
 TCxcopt in this respect I hjn e wy wny. 
 My son.-^ are niiineitxis ami my |)^)^^('^ .<>reat. 
 No plan can I approve, or counsel tliein 
 To do. of governmenl. unless yon leave 
 Me Ne^iTos as my own wirliout dispute, — 
 For me and Capital. \V!u'n ir suits 
 Our pleasure, as in time \ve think it will, 
 We'll do as seemelh best; !>ut n(nv 
 Let nothin.ii' n\oj-e be said in his belinlf. 
 And let him have no voice or part in this 
 Transaction. " 
 
 So spoke the imp. and Conipromise, 
 As if to soften and excuse Hie ^larin^i' Nvroiij?, 
 With smiling .i>-ruce declared : 
 
 '*"T\vere better not 
 To n.£>,itate this danaerous (heme to any 
 Greater len*rtli. 'Twill sow discord aiid 
 Troul)le in our midst. The spe iker last 
 Who spoke a lar^eand inlliUMitial class 
 Does ably represiMit. and he (!<'ciarcd in terms 
 Most ])ositive and (dear, that liis demands 
 Must ho conceded else our object here 
 Must fail for want of harmony. IkUh he 
 And Cai)ital oi)iin' that but a i'ew 
 More years at most they'll ne<Mi the service of 
 This man. and then. !is v.e may hope 
 Witli reasonable certainty, tor they 
 Are honorable spirits sj)ea*Icin.u- w liat 
 They earnestly bcliex e. they w ill release him. 
 Indeed, 'twere little matter as to worth. 
 If free or bond does Nroros live. Ills jiame 
 Anion<r mnnkind is low and rarely iK^ird; 
 He's (piite unlit lorhijili pir^ilinn. and 
 As servant lllls his place most titly. No need 
 Methinks for in^ared thoujiht. where little is 
 At stake, or notliin'j:. as *tis here. To save 
 Commotion in our midst, to further peace, 
 Svith jrveat respect for all. 1 do |)ropose 
 That we concede the thin*i' disputed." 
 
 Am1)ition spranjr upon his nin\ble feet 
 And said : •• I will not thus consi nt that man 
 By will may ludd a rijriit of ])ioperty 
 In mtm, and t?ius incorporate a living lio 
 
MYKIOltAMA. 87 
 
 In our law. " 
 
 Said Coinpi-ornise: *-Tt nord 
 Kot enter in l\\(t l;i\v. "Tis pn^misc mndc 
 Outside the law, tli.-it N(*;;r<)s s!i:ill he free 
 In time. Let that, remain as law iinto 
 Itself. Trust the word of those who pledji^e 
 Themselves so saeredly. Their honor will 
 Forbid apostacy. " 
 
 And Avarice said : 
 
 " It matters not 
 To me ahont the law. if von hut leave the chains 
 Upon his limbs until iiis time's lultilled." 
 
 Ambition spoke n<j;aln : 
 
 "' Omit tino-. riiop. 
 Within the written law. his title slavk; 
 His tenure too as well. — th(^ reason why 
 You liold him thus, and i)1e(!<j:<. your saered 
 Word that time, and that, »i(»t distant far. 
 Shall see him free.— with sneh at^reetnent, 
 For the peae<; and pr<'sent o-ood I'll hope, 
 I yield the point, but with distinct 
 Announeement of my nnderstandinar; 
 A few more years of "slavish toil, and then 
 You'll make him free. I swear hare now 
 ni execute the hand. 
 
 Said Justice then : 
 "You know not what you do. You sow the seeds 
 Of death where livin<r' plants should <rrow. 
 Yc passed unlK-eded by mv warninjr in 
 The cloud—' IW just. I)e just, to all. '—Ye have 
 It now a<r;nn. Beware of compromise 
 W^ith wron<,^ By steiltli and rapin.; brou^'ht 
 From homo where natm-e i>lace(l him free. 
 He's held in l)onda«>(. jici-e. c(»nipelled bv force 
 To toil a;iainst, ids will, anil for another's ^r-.x'm. 
 Justice to him now is liltertv. and nothiufj less. 
 God created all men equal. He never 
 Made a slave: that i< human work. 
 Who denies to tnan that native liberty 
 His Fatliei- ;>ave, depjives his brother of 
 His birthriuht. Ketribntion. when it comes, 
 As come it will in time, for dnW decree 
 *S unerrinir as Himself, and so 
 'Twas written from the lirst,— will feed 
 
88 MYRIOKAMA. 
 
 On him who violates the hiw; and terrible 
 Must be the ven<ieanee meteil out to him 
 Who traffics in tlie flesh and blood of men — 
 The oflsprinof of the Father. God. Be not 
 Deluded by the falsel}- varnished hope 
 Of future freedom for the slave, so Ion*]: 
 As devils walk unchained, and g-old allures 
 The eye. The heart so deeply steeped in crime 
 That in the darkness of the tanjiled wood 
 Dare pounce upon a j)ass!no- ehlhl 
 And send it to a life of wron<r. is fit 
 For murder, harlotry and sliame. ISTo truth 
 Except by accident, or told for stolen giun. 
 From such a fountain sprin«is. T.et pa^ss 
 This moment and your future life 
 Will be diseased from head to foot. Life strikes 
 Its searchin,": roots deep down into the dead, 
 And lives upon decayin.U' thinccs. Let not 
 The life of w ckedness and wrong spring from 
 The ruins of decaying liberty." 
 
 Said Compromise in answer to this grave 
 Rebuke: "But if two evils do present 
 Themselves, and one we must accept, 
 Would it not be wise to choose the less? " 
 
 'Choose none, " said Justice. ''Do but right, and keep 
 The law." 
 
 Wisdom then thus reasoned : 
 *' Much power has this spirit Avarice here. 
 He can destroy us and our hopes. By granting 
 His request, thougli wrong it surely is. 
 We may combine our now divided strength 
 For future usefulness, and God, when He 
 Determines, will accomplish what we now 
 Defer. Denj' him and we fnll again 
 To weakness and a prey to Kingcraft's lust. 
 Can we not this evil foV a time endure 
 With more of good resulting than to fly 
 To others which we know not of? and will 
 It not insure a greater good ? " 
 
 ''One day." 
 Said Justice, "will you be compelled to lop 
 It oft'. Its spirit is aggressive, and in time 
 Its serpent head will raise itself, unless 
 
MYRIORAMA. 8 
 
 Destroyed, and take the rule of state." 
 
 " 'Tis that much or.iin, " said Progress : 
 "To have tlie pl( d<i;c of nil. Ihontjh some were false, 
 On Freedom's side. VVc inii>;t. for purposes 
 Of Union now. to work a lasting ^ood, — 
 A «jood of <irealt'r worth with evil of a short 
 Continuance combined, than tliouprh we frtte 
 The slave and separjjte tlie stat(;. When strong 
 And great we grow, the force of public thought 
 Will then compel fulfillment of the pledge 
 Made here. I do confess that we inu>t choose 
 'Twixt evils now% and 1 am willing to 
 Accept the less. " 
 
 •■ So he it, if you thus agree; 
 But what J-ve said. I've said, and that's the law, " 
 Said Justice in reply. 
 
 " No further need 
 For me, " said Avarice, "if no oflence 
 Be taken, I'll retire. " 
 
 "And I; ""and I;" 
 Said Pride and Capital, and they did leave 
 The scene, with Negros limping in 
 Their rear, dejected sore. 
 
 Behind was left 
 A purer atmosphere. With careful word 
 And studied phrase, then Laredef made free 
 To speak. " When man unto himself a rule 
 Wouhl make tor fu ndiimcntal law. a view 
 Of that Supernal Constitution of the Great 
 Infinite Gofl, hy which II<' rules and governs 
 All His varied world, might lessen much 
 His labors and sinjplify his work. 
 With that intent, let's pause and read a line 
 There written. Himself the center of the whole, 
 Unnumbered systeujs round Him roll 
 Their mystic spheres in well appointed time; 
 A center for each system, round the which 
 In lesser circles run their wonted round 
 The worlds appointed there to stay, 
 And wheel their endless I'ourse in space, 
 Attracted each unto its central sun 
 By stronger power divine. No jar 
 Or discord breaks upon His listening ear, 
 But round, and round again, in one 
 
90 JVIYIIIORAMA. 
 
 Harmonious whole, in noi.<e]('s< orbits move 
 The lesser phinets rodiid tlieir inner sun 
 And these, with all theii- uiiiriing" stars. 
 About the Great Eternal Cenier of them all, — 
 The Great Onniipolent w ill, — the inner force 
 The stronger always. 
 
 •• Thus ma}' we 
 Arrano^e our plan. ^\ central power make 
 "With duty well detined. comlMninu" in 
 Itself attractive foi-ce to iioid the States 
 Within tlieir proper orbit'-; as (licy run 
 Their revolutions roiiiul the federal head; 
 And should some initaling cause cojne in 
 Between the inner and the outer force 
 "Which for a time miulit thniaten dissolution, 
 The central power would restrain and draw 
 Them back— the truant States—to their 
 Allegiance. Thirtfeu iii nuui'iei- now 
 The States. Let each retain irs little 
 System of domestic rule, but to the 
 Federal head by boiuls so strong allied. 
 That unexpected trouhle could Hot break, 
 A system thus of States revolving round 
 A higher center by the people made. 
 Controlling all their niovonents which 
 Do not themselves ini mediately concern. 
 Would we ej-ect. and government of great, 
 Surpassing strength— of permanence 
 And worth — would I)e around us tor 
 Our mutual piotecUo?) 'gainst the world, 
 And all intestine discontent. 
 A Government w ithout the power to 
 Perpetuate itself and givn protection to 
 Its citizens in every quarter of the land 
 O'er which it ruled. — or crippled in its will 
 To quell disturbances to s<ich extent 
 As that it coidd not shi«dd itself against 
 Internal discord or reljclliou. 
 Would be an easy prey to spoil and ruin, 
 If e'er amlutious men comldncd to plot 
 Against it. Wisdom now (tictates. methinks, 
 That in th' beginniuj;- of our race we make 
 Sfcure a lasting hold uf)on 
 
 All necessary power, and by certain safeguards 
 Be surrounded, tliat projecting rocks 
 
ilYEIOKAMA. 91 
 
 In our tcmpfstiioiiP voy;ige inuy not 
 Dissever iiiivi destroy our yoiillinii ehip. 
 My ^enenil pljiii is such. Dt'tuils. 
 And more minute jnjiin^ciuenr, ni;iy 
 Conform to this rude ouiline of desi<i'n 
 In future jipplicMtiou. Tise States within 
 Tiiemselve.c. still soverei/^n luny reniisin, 
 Whih; do tlie people of llicm u\\. as one 
 Great whole, unite and f')rm the fe(ieral head 
 For general <;ood and niuii al restraint." 
 
 To thiF, then Tarcoir.ed rej lied : 
 
 -Of power 
 And all its various, snhtle forms. 
 My heart has ^rreat alihorreiiee. and 
 As deep a jealoutvy. Lon<i' years of toil 
 And patient sufierin^' have sondy tanjrht 
 Us Iiow to value fretdom. Through all 
 That dreary time, around our homes 
 In most distasteful ways, did Kin^eraft weave 
 His web of tyranny, which only war, 
 "With weakness, waste and desolation as 
 Its end. remove*]. At tlist he claimed 
 But little, nor that little loud. Imt by 
 De<?rees slow comin^i' on like summer 
 Solstice, quiet iait incessant si ill. 
 He plied his wily arts until our very hearths 
 He claimed. our"dau(rhters and our sons; 
 And naught hut most d<'termliied force 
 Continued Ion<J: could drive the evil of 
 His Insts away. From this protracted 
 Strug-jrle with a king. I've leai'ued 
 To hate all eviderc es of his e^ er 
 Having lived to cuj-se tiie earth w ith his 
 Remorseless presence. Ail lingerinof 
 Relics of his barl>arism I despise. 
 And loathe the very name ot power. 
 
 "This want 
 Of sympathy with kings, this sad exptiience 
 With their black iniquifics. wiil be excuse 
 I pray, for what nuiy ollierw ise ajjpear 
 Severe expression. 1 diflVj- v. idely with 
 JSy valued Larcdcf. as to bi< plan 
 Of government. His < cnfral s« n 
 Would grow a scorching flame of lire, 
 
92 MYRIofeAMA. 
 
 And singe the helpless flec1o^elino"'s wings. 
 'Twould grow e^o huge and lustious in 
 Its blaze, that little, feeble, outer planets, 
 In their love of gr;indeur some bewildered, 
 Would go to bask themselves within its light 
 And lose their lustre th^re. Tliis inner lorcc 
 Would grow too great, and soon absorb 
 The whole. By force of its attraction, 
 The little struggling worlds upon 
 The outer verge of their allotted space, 
 Would deviate from the appointed line 
 By slow degrees, and, losing now 
 Their power of resistance, dash against 
 The inner sun, and lose themselves 
 In him. 
 
 " While guarding as we should 
 Against contingent ills by proper union formed, 
 'Twere well that nothing more we do. 
 A constant watch upon the ruler oft 
 Relieves us from his snares. Eflects 
 The same from causes like arise. 
 The nature and the aim of power is 
 To fortify and to increase itself. 
 The more is given to it, the more it will 
 Demand. Sufficient to the head 
 For what, as freedom-loving people they do need, 
 With liberal hand J give, but not a moiety 
 Beside. Let it the creature be, and not 
 Creator. Then should it attempt 
 Absorption or coercion of the powers that 
 Had given it its life, we'd know our rights, 
 And knowing, dare maintain them. 
 
 "Upon consent of those on whom it rests 
 
 Do governments derive their just authority. 
 
 So long as they retain the people's good 
 
 Affections, they will stand as adamant. 
 
 When these the}"^ lose, deca}'^ and rot strike deep 
 
 Into their vitals, absorbing what of life they have, 
 
 And all the powers of hell can't stay 
 
 The dread disease. If that we now 
 
 Propose to rear should prove in its 
 
 Administration just, regarding well 
 
 The peojjle's liberties — not oppressive in 
 
 Its rule, then no fear of felid or war 
 
MYPJORAMA. 93 
 
 Within ourselves; but should a love of power, 
 Orunhol3% wild Ambition seize the reins 
 Of government and grind the people down, 
 The thunder of the public wrath would tear 
 It into atoms. 
 
 "The gulf dividing us 
 Is great, yet not so wide, methinks. 
 But that It may be bridged. That love 
 We mutually bear our chosen land 
 Is guaranty that what with our 
 Conceptions of the riglit we can. we will, 
 For good of our common country, most 
 Cheerfully concede. We need a common head — 
 A general government, for purposes 
 By all well understood. How much 
 We give to it of power, and how much 
 Eetain unto ourselves, is what divides 
 Us now. Essential what, I yield. 
 But nothing more. So much retain 
 That if in future years need be, our hands 
 Will not be tied. A just and true respect 
 Unto the rights reserved by States, will give 
 Security and permanence, and they 
 Are all we need. " 
 
 In answer, Laredef replied : 
 "Sufficient to the federal head of povver 
 To perpetuate itself and parry all 
 Attacks from whatsoever source they come, 
 Methinks we ought to yield. The work 
 Of human hands is always weak. 
 Some festering sore — some tender spot — 
 May now be lurking in the veins through which 
 Our nation's blood will run, to us unseen, 
 Or seen, permitted to remain ; and this 
 In time may generate confusion and 
 A subsequent disquiet, which, if left unchecked 
 To run its course ot ruin, would produce disease, 
 Disintegration and decay ; and yet 
 It might be wise and greatly to our good. 
 If povver in the land which all respect 
 Could remedy the evil, and restore the state. " 
 
 To which then Tarcomed responded thus : 
 **If the government should leave its place 
 And go astray to trample on the people's rights, 
 
&4 3IY1U0EAMA. 
 
 It should not be perpetnated. If riglit 
 And jiKstice rule irs course, no <liin^"or need 
 Be feiired within : and if IVom any 
 Other quarter couios ne're n^ady for it then 
 As in the past Ave'vo been. Our people as 
 Tiiou knowest well, are virtuous ajid brave. 
 No tear froui their as.^aiilt if no one's 
 In the wron*?. " 
 
 '*^Thy nr<jfumont, " said Larcdef, 
 *' Does rest upon the people's virtues. Great 
 And many thou<rh they he, all men are human; 
 And vvJuit is hunijfn may he led astray. 
 The orovernnu'nt may onee he riuht, 
 The people wron**-. Should sueh occur 
 With us, wl»o then shall be the jud^e?" 
 
 " No danger do 
 I fear from nny wron<i- the people may 
 Commit. They will ri<j:ht themselves if hand 
 Of power keeps it's proper place." 
 
 «' If possible arranffersKMit can be made," 
 Paid Compromise, "between these dilVerent plans 
 Of government. ;uid thus defer disi)ute, 
 'The which, if long continued may prevent 
 A union of the iH^ople for their good. 
 'Twere very wise it seemeth me, it should 
 Be done. Might not the matter icst 
 "With safety where it is? Each does concede 
 That power sullicicnt for tlie end proposed 
 Must needs be granted to the central head. 
 For ills unknown— in future time 
 Contingeut— may not provision then 
 Be made, should ever they arise ? " 
 
 *• That contenteth me, " said Tarcomed. 
 
 *-Mv will T vield, " said Laredef, 
 
 *'F6r present, and I'll hope for future good 
 
 Of all, but still my judgment is the same. 
 
 "When, to build a nation out of States, 
 
 Whose people heretofore gave them 
 
 Allegiance, for our nuitual good 
 
 We undertake, we either do or not. in law, 
 
 Create a body corporate which of a right, 
 
 And by its very contititution, holds 
 
MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Unto itself all necessary powers 
 
 For self protection and perpetual life. 
 
 To wluit extent tliis riji^hthii power may go 
 
 In matter.^ now iin>^epn, and merely 
 
 Prophecied or dreamed, is matter of 
 
 Opinion, and on that, perhiips 
 
 We need not further speculate." 
 
 With restless eye then Aborigines arose 
 And thus he spoke:. 
 
 "Am I to be 
 Consulted not in this jiiiiJintic 
 Enterprise which so mucrh concerneth me? 
 Is ni3' voice forever hnslied. and like 
 My name to fade away and die? 
 This land was once my home, without 
 Intrudin;^ mortal to disturb 
 The sweetness of my nn(lui<iht dreams. 
 My rit(ht to most of it remains unto this day. 
 Then was my freedouj unrestrained. No fear 
 Of comin<r dan<j:er luiked in clouds, 
 Or fell around me in the rain ; 
 But since the day your people came 
 Across the deep'blue watei-. jny peace has been 
 Disturbed, and now my home is not secure. 
 My lands in part appropriated to their use Avithout 
 Return, save promises that never were 
 Futilled. But name of <j:ood old Penn 
 My people love, for he was faithful to his word, 
 And' paid me for the lands he l)OU^!it. 
 You have destroyerl my hunting* jyrounds. 
 My trustin«< people causelessly have killed, 
 And disinterred the bones of my 
 Departed braves. You've done'me many — 
 Many wron^rs. W^hen tiist you set 
 Your feet upon this land of mine, you then 
 Weri young and feel>ie. Your shadow reached 
 But little way, and mine was high 
 Above it. Strong and brave was red man then. 
 I gave you welcome here within my 
 Peaceful home. You're largiM- now\ and 
 Man}' warriors roun<l you stand to do 
 Your will. With these do you propose. 
 As often have you done, to'drive nw. from 
 The hoLQe^ to which when you were small 
 
96 MYRTOEAMA. 
 
 And cast nijon th*^ world a Rtrangcr and 
 Alone, I \\elC'onH;d you, aiul tlii:s without 
 Reward or recompense? The iiiuid tliat fed 
 You in your youth, and ^ave you kindly o:rasp, 
 You'll now, when older grown, and stiong, 
 Destroy and lop it oil" because you have 
 The power so to do? I?^ such the teaeliing, 
 Of your Father as you read His book ? 
 Have 1 then a voice or not in this design?" 
 
 Said Independence in reply : 
 
 " Great truth 
 In much you say, and due respect I pay 
 To it. Much wrong", by evil spirits done, 
 Has brought disgrace and sluinie on 
 Innocent designs in ever}' period 
 Of the world. I came not here however 
 To consult your pleasure or your ease. 
 For all your oilices of Iriendship done, 
 My gratitude is due you. For the wrongs 
 Of treachery and deceit without a cause 
 You've done to me. you have my plain 
 Forgiveness. The wrongs my people did 
 Do I deplore, and wish 'twere otherwise; 
 But for their sins I can't atone. My work 
 Was given me by Him who doeth what 
 He will. In oUlen time He gave His 
 Chosen seed a land, and bade them take. 
 Possess, and own it. What of war 
 And spoil were consequent, was m^t 
 To their account set down. His will 
 Must all obey. What He permits. He does 
 For general good. He sent me to this land 
 To build a home for all the world to till. 
 If thou art in the way, or wont unite 
 With us, thou'lt be removed by hand 
 Of God through agencies His own. 
 If in the storms that round thee sweep, 
 Thou'rt carried off in the whirling wind, 
 Thy weakness, rather than my strength. 
 Should bear the charge if any do attach. 
 To consult thee I have no command. 
 My pleasure shall it be, as in the early time 
 I promised you, vour days on earth 
 To make as peace! ul as within 
 
MYRIORAMA. 97 
 
 My power lies. Yonr comfort and repos© 
 Shall be our constant care. Against 
 The wrongs of wicked men, as far as in 
 Me lies, I'll grant you my protection. If 
 Your lands at anv time we need, we'll make 
 You fair reward, and see that you are paid. 
 Much of wrong not now foreseen 
 Will doubtless come, but this will be 
 Exception, not the rule. For your peace 
 Whatever 1 can flo, will cheerfully 
 Be done; the rest remains with you, 
 And that is all I have to say ; except 
 That tiiou art dying now, and with thee 
 All thy people. On the scroll of fate 
 *Tis written thus, and 1 cannot prevent." 
 
 Aborigines responded then in these words: 
 
 "If I rightly understand you, 
 
 My race' is nearly run then ; 
 
 And like the morning vapor, 
 
 Or the falling mists of evening 
 
 Fast settling into twilight 
 
 To rest until the sunrise 
 
 Kemoves them in the morning, 
 
 My people and tiieir children 
 
 Are doomed to quick extinction. 
 
 And this is the reward of welcome 
 
 I gave your feeble people 
 
 When first they set their feet on 
 
 The shores of tlie Atlantic. 
 
 Oh, it I had only known then 
 
 That such would be their niission, 
 
 Their little ship had foundered 
 
 That brought them safely over 
 
 In the deep nnijestic ocean 
 
 Before it neared its mooring. 
 
 "Then all my kind entreaties 
 For your full and patient hearing 
 Of my man\\ bitter grievance 
 By your wicked people done me, 
 Must pass away for notiiing. 
 This is the return for friendship, 
 Given witliout stint or asking, 
 To a people rich in learning, 
 7 
 
98 MYRIORAMA, 
 
 And claiiTiin«vto be ohristian. 
 llUhis be doctrine of the Father, 
 The Holy one above ns. 
 He h:is deceived tiie reel man. 
 For He taught him to l)e honest 
 And upright: in hi?; dealings; 
 To render all men justice; 
 To love the ways ot mercy. 
 And walk before Him humbly. 
 
 "Your people took advnntngo 
 
 Of my uu})retendi!ig friendship, 
 
 When many 3' ears afoi-etime 
 
 I gave you nature's welcome. 
 
 We took them to our homes then, 
 
 And treated them with klndfiess-; 
 
 We showed them nil our rivers. 
 
 We took thcju to oui- mountains, 
 
 We led them to j)ur wigwasns. 
 
 And covered them with blankets 
 
 When the early autumn frosts came, 
 
 And warmed them in the winter 
 
 When the snow-drifts blew around them. 
 
 "How sorely they've betrayed us, 
 And turned onr kindly u^eicome 
 To avenues of ruin 
 And destruction of our people. 
 Our early homes they've taken. 
 Our wigwams and destroyed them; 
 Our hunting grounds they've wasted 
 And planted fields of corn there. 
 They've cleared away our forests. 
 Dug deeply in our mountains; 
 They've fenced ahout our meadows. 
 And driven us to v.estward. 
 Two hundred times, above me, 
 These trees have put tlieir leaves out 
 And in the autumn dropped tiiem. 
 While the v«'rongs I name were passing 
 Without a moment calling 
 Their most remote attention. 
 Not 3^et ail appropriated 
 Of my large and ample fortune, 
 Could their grasping avarice 
 
MYlilOKAMA. 99 
 
 Be satistierl and stop there, 
 
 I still hnd lelt nu' plenty. 
 
 But now they want remainder, 
 
 And to the side you crowd me, 
 
 Kerns!n<r n^3' petition 
 
 To take a part in council 
 
 When my native home's in question. 
 
 "They've hemmed tliemselves about ni« 
 
 Like swarms of summer locusts. 
 
 And when I would remain tiiere 
 
 Where <;'ravesof all my cliildren. 
 
 And memories of my fathers, 
 
 Do sleep in peace aiid quiet, 
 
 They caution me t' abandon 
 
 The'hahits of my childhood, 
 
 To change our ancient nature. 
 
 And adopt their novel system 
 
 Of life and ag-riculture, 
 
 Or depart and leave them 
 
 To take my lands and use them 
 
 And when they ^ct possession 
 
 Claim the ri<iht to on n them. 
 
 As we are. the Master made us; 
 
 Of this we're not complaining, 
 
 For what He does is well done. 
 
 Our life was free as nature, 
 
 As happy too and peaceful, 
 
 We have an inward teacher 
 
 That tells us of a heaven 
 
 Behind the western sunset. 
 
 Where all. without distinction. 
 
 All save the bad and guilty, 
 
 Will ever be most happy, 
 
 No one there to harm us. 
 
 Or disturb our constant pleasures: 
 
 But the great eternal future 
 
 Will be a line of endless ages 
 
 Where pleaiires grovv unstinted, 
 
 And happiness unending. 
 
 '''We will not change our life then, 
 Our life-long ways and customs; 
 The Father don't'demand it. 
 tf your people will destroy us. 
 
 LofC. 
 
too MYRIORAMA. 
 
 And plow our chihlreius' jrraves up 
 
 Without roinuncration 
 
 Or hcariii«JC our jiclition 
 
 For redress of our grievance, 
 
 Tlien in tlie hind of spirits. 
 
 In the distMiit unknown future, 
 
 Where (Jod with all tk-als justly. 
 
 They may render tlu'ir account there 
 
 And take what He shall <;ive them. 
 
 "I'll o;vther nj) my children, 
 
 My old, decrcpid 'fathers. 
 
 My tender, lovin*;- women. 
 
 And take Iheui with me westward 
 
 Toward the <i()i(h'n sunset. 
 
 And build them there new wi«j;wam3 
 
 Amid the snowy moun Lai us. 
 
 We'll leave thehaunts of childhood, 
 
 With all their happy nienrries; 
 
 We'll leave our native birth place, 
 
 With all its (k'ar surrrouudings; 
 
 Well lenve the little streamlet 
 
 That's windini;- throu<;-h the valleys, 
 
 Where once W(> i-athered llowers 
 
 To ornament our brides with; 
 
 We'll leave th(>u\ all. and give them 
 
 To the avaricious white man 
 
 Who calls himself a christian. 
 
 "Farewell to hopes that clustered 
 Round our haj)py boyhood; 
 Farewell to joys and pastimes 
 We loved in days departed; 
 Farewell to homes and 11 resides 
 Where we have dwelt for ages, 
 To father, mother, dead there, 
 To all that made us happy 
 In the morning sunrise, 
 In the heati'd noontide. 
 In the evening twilight, 
 In the miilnight dreaming. 
 Where we loved existence 
 For the hapi>y pleasures 
 Our simple life allorded; 
 And welcome, western mountain, 
 
MYIUORAMA. 101 
 
 With your snow-capt ledges; 
 New and nirnn-^e julvctnlure, 
 With your round of mi-'ry, 
 And all that may befall us 
 As we part in de(;pest sorrow 
 From the homo- of man)' sunsets, 
 And take our line of march up 
 For lands and wilds \\<- know not 
 In the distant hills and valleys 
 Of the far-oil", unknown country. 
 
 ''But remember, white man, 
 
 I ^ive you timely warnin«^; 
 
 I'll never take your promise 
 
 In the lon<^ and distant future. 
 
 For any ;?ood behavior 
 
 Of your fals<;, your ftiithless people. 
 
 Remember, pale faeed brother, 
 
 That you have jyreatly wrong<'d me 
 
 In the dismal, dreadful pa«t time: 
 
 And while I may forgive it., 
 
 I never can forget it : 
 
 And when again you cheat me. 
 
 Destroy my lands and rob me, 
 
 It shall cost you dearly. 
 
 Your blood shall pay the forfeit 
 
 Of your dastardly betrayal 
 
 Of my early ardent welcome. 
 
 '*To the mountains let me hasten ; 
 Let me go and build my home there 
 Where freedom's still n;maining; 
 Where my people may be happy 
 And live again in i)leasurr. 
 If so be that they remember 
 Not again their ehildiiood 
 And all its tender gleanings. 
 Farewell! White man, remember. " 
 
 And closely wrapping round his face 
 The flowing scarf he wore, w itli head 
 In sorrow bowed, he slowly walked 
 Away and never more returned. 
 
 Aj)parent consternation seemed to seize 
 
102 MYEIORAMA. 
 
 The hearts of tho^e wlio listened to 
 The pathos of his parti n«- speech, 
 And in silent wonder sat t!iey all a time 
 As thou^^h they still did list(='n to 
 His simple tale of truth. Their look 
 Upon his fadin.ii: form was long-, nnd not 
 Until himself M'as bwritui in the wood 
 Did they withdraw their l!n,j:eriji<>" look. 
 When Fro<^ress rose and thus did speak : 
 
 "When storm elouds ride the western sky. 
 
 And lightning's play their frantic freaks, 
 
 They ask not man or beast what tree 
 
 Or other thinj? to strike. The voice of God 
 
 Is in the storm, and they ob.e.y His call. 
 
 They dart where He directs, au'l whei'e Re points 
 
 They stiike. 'Tis not for th(MH to know His will, 
 
 But only to obey it. He works His ends 
 
 By means to us unseen, and thou^jch we work, 
 
 And toil, and bend our course by what to iis 
 
 Seems reason of our own. we're in the hand 
 
 Of Him who ruleth as He will, for He 
 
 Directs the wliole. Thus f;ir H<'\s led us through 
 
 The darkness of the years, and thouirU tlie fates 
 
 Destroy the primal race uj>on this favored land, 
 
 That's nauolitto us. A wondi-ous |)lan is now 
 
 Unfolding in the lap of time, and no 
 
 Poor savaire life can stay the onward march 
 
 Of ri^ht and the eternal titness of design 
 
 In the be.ti'inninf!: made. Pro<iTession is 
 
 The law of Him who Vvas and is to be 
 
 For all the time to come, and what is in the way 
 
 Of His mnjestic march must 3'ield 
 
 To th' overmasterins: strain of His 
 
 Unbendino' will. The world is destined to 
 
 Be free, and here we watch upon an outpost 
 
 Of th' eternnl scheme spr(\'i(l over all 
 
 The earth and thi'oujili its inmost ])arts. 
 
 Our duty is to work and f<>!]ow^ up the plan 
 
 Conceived within the mountain cloud 
 
 When God's own Jing'er pointed here. 
 
 Onward then, and let the faintiuijc savajre die. 
 
 "His exodus beo-an lon.u" years -j^^o. when sun 
 
 Of T.iberty fii-st shone upon hi* liumble head. 
 
 'Tis our duty now to make his dying' 
 
MYPJORAMA, 103 
 
 Easy as we can. h\it let bim ,^o, if po 
 
 He be within che scope of better tljinp:s. " 
 
 Thus cloctrified. the cliieftain passed nwny 
 From all their tlioushts, and now their e.yes 
 Were turned toward Wisdom, who. 
 Up slowly rising then addressed them thus: 
 
 ♦' Two point? of difference only now 
 
 Remain to mjir the l.eauty ot the 
 
 General plan we make, to ^'ive a doubt 
 
 Of its most perfect stren.ijcth and 
 
 Permanent sccnrity : The slave's 
 
 Petition one; the other, question raised 
 
 'Twixt I.aredef and Tareomed. a=> 
 
 To which the o^reater power holds, the States 
 
 Themselves, or tliat wiiich all tlie people 
 
 Do create— the Federal head. For his 
 
 Solution, these are left to Time. Whether good 
 
 Or evil come from this defeetion. future 
 
 Evolutions will disclose- Perfection on 
 
 The earth, has never yet ap])eaied. 
 
 'Twere foolish to expect it now. Experience 
 
 In time to corne. as in the pa«t. must he 
 
 Our o:nide. We ti'roj)e in darkness here. 
 
 And go by lights we think we see. 
 
 While praying for the best, content 
 
 Ourselves with what we have, and ask 
 
 The Father's blessing upon that 
 
 '•By spirit 
 Of concession have we yielded our wills 
 In deference to what we all conceive 
 The general good. If this most noble 
 Patriotism lives forever in our hearts, 
 No danger then of failure in tjie end. 
 When that from any cause decays, or 
 Mixes with itself a drug: Avhcn that affeetion 
 For our government wiiich now we hold 
 And cherisji in our inmost hearts. 
 Becomes alloyed with leaser nu'tal. should 
 Such ever be, disintogration tlien begins 
 And sure decay. But let its pi-ay 
 For better thinirs. and train oui- children 
 In the snbfu)! of (Jhri-stJMn lov<» — i-)h' art 
 Successful of true faith in God and His 
 
104 MYllIORAMA. 
 
 Divine arrangement?. From contemplation 
 Of th' imperfect standard man sets up 
 For rule of faith and worldl.y practice, these 
 Reflections come, and it were wise to heed 
 The lessons they impart. 
 
 '• On freedom's way 
 We've far advanced, and what we've earned 
 In God's good will, hy years of patient vratch 
 And toil we gained. " We're masters of 
 Our liberty now, though long in doubt 
 And pain we've struggled for it. 
 The star of Independence lit our path 
 Through all the troublous years, and now 
 We clasp the jewel to our hearts and hold 
 It there. Let not disscutions rise 
 Within ourselves to wipe forever from the earth 
 The labor of our hands. Revere the hope 
 That led you on. and never for an instant 
 Leave the charge in undeserving hands. 
 So praying and deserving, shall v/e ever be 
 The watchful care of Him wlio promi^eth 
 Reward to tliose who serve Him steadfiistly. 
 
 "But now, agreed upon the general plan — 
 
 Two open questions left — much work 
 
 In detail still remains. A chart to guide 
 
 Us in our voyage must be dr;iwn. 
 
 That we may steer our course aright. 
 
 Such now T give to yon, with reasons for it. 
 
 For good of man his Father hath decreed 
 
 Some rules for his obedlenc<^ In forms 
 
 Of varied kind these rules are grouped 
 
 Together by hut human architects, and such 
 
 As they construct tiiey designate 
 
 So many forms of government. 
 
 In each of them tliere's good and evil mixed. 
 
 The part of wisdom llieu. it seems to be 
 
 To take from each wluit good we can 
 
 And mould it into ours. The true 
 
 Philosophy of life is bold eclecticism. 
 
 Like bees from poison flowers extrncting sweet, 
 
 The wise man tak(^s from everything 
 
 Around him all the good he can. 
 
 And lets the evil pass; so now will w«. 
 
MYIMOIIAMA. lOSi 
 
 " With iron rod tho Monnrrh rules: 
 
 But tliLii his rule is steady — tixed. 
 
 And that, pro tempore, is so much jrood. . 
 
 When from the many do a few extruet 
 
 The power, tiiis, thou<<h mixed with many 
 
 Flagrant wrongs, gives tone nnd high 
 
 Respect to concentrated learning, while 
 
 It robs the poor of mnny a right. 
 
 When all the power with the people rests. 
 
 This guards them from the snares, and wroijgs^ 
 
 And grasping avarice of wicked men — 
 
 Ambitious out of place, though oftentimes 
 
 The State is weaker for the icreater 
 
 Distribution of its active power. 
 
 "Beneath the surface of each structure 
 
 Built for rule of men, one grand 
 
 Pervading motive underlies the whole — 
 
 The ruling principle of all. and that. 
 
 To execute the will of him or them 
 
 Who arc the source of power. Tliis includefi 
 
 Within itself three separate heads — 
 
 Departments of the State— whose duties are 
 
 Distinct each from the other. One 
 
 Does make the law; interprets it 
 
 The second; and executes^ the third. 
 
 "These with us by proper balance held 
 Within their places in just equipoise. 
 Each smoothly working in its groove. 
 The other not\listurl)ing, yet they all 
 Rj intimate relation joined unto 
 A parent heart which gives them their 
 Respective life in such a mystic way 
 That one's disease infects tlie whole^ 
 Will make a government more perfect than 
 The world has ever known before. 
 
 "The people, then, by proxy meet in houses two 
 
 And frame their rule of lavv. As head 
 
 To execute their will, a President 
 
 Bv equal suffrage they elect; and then, 
 
 When difference appears because of man's 
 
 Imperfect work and nature, comes the Court 
 
 With purest ermine clothed, which hears 
 
106 3IYIII0RAMA. 
 
 The o-rievancc pro and con. and of the right 
 Gives its oi»inion. Thuy, tiie end of all 
 Good government is reached in these 
 Distinet cU^piirtinents ot the pai-ent will. 
 The good of .Monarch, in the President 
 We get; whatever good, if aught there be. 
 In Aristoeraey, tlie Senate gives us here 
 Combined; and pure Democracy 
 We see in House of Eepresentativcs. 
 
 •'In charge of these three branches now 
 
 I place tfnee guardian spii-iis here. 
 
 And lirst, ;is maker of the law, that just 
 
 And equal rule obtain, I designate 
 
 Fair Lil)erty. To execute hei- will. 
 
 And guard the fountain well from whence 
 
 Her i'nspirarion springs — the written 
 
 Constitution of the land. 1 name 
 
 Bold Indei):Midence. and do give to hhn 
 
 This ho)U)red charge. Then, i<nowing well 
 
 Her chai-aeter is shield ngainst 
 
 Corruption or apjiroach of wrong. 
 
 I give the Court to Virtue for 
 
 Her evei'lasring licritage. 
 
 Go, noble trinity of earth, nnd spread 
 
 Your blessings over fallen man's estate 
 
 Whei'ever freedom has a home, — 
 
 Virtue, TJberty and Independence.'' 
 
 While yet the woids of Wisdom hung upon 
 
 The air. a sound was henrci as of 
 
 A summer wind apj)roaching where 
 
 They sat. A bnnd of happy spirits, 
 
 Bearing in their midst a cliild of 
 
 Tender fojni. witii shining halo round 
 
 His golden Juiir and thirteen stars 
 
 U])on his bre.'ist. ciime near and hovered 
 
 O'er tiie thousihttul e(nincil. From the others 
 
 Separating now. faii- Fjrkkdom. bi-ight 
 
 And beautiful from heaven's home, 
 
 All ehul in rol)es of mingled white 
 
 And line \\'\\]\ softened roi] in most 
 
 Etiiereal sjdendor mixed, without 
 
 A line to show wheie each began 
 
 Or ended, but the three so perfectly in one 
 
MYKTORAMA. 107 
 
 Were hleiK^od that all wore ^oen or nonc^, 
 Came lower down, and in their niul.-t 
 She placed her iniVint child, and spake: 
 
 "I o:ive 3'ou now this cliild in elj:ir<xe. 
 Eaeli star by vital rord nnto hSa tieart 
 Is honnd. t)e!stro\ inu" o'le desti'oys 
 The whole. Within yonr most devout 
 Affections iet it nestle ^^■a]•^1. and there 
 Forever .ijlow te.e bri<>htest. jewel of 
 Your hearts. Erect it therr a citadel 
 Secure from all attacks of wron.s;. 
 And never, ni'ver. n<ncr let it die. 
 His name is Union. " And she lefc 
 It there. 
 
 Then o'ently ^lercy took the h;ibe 
 And pressed it to her heart and kissed it. 
 To ea(di she tlien presented it. who kissed 
 And lovin<i'ly carressed this symliol of 
 Their liopes." His h;ind outstretching-, Justice 
 Blessed the boy. whih' Liberty, with" 
 Virtue at her side and Independence, 
 Stood, and took b;q!ti^mal vows. 
 While all the other spirits joined 
 In solemn })romise these h:id made. 
 To cherish and protect their sacred charge. 
 
 Her mantle. ni<rhl-. now softly dropping' 
 Over earth, amid the <r;itherin,<]f dews, 
 And «iimmcrin,^li«ht of stars just 
 Peepin.-i- out from heaven's drapery 
 Behind, we leave the happy jiroup' 
 Beneatli those sacred (dms'\\!;i('h overlook 
 The s Ivery tide of Suscjuehanna \\ hile 
 Around the child tliey all did kneel 
 In feivent prayer, and Justice i^ave 
 Expression to'their thou<rh'-s. " 
 
 " G reat God 
 Of heaven, our frail infirmities forgive. 
 And hear our humble <.':ratit u<le for this 
 Thy ,irracious blessiuLf. Spru-e to us 
 Forever the protection and the nurture of 
 This child. Give us proper w isdom to 
 Direct, its foot'iteps in tb.e ri<iht. and faith 
 In Thee to ;.Miard it from all luirm. 
 
lOS MYRIOKAMA. 
 
 In all things do Thy holy pleasure teach us, 
 And let usnot depart from Thee 
 Nor disobey Thy law. Direct us for 
 Our good, and from all evil. Lord, 
 Deliver us and this our sacred trust. " 
 
 *• Amen ! " uith simultaneous voice 
 Broke forth the council all. and throu<;:h 
 The distant evening' air came trembling back 
 From happy angel voices, the echo till 
 It died away within the deepening 
 Night.— "Amen! Amen 11" 
 
MYRIOPwAMA. 109 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 A bird's-eye view of the United States in 1P60 ; a- d their prog- 
 ress in the arts and sciences; also the sruwinR diflferences be- 
 tween the Northern and Soulhern people, and their causes ; tho 
 enterprise and rapid growth of the North because of free insti- 
 tutions prevailing, and tho tardy development of the South 
 because of the existence of slavery; tho growth of liberal ideas 
 and hate of slavery in tho North,.and the growth of slavery and 
 the hate of abolitionist? in the South ; the rise of the Whijrand 
 Democratic parties ; the power of slaveholders, and their manner 
 of using it ; tho sudden change of parties in lf»iO ; the election of 
 Mr. Lincoln President, and the consequent threat of secession 
 by the Southern people. Tarcomcd represents the Democrats, 
 and Laredef the Republicans, who are mainly governed by tha 
 creed of tho old Federals. The causes of the great rebellion, 
 and how the people were arrayed in reference to it. The politi- 
 cal combinations of IHCO ; the Democratic party proper, under 
 Breckinridge ; the " law and constitution " men under Bell ; the 
 Douglass men. 
 
 Another epoch in our history passed, 
 
 We'll now take up the Ij're and sing the course 
 
 Of time between the hiunching of 
 
 Our gallant barque, and where it meets 
 
 Its lac«t territic storm. 
 
 With ample 
 Rigging trimmed and pennant streaming 
 At her mainmast head, the nation's ensign 
 From her after boom, she plunges in 
 The deep blue water, sending out 
 The rippling waves in circle after circle far 
 Extending out until they lose themselves 
 In the mighty sea. In curving line she dives 
 And cuts the watery crust away ; she rises up 
 As graceful as a swan, and shakes away 
 The spray. Her masts bright shining o'er 
 Her painted decks, her sails unfurled' 
 
110 :viYlUOKAMA. 
 
 To cntch the passlna: breeze. !ier crew 
 
 All morry :is a nioiiiing hiril, s!k' stmts 
 
 Upon her (.-niise. while happy voices iireet 
 
 Her from the shore. Wirh ea«:y ^r;iee 
 
 She luoves aloii^r her watery line. 
 
 ^'or stops, nor talters.— hnrstraiiiht on 
 
 t>he i^liUes, anil troju her prow, the roaming spray 
 
 Goes rolling olT. As tarther out she goe.N, 
 
 Her timbers ereaU ani! tieml.le some 
 
 As a wave eomes rolling 'eross her beams. 
 
 And storms of Kngiisls w;irfare rnsh 
 
 Upon lier bow ; but only for a tinu^ 
 
 Slie trembles thus to ehase the nn intl away, 
 
 And learn her true position. Slu- rolls, 
 
 •And drifts a little to the: side, but soon 
 
 She's right again, and rides njxMi 
 
 Tlie bilU>ws queen, bhc wasiies from 
 
 Jler bloody deeks all stains of strife. 
 
 And plows again her furrow in the i\Q(}p. 
 
 "Without a tiinbei- lost, or sail, or line. 
 
 A little farther on she meets a swell 
 
 Upon the gulf, and here again she roeks 
 
 And rolls betinii's amid the wav«>s: 
 
 But soon her gallant errw liaul in 
 
 Her saiU and trim them for the gale. 
 
 Away, like morning mist., ti»e eloiul 
 
 lias drifted ot^", and steadily on 
 
 Her voyage runs again t!ie vailiant eraft 
 
 Unbanned, a !id stjonger t\n- the tight. 
 
 Still farther on she smoothly sails," 
 
 tier head to w estward proudly set, but elouds 
 
 Uegin to gather rounvl her now. 
 
 The sea, by some internal power ujoved. 
 
 Grows tremulous and fretful :is 
 
 Its snrfaee rises into ridges auvl 
 
 Deeline.* again. Thus slowly undulating 
 
 For a time, with sullen faee l)etraying 
 
 Inward rage, then wavi's roll higli 
 
 And threatening in the fa^^t approael'.ing niirht. 
 
 The wind comes whittling ihn>ugh her rigging 
 
 Now, and hail upon her elean swept deeks 
 
 Fast falling ilou n in ilrcadtul stouv s. 
 
 Her st;ilw.'.r( erew disabling as titey elimb 
 
 Her treujbling ma>t> and iiold her to 
 
 The storn\. Still higiier runs tiie maddenitig 
 
MYRIOllAMA. Ill 
 
 Sea, ami fioiror eonios tlio wiiul and rain. 
 She plunges lU't'p inro the suriiin^i- waves. 
 Kieles throiiiili thetii and iip.»M thetn. — won down 
 Amid thi^ yawiiiiiii- billows buried deep- 
 Then elinibin^i^ up their side;;, and rollini]: o'er 
 Their cre-t. s!ie ii*.>es. tiie sea upbonndinu' 
 From her knife-like prow and ihis!iin<r otf 
 In tbaminir spray, then tallin^ir seatterin-i 
 O'er her frightened faee. as throu^'h 
 The rollinii' deep she strn.uuies bravely on. 
 All safe tiie boat; but yet the dreadtul whirl 
 Of fast inereasinii" wind and peUijiii' hail, 
 JStill harder beating on her tremblino- spars. 
 Comes matUy on. 5?he liolds herself 
 Yet proiuUy up— the noble ship — 
 And boldly battle^ with the raging storm. 
 As high or low. — to this or that side tossed. — 
 She rules upon the waves. " A leak I A leak ! '' 
 Cries mariner below. The pumps are manned: 
 All hands are set to work; but then, just then. 
 A mountain wave eomes rolling on and drifts 
 The fainting ship far oil— far oiV— 
 Amid the darkness of that awful night. 
 
 " Lost? Lost? '* You ask? In time we'll learn. 
 
 We'll now take up her log book and review 
 Her progress tiirough tlie wave. We'll look 
 At seenes she saw. and traee the eurrent 
 Of events whieh kept her on her course. 
 And take a bird's-eye view of all the land. 
 The time wherein we take the view 
 Is that at whieh the age ot these 
 United States was four and eighty years: 
 When in the glory of his manhood. Union held 
 Respect of all the worUI. and ehallenged 
 Admiration of unwilling eyes. 
 
 From thirteen youthful States upon 
 The olden map." hung loosely on 
 Atlantic's shore, we now see thirty-six 
 In grandeur grown, tar reaching toward 
 The setting sun, o'erlapping mountains. 
 Valleys, pl.iins and migiity rivers, to 
 The e'asteru shoi-c of great Uueilic. 
 
Ua MYmORAMA, 
 
 Ohio, on the north, with streams and forest!^ 
 Kears her liead, willi Indiana at her side 
 Who glories In her Tippecanoe; 
 Then Illinois, all dotted o'er with plains 
 Of waving grass; and on the lakes. 
 With copper in her sates, sits Michigan ; 
 And Minnesota, and Wisconsin next. 
 With pines and lakes; tlien Iowa, 
 Nebraska, with tiieir fertile soil; 
 And ironclad Missouri ; to the west 
 Her sister Kansas ;— Great Northwestern 
 States are these. To soutiiwai-d too. 
 And west, Kentucky with her gentle vales. 
 And Tennessee with marble front; 
 Then Alabama dressed in evergreen, 
 And Florida upon tlie gulf: 
 Then Mississippi with her tropic sands. 
 And J.ouisiona's orange smile; 
 Then Texas and her boundless prairies. 
 With Arkansas and her network streams. 
 The new States of the Sou:h While on 
 The east, Vermont, Connecticut. 
 And Maine, with all their thriving arts; 
 And westward of the great backbone, 
 Are Oregon, and Vv ashington. 
 In native forests clothed, and south 
 Of these the El Dorado of the west- 
 Fair California, with her veins of gold. 
 And larger yet than all of these combined. 
 Unsettled tracts of fertile land lie out 
 Upon the map to-(hiy we draw of this 
 Progressive land. 
 
 Eastward then of him 
 The Father of the streams, our little 
 Nation -lay. The center now, and every foot 
 Within our own domain, majestic 
 Mississippi rolls his ceaseless tide 
 From sweet Itasca in the North to grave 
 Of the Atlantic on the Soutli. 
 The Hudson then, and Delaware, 
 AVith Susquehana and rotomac. 
 The James, and Alabama, with 
 Ohio on the north, were giant rivers 
 Of that early day. To these to-dav we add 
 
MYRIORAMA. 113 
 
 A. thousand more. Missouri's turl'id tide, 
 With all cue ^lant. feeders north and west; 
 The llio Grande, and tlie Flatte; 
 Arkansas too, and iled, with seoi'es 
 Of equal size on eastern side of land 
 We'd »iained since then ; while on tlie west, 
 From out tiie Kocky Mountain cliifs, 
 Columbia, and Oregon, with Shasta, 
 ^aeramenio and tiieir sister streams. 
 Flow onward to the sea. AH this since then. 
 
 With busy population teeming, wealth 
 And eoniinerce spread on every hand, each State 
 To others bound by ties of trade and great 
 Community of interest, witli bri.<tlin<>" t\)rts 
 Upon the coasts, and ships on every .sea. 
 We see ttie land grown stron^i" and «^reat 
 Within tiie age of one old man. 
 Improved by every art inventive genius 
 Could devise, progression marvellous 
 Has left its foot-].irints plainly marked 
 Wherever eye can see. Lipon* the winding 
 Rivers, as they How throughout the great 
 Domain and spread their fertilizing 
 Moisture there, majestic boats by steam 
 Propelled, ply back and fortlj in never 
 Enuing rouml, with stores from every mart 
 And nation lad« n. Across the busy land. 
 Beneath the mountain ledges, o'er the plains, * 
 And thi'ough tiie valleys, in a m^'stic 
 Uetwork franied, long lines of traffic 
 Keach their iron arms about, and steaming 
 Trains with tieight of people and their 
 Busy trade, go dashing o'er the quivering rails. 
 The speed too slow of ancient coach, 
 Or recent railroad car. for this 
 Fast moving age, a quicker medium 
 Of tiiought the nation pants to greet, 
 Then Morse seis up his little iron thread, 
 On which from plaee to pla(;e, and man 
 To man, the news, with speed of light 
 Goes flashing through the land, and t>tates 
 A thousand miles apart are brought 
 Within electric sight. In swarming streets 
 Of towns, like bustling ants at work, 
 8 
 
114 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 From ]inn.«e to lioiise tho liuinan p^ironm 
 Continuotis ponrs itself in roHinjr ('Mrs, 
 And }i«i:ht Mhmi- l:tnips nt. ni.irhl, v. Uh gas 
 Extracted t'vom thee;irth. In llclds 
 Of yellow \vavin<j[ <)frain. wUli noisy ring 
 The fast revolviuii: sickle strikes its teeth 
 Where farmers real) their harvests ripe. 
 Mechanics hitch the vStreams to wheels 
 And bid them cut, and saw. and \veave 
 What hy nnaidcd hand was (h)ne licfore. 
 They make the cradles for tlxir childhood, 
 And with the same machines the cofHns 
 For their death, and beds to ense their dying. 
 If water sill iifiiish and iinyieldinjj: proves, 
 Beneath itssnllen face tliey build 
 A lire, and force it into steam. 
 Which, catehln:^^ up. they lead to wheels 
 And stisrt them whirlinji in their work 
 Of wetilth producinu: industry. 
 The elements of nature round them laid 
 In deep re|)(>se, they stir to life, and turn 
 Them to some ustfful eni]. They harness up 
 The lijjchtninii's spark, phlebotomize 
 The earth, and navi;;:ite the air. 
 From villafi:e, town, and city, everywhere, 
 We hear the cli(dv of Printin<? presses ring 
 Their rapid stroke, — so many centers of 
 The restless mind— the movin«: sprin«i:s 
 ^Of all the busy world of work, from whence 
 In radiatini:: streams of livinjj: thought, 
 From day to day, newspapers, books. 
 And journals Hood the land, and people 
 Drink their spirit in. Through all 
 This happy land, in mountain, valley, plain, 
 N"o matter where, the Sabbath church-bells ring 
 Their wtd(u>nie no'es. where Christians meet 
 To pray; and there, beside them too, 
 'Neath humble roof close slndlcred in. 
 The country school-house stands, where children 
 Learn to love their native land. 
 
 'Tis thus 
 We see that favored land from three 
 To thirty millions gnnvn. of earnest men. 
 With alT their strength and greatness eiirned 
 By persevering industry and toil. 
 
MYIUORAMA. Ill 
 
 In little more thnn lialf a cfMitnry. 
 
 Oh, who that coiircmplales: ihis living scene. 
 
 With all ils R|)<';ikini;- toiiij^iU's of deep 
 
 Inspiriiijr thon<>ht. can ever cease to |)raise 
 
 The Hand that nia(h^ us tree. Frond nalion, 
 
 Then, with these thv happy people; may the stream 
 
 Which hore thee on so fast. ?n'*er turn 
 
 Its sweepin.u' current and enp^ulf 
 
 Thee in its circling* eddies. Go pjoudly on 
 
 Forever in thy pio^rressive march and teach 
 
 The watchinjj; u orld wiiat worth in liberty 
 
 And all her priceless train. 
 
 All this the work that Progress did 
 
 Whose tiehl of hiMornow enlar.ued 
 
 Itself, and dreams of early lime 
 
 Were amply verified. Il«! hroii^ht to bear 
 
 Upon his earnest theme all avenues 
 
 Of wealth and mind llial in the land 
 
 There lived, and plied himself unceasingly. 
 
 The path of Independence througli these years. 
 With two shoi-t interruptions, lay 
 111 pastures gj-een and |»h'asant. 
 A right. I)y Kingcraft claimed, to rc-enlist 
 By force the son>^ of Freedom who 
 Aforetime paid him hom:'.ge. hut who now 
 Renounced his name ami rule, to some 
 Disturhance did givi; rise. The right 
 Disputed, and resistance, such 
 As freemen understand so w(dl to make, 
 Presented, a skirmish line of brave 
 Defenders formed, a tight or two 
 Occurred, and Kingcraft left the lield. 
 Again, the soris of Monte/uma liad 
 With Independence some slight quarrel; 
 But soon was it abandoned, and a slice 
 Off their rich bordeis gave, as hostage 
 That the war should never be renewed. 
 With Aborigines, at times, some trouble came 
 Because of mischief Avarice did. 
 Nought else but these befell the smooth 
 Career and great success of Independence. 
 
 The Bacred charge the angels gave, 
 To keep the Union free from harm, 
 
116 MYPJORAMA. 
 
 Was nsoBt i'e]l<ri<Hi8]> observed. 
 
 To full Hiid Dolih' iDitiihood jirowii, 
 
 He looks behind him jsiid icnu'iiiliers nou^jht 
 
 Ot ottered or of threaleiied hurin except 
 
 In two or three res|)ects. While still i?i yoJith, 
 
 A wi(d<ed mm was nii?=ed and threatened some 
 
 Assault, was violent, nienacin^i^. but 
 
 Brave Jackson, son of Independence, 
 
 Paralyzed liie arm, and Carolina felt 
 
 How SMcred was the youth, and with 
 
 How much determination he was "guarded. 
 
 Ao:ain, wiien older iirown, a strife. 
 
 Because of claims that Avarice made 
 
 And Capital which Ne^ros much concerned, 
 
 Arose, and Union's life with serious 
 
 Danger tlien was threatened. Spirit 
 
 Of concession for tlie public good. 
 
 Led on l)y Compromise, assisted by his friends, 
 
 Cass, Clay, and Webster, Douglas and Calhoun, 
 
 Allayed the fretful fervor of the time. 
 
 Though Avarice had gained his end. On part 
 
 Of those resisting his demand, tlie end, 
 
 Bv Compromise obtained, was merely that 
 
 Which lirst submission would have shown, 
 
 And thus left Avarice master of the Held. 
 
 To plant tlie seed of slavery in, he needed lands 
 
 Thus far to Freedom consecrated. Tliis 
 
 Refused by Blan<'-o and iiis sons, gave rise 
 
 To the unpleasant state just named. By way 
 
 Of settlement, it was agreed, a line be draw n 
 
 Through territory now unoccupied, to which 
 
 The verge of slavery might extend and stop 
 
 At that. Tluis further danger was prevented; 
 
 And with these exceptions, save, perhups, 
 
 When young Missouri i)rayed admission to 
 
 The sisterhood of !St:iies, no harm 
 
 Had Union done to him. How much 
 
 Of future ill did these foreshadow, we 
 
 Will see in time. 
 
 With warm, unceasing zeal 
 Ambition labored, witli Progress 
 Earnestly uniting all his etlorts to effect 
 Within the land what we have seen was done. 
 He kept the people ardently alive 
 To ail the great necessity of watch 
 
MYRIOKAMA. UT 
 
 And care for liborty. Tlis work the Innd 
 
 Had stren^itlieiH'd in its ^ironing powt-r; 
 
 Improved :uui lieauVilit-d as wolT. He s>ent 
 
 His potent aid wiierever it was needed. 
 
 Nor spared exci-rion for the people's happiness. 
 
 In all departments of the Stare, his hand 
 
 Did pnsh the car of Progress on. 
 
 And sleepless <ruani he kept upon 
 
 The distant outposts. But his elder sons 
 
 Were dyin<? fast, and new ideas in the youth, 
 
 By Avarice pj'uned and trained to his 
 
 Contemptuous rule, degenerated from 
 
 The ancient stock, and for a time at least. 
 
 These reckless sons, much trouble brought 
 
 And sore anxiety to him. Long years of peace 
 
 And unexampled prospering had let 
 
 A looseness gather on the reins by which 
 
 The ancient t;tthers held their sons to duty. 
 
 And many painful sores from this 
 
 Resulted. But how, and unto what 
 
 Extent this danger ran, will afterward 
 
 Appear. 
 
 Like flies upon the ox's skin, the sons 
 Of Aborigines occasioned some distress 
 Betimes, but back they went, and back, 
 As Independence spread his tields. 
 Much pain it gave them to recede from homes 
 Of early life, and leave the graves 
 Of their departed dead. They offered fight; 
 But battled, checked, defeated", they i-etired 
 West, as fast as Progress touched their lands. 
 Poor Indian had sutfered less. 
 His exodus more peaceful and inviting been, 
 But Piide and Avarice did poison all 
 His wounds. ?)y their insinuating virus. 
 According to his promise made when last 
 They met, protection guarantied 
 By Independence was afforded strong 
 As all his earnest care could give. 
 But agencies moi-(^ subtle worked 
 Divi-ion. hare, revenge and great distrust. 
 This all had much to do with what accrued. 
 The weaker party. Aborigines, declined; 
 His people wasted rapidly away. 
 
118 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 On every hand where Laltor could b(' found, 
 
 Had Capit .1 spread out hi.s \vc:iirh. To him 
 
 it niatteie;! not tor strife, or lend, or war; 
 
 His force bene.atli the t-urfare worked 
 
 Its leaven, and where hixiir}'. or ease. 
 
 Or profit beckoned, tiu're lie labored with 
 
 Success. His lite nliiq nitons, on sea 
 
 And land his temples built, and with 
 
 The aid of Pride and Avai-ii-e, »iave cause 
 
 In after years for some complaint, and laid 
 
 The seed' which afterward gj-ew up to curse 
 
 Their work. His promise as to liberatinir 
 
 Ne^iTos and his sons. foi\i::ot or disregarded long, 
 
 He purchased up his race for toil 
 
 In tields where grew tlic Southern King. 
 
 Which, into fabric woven, clothed the people 
 
 And made their children rich. 
 
 New avenues of wealth this opened up; 
 
 The < 'otton plant a source of great reward 
 
 Becatne. He called on Progress for 
 
 His aid, who furnished Wljitnej^'s Gin; 
 
 And then, new life infused in heart 
 
 Of Avarice, began a new demand 
 
 For Negros -dud his children. Then 
 
 From initive home and wilds, in great 
 
 Ship loads, in chains and gangs, they came 
 
 By force or promised good, to clear away 
 
 "New fields, to sow and |)ick tlie golden tleece, 
 
 That Avarice miglit be fed. His children grew, 
 
 And fasrei'grew: in service more 
 
 Degrading still were held. Their wives 
 
 And ciiildren l)ought and sold like chattel things; 
 
 Their brethren from the norih were brought 
 
 To servi(tesuch as theirs, and thus 
 
 The hollow pi'omise made was broke. 
 
 The sun-lit fields of'tlie irolden South, 
 
 Wliere waving pines and live oaks grew, 
 
 Gave forth their sojigs of growing wealth, 
 
 And poured their gold in tl e nati(»n's lap. 
 
 Plantations now. like Engiisli feud. 
 
 Grew up with large ciicumference. 
 
 Where slaves, in litile vilhige quartered at 
 
 The m m-ion bouse, did serve their masters 
 
 Long and well. 
 
 Sad day for him, the slave. 
 
MYRIORAMA. lit 
 
 That pure and bettor impulse which 
 
 Had rule(i when Council iast was ht-ld ; 
 
 That proper sense of hiunan riir'nt 
 
 Which promises 1 treedom to the meanest man, 
 
 Was now by Avarice crnslied, and Neoros 
 
 Bound to serve until, in God's appointed time, 
 
 A better fate wouhl come; wlien Independence 
 
 In his new <*ar(Hn- was phiced, and Union giv'a 
 
 In charge of him and his devoted aids. 
 
 The fate of Negros. thon<;:h unsettled left, 
 
 ^y all was not l)elieved in doubt. 
 
 The words Ambition spake, — "The aim and end 
 
 Of all our hopes is lil*erty for man/' were those 
 
 Most eiierished and revered by all the founders 
 
 Of our infajit nation; l)ut now, alas! 
 
 The ancient fathers jjcone. a new impulse, 
 
 By work of Avarice aroused, a chang-e 
 
 Has wrouojlit amonof their children, and 
 
 The freedom of the^slave is distant still. 
 
 Indeed, tlie cuj-rent sets the otiier way. 
 
 The fascinatin.ii' y:hire of wealth shines out 
 
 On every side; tlie ease prosperity brings on 
 
 To those who bask within its warmth. 
 
 Allures the people on by qui<'k degrees 
 
 To think of 1 ttle else than gain; while peace, 
 
 With her attendant blessings, don't deny 
 
 Them time for such vocation. 
 
 Not nil, 
 However, liad departed from the landmarks set 
 By freedom loving sires. Many still remained 
 To ancient creed devoted, and to them lielongs 
 The fame of having kept alive the fire which 
 Almost had died, it slumbered 'neath 
 A crust, like ^^tua's burning flame, to be 
 Eructed at tlie proper time. 'Twas these 
 And their co-patriots, wtio dedicated all 
 The great Northwest to freedom, and 
 Protested 'g'^^i'i-^f' the spread of labor done 
 By slaves at every step of its expanding march. 
 'Twas these who fought Missouri back 
 When witli her servants h(dd by law, she prayed 
 Admission to the family of States; 
 'Twas these opposed the acquisition of 
 Dom lin for furtin'r use of slaves; 
 'Twas these who wanted all the land 
 
120 l^IYKIOEAMA. 
 
 For Freedom to enjoy ; Jiiul these who. not 
 
 Witlioiit their iirejii(lic<v< 'g:iiiist the color of 
 
 His skin, had alvvjiyf* nnderprood 
 
 That Neofros was a' man.— go own«^d 
 
 By Him. the FatTier of \\>i all. Ye.-^, these true sons 
 
 Of Liberty remained, and worked 
 
 For Xe^u^ros' «rood. Of these hereafrer. in 
 
 A stormy period yet to come, we'll have 
 
 Somewhat to say.' 
 
 It happened that 
 In eoiirse of time we siji<«:. a line 
 Twixt North and South' was drawn, on either side 
 Of wliicl). opinions, eroeds. and ]ia1>its of 
 T!ie people ^rew diverirent. Tlie climate of 
 The North, more ri^'^orous and cold; 
 Of Sonth saluhrions and mild: 
 The soil more monntainons and sterile there, 
 More fertile liere. and ph'in ; how mnch 
 With what we now describe the e had 
 To do as cause, may readily be trsiced. 
 The northern valleys, with their farminp" lands ; 
 The strea?ns from mountain ledges p0Lirin<? down. 
 Where mines of \\ealth lay hid. 
 Made labor honorable, pleasan^^. and 
 Remnnerative too. The nntiir(> of tlie cat;e 
 Made populaMon den--e. and varied the 
 Employments. The b'nds in little tracts 
 Cut up where thrivin<r farmers made their homes, 
 And aju'icnltnre jri-cw an active art 
 With labor savino* implements. 
 The cold and rig-or of the (dimate made 
 T'le pop^e act've. and the quick 
 Returninir clmtiiie of spa«oti taught 
 Tiem promptness and economy, 
 ^s population thu= increased, the towtis 
 And cities grew within eaclj other's call. 
 Increased emplovment no\\- secured. 
 The iri'owinir youth remained nt home. 
 A thriving, busy, jealons people thus 
 Grew up. wiM< school* and churches in 
 Their mids*-. w ere labor w;i« rc^tfeeted, 
 With eonal lioerty for all, and idleness 
 Despised. 
 
 In time, as population grew, 
 
MYRIORAMA. Mtt 
 
 Meohrtnic art? difl multiply themselves. 
 
 And every hand of ^'ciius plied its strength 
 
 To build some object lor his neiirhbor's use; 
 
 And learning too, became a common fund 
 
 From which, with equal cost, the whole 
 
 Community mi^clJt draw on terms 
 
 Accessible to all. If enii<i:ratiny: to 
 
 Another home, one left his father-land, 
 
 He took away with him his restless. 
 
 Active mind*; and tlins. \\ lierever Northern men 
 
 Do consfregate, the little woi-ld around 
 
 Them n)oves. Of slaves relieved in eariy time, 
 
 Free labor has its worth to them ; they love 
 
 And v»ill protect it. Its value well tliey know. 
 
 As well as blight of contact with a forced 
 
 And servile work. This constant, free, 
 
 And unrestricted interroiirse; this easy 
 
 Liberality of trade, equality ofrijxht, 
 
 And ease with which a change of circumstance 
 
 May be accommodated, nay. enjoyed. 
 
 Has made these people what they' ai-e : 
 
 Progressive, patient, frugal, artive, prompt, 
 
 And greatly jealous of their rights. 
 
 To southward of the line, in happy ease 
 And luxury, a noble, genei-ous people dwelt, 
 Where learning and refinement spi-ead 
 Their fair adoi-nments out. — confined, 
 However, to directors of the public mind. 
 Their lands, in ricdmess unsurpassed. 
 Their climate of dplightful air their forests filled 
 With evergreen, their smiling valleys stj'ewn 
 With native flowers; this happy combination 
 Of design by Nature's all-wise Andiitect 
 To beautify and decorate the sunny land. 
 Impressed with ojreat effect its dilatory ease 
 Upon the people's minds. They learned 
 To love luxurious life, nnd turned away 
 Disdainfullv from hibor and its Mains. 
 Community was sparse, and wealth 
 Absorbed the land. Tli*^ labor. mu(!h 
 The greater part, by slaves performed, hecanse 
 A menial drudire. on which the mister looked 
 With warm disdain. The new-born child, 
 When drinking in the happy sunlight of 
 
122 MYRIOEAMA. 
 
 His early j'cars, hy cxt'.niplc ol liis father shown 
 
 Acquired litibiis ol ( ( n.ij.niid. lie kaiiad 
 
 That hil-or was a rule lor slaxes 
 
 Belon the level of liis plasie; and not 
 
 Accu.st( nied to the equal lu\\ of lubor and 
 
 Reward obtainin<> in the jSoith, he kamed 
 
 To look upon tiie hand that wrought as mean 
 
 And only lit tor toil. By .<ueh 
 
 Assoeiati(.n lon<>; enjoyed, he grew 
 
 Averse in teelin^" to ilie bra\\ ny aim 
 
 Of him wiio walked behind the jdow. or *nealh 
 
 The broiling sun the heavy hoe did wield. 
 
 To him was labor all alike that by the hand 
 
 "Was done, and doing his by slaves, 
 
 He looked upon all working men 
 
 As under soc-ial strata — wbetber tree 
 
 Or bond, but little mattsn- which, in such 
 
 Respect. By slow degrees, fiom year to year, 
 
 As slaves increased and multiplied, 
 
 And agriculture widened out, so strong 
 
 And deep tliis prejudice had grown. 
 
 That he religiously believed his right 
 
 To hold his fellow man in bonds 
 
 Was authorized by God,— so w ritten in His Word. 
 
 To make him better slave, liis darkcnd mind 
 
 Hust never see the light of thought; and for 
 
 His greater useiulness in all that he 
 
 Was fit to do. no b.ook oi' dtingerous print 
 
 Was he allowed to see. Because of this, 
 
 The School House was a useless thing 
 
 Save for the higber class; and closest watch 
 
 Upon I he public mail was kept 
 
 From fear imcndiary \Aords or prints 
 
 By accident or i)ay. might reach 
 
 The hidden. tirn>(ing soul of slave, 
 
 And ])reed disti-ust ::niong tbe sei vile race. 
 
 Increasing at a lapid rale, such teelii g sirew 
 
 Until tbe whole society at South did lest 
 
 Upon this false idea with slavery for 
 
 Its coiic)- stone. 'Tw as otlierw ise 
 
 In <'arly tinu's when l>etter counsels ruled — 
 
 When i\iatii^< n and Rand»)lj)h ived, 
 
 And purer bh'{«d of aiicient stock 
 
 Ran through the people's veins. The change 
 
Mi^llIORAMA. 123 
 
 Grow up ill y(ii\Y>. — so imp^TCcnlibly 
 It came— that lliev v, ho most heiieuih 
 Its influence did rest, would most 
 Persistently deny ic. until th' entire mass 
 Was fully leaven'ed. Thus hy slow de<?rees, 
 Without themselves ol»servin<r it. tlie people 
 Grew most jealous of this social pet— 
 This favorite institution, and in their midst 
 Denied, with earnestness and hate. 
 The right to question its propriety. 
 
 Except this sin.L^'iLir delusion.— tlie v/ork, 
 As we have said before, of Capital 
 And Pride, with Avarice com I lined, — 
 The people ^rew in so<'ial lite relined 
 And nobl(> hearted. More easy in 
 Their manner and deportment, to old 
 Established usa*2,e they tenaciously adhered 
 And clianged with jrreat reluctan<'e. The arte 
 And busy progress of the North received 
 But little of their thou<;-ht. The only arts 
 They cultivated wilh success were tliose 
 Of goverrnnentand livin;^ well. Of that 
 Persistent hum of industry which ruled 
 And permeatcil all tiie North and made 
 it rich, tliey liftie knew: the varied work 
 To every hand t^icre suited, and had u)ade 
 An honor out of toil, was here unrecognized. 
 Their only work was a!j:riculture, and that 
 Oontined to staples few. 
 
 The ;»eninl warmth 
 Of atmospliere. and tropic nature of 
 The soil. be<jfat impulsive passions; and 
 The forced olx'dicnce of the laboring; class 
 Gave rise to arbitrary and controllin<x will. 
 A bold and hauirhty people came of tins. 
 Resistance to their will with little ease 
 Endureil; accustomed to abje<-t obedience 
 They were not apt to compfoniise. 
 Opposed in nature as was this to great 
 Development. an<l pro<rress as its sure 
 Result.— wiiile l)1cst with much superior 
 Advant tires in all that nature did. 
 Improvement came but slow ly, and 
 
124 MYEIOKAMA. 
 
 A clannish spirit frrew nniou*:: 
 
 The iulii)L><l:iss. Willi Tarconied's 
 
 Philosophy their cretnl <U politics. 
 
 The value and the wei^ilirot (iiizen. 
 
 By standard new was njeasured.— that. 
 
 The number of his slaves and acres of 
 
 His hind. By force oi culture and 
 
 Of orjianized design, thouj^h few in numher to 
 
 The whole conipa led. the masters o-j-^vv a strong 
 
 And rulin^i" power in tiie land. Between 
 
 Them and their slr.ves. in humhle plane 
 
 Some sous of Blanco stood, as niU( h ahove 
 
 The l)ondm;in r;iised as they were rich or poor, — 
 
 No more, no less; and these in numbers vt'ere 
 
 Mmdi jjfi'eater than the slavehohh'i-s hut yet. 
 
 In power y:reatly less. They voted, hut 
 
 It was the vote of them who ruled. 
 
 In population just one-third, while in 
 
 Extent of huul they'd twice outo-rown 
 
 Theii- nei<rhl)ors of* the North, and close upon 
 
 The line between, as North or South it lay, 
 
 Pe<rau a lapid or impeded progress in 
 
 The land. 
 
 'Twixt Lnredef and Tarcomed, 
 "We've seen, a vaiiance existed as 
 To art of oov(rnnient. Tw o noKdc sons 
 Had eacli. To l.aiedef w eie Ilaniiltcn 
 And Webster, and to Tarcomed, 
 Were driven .leflcrsou. and then Calhoun. 
 The elder, tlu-n tlie younjier of each stock, 
 "With jrreat succet^s and eneroy as well. 
 Their various doctrine taught. To each 
 "Were proselytes united astlie nation crrew. 
 And these iri every quarter of the land were found.- 
 In time the body of the peoide. 't\Neen the two 
 Divided into two sluf)en(h^ns lenfjues. — 
 The proud old Democratic and the AYhi<r. 
 First one, the other then, the ccumtry ruled, 
 But much the lai<>er slun-e had Tarcomed, 
 By reason of his plausible del)ate: 
 He i^layed upon the people's love of Liberty. 
 As shiverv had iixreased and spread 
 Itself, and masteis thus becnnM^ a balance power,— 
 Their wei<iht suiTi( ient to depiess 
 ■Whichever end of scale they pressed, — 
 
MYRIORAMA. 125 
 
 Both Tarcomefl and Laredef became 
 Enanion'd of their influence nnd ooiirfed 
 It accordingly. Repented pledges each 
 Had made ot true tldeliry to this 
 Fast risini;: power, and in time, as closer 
 Grew its liold upon contendintj- parties. 
 Its rein drew liMrder in. until, in later years, 
 It held the nation in its tightening grasp. 
 
 We've taken now a hurried view of all 
 The laud in physical iniprovenient, 
 And have traced and sketched the working of 
 Each separate principle beneath the crust 
 Where silently it lay atid did its chosen work. 
 We've seen the two'gieat parties politic 
 Absorbing all the mass, dividing on 
 The line 'twixt Laredetand Tarcomed; 
 We've seen the growth of power slavery 
 Had built, and how it held its rule; 
 We've seen the growing wealth of northern 
 Enterprise, and rapid spread of its 
 Increasing love ot liberty and equal law; 
 We've noticed the diverging lines of thought 
 And habir Norili and South with their 
 Attendant consequences, and we've seen 
 How witlely separate and unlike they ran. 
 It novv^ remains to look at the result 
 Of all these several principles and facts, 
 Commingled as they are and mixed 
 In general mass. We'll then survey 
 The moral Held and see in what 
 Condition as a whole, the people were 
 At time whereof we write. 
 
 The Northern line 
 Of States, long since relieved of slaves. 
 Had learned to look upon the system as a curse 
 And growing blight; in churches and in schools 
 This sentiment was educated till it grew 
 A working force; and when demands were made 
 For further spread of slavery's area. 
 Resisted them and thus created strife. 
 Then, on the other hand the South had bought 
 Her slaves; she learned to love the system well; 
 She thought it right, and taught her children so. 
 Her lauds, by careless cultivation, 
 
!«$ MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Wastod fast, and new iinfl oHkm- fields 
 
 To put her slaver*, soon came in ^Jireat 
 
 Demand. Upon onr west and southwest lay 
 
 Large tracts of land unoccupied. Of these 
 
 Did slavery demand an <'C]u;d share 
 
 With freemen of tlie Noi th. lesistance 
 
 Unto which much prejudice and hare 
 
 Betrayed. A fee!in<»' ion,i»- had ^row^n 
 
 Of bitterness on part of 8outii toward all 
 
 The friends of Ne«^ros wIjo did ar^iue for 
 
 His freedom, and now an open warfare loomed 
 
 In great proportions in the near approaching time 
 
 Because of this disturbing question, whether 
 
 Labor free or slave, or both combined, 
 
 Should hold possession of the land in view. 
 
 Ill last great contest 'twixt the two 
 Contending parties of the State, did Laredef 
 Give way to Tarcomed in most 
 Disastrous rout; and as his tlying hosts 
 Lay scattering about, this quarrel 
 Of the Labor feud enlisted their attention. 
 Heretofore, in South as well as North, 
 Had dwelt the sons of Laredef. and all 
 With equal zeal liad followed long 
 His leadership; and so with Tarcorned. 
 But change, hovt^ever, now approaching near 
 With wondrous speed, did bring about 
 Another state of things. The Southern sons 
 Of Laredef al)andoned him. and joined 
 The army of Great Tarcomed. A few 
 Of Tiircomed's disciples in the North 
 Now sympathised with the defeated ranks 
 Of Laredef within the Nortli, that dwelt 
 And tliese two forces now combining. 
 Adding to their strength the steadfast band 
 Whicirnevcr compr«>mised with slavery, 
 Determined battle with bold Tarcomed, 
 Althougli his ranks were re i?» forced 
 To great proportions; and, musteiing all 
 Their strcngrh, enlisted 'neath the Banner of 
 Fremont. 
 
 The contest short, decisive, left 
 Buchanan master of the. field, and for 
 The time was reign ot Tarcomed supreme. 
 
MYRIORAMA, ISf 
 
 Not lost to hope however yet, a short 
 
 Quadrennial [)eilo(l ran its round. 
 
 And Laretlef was ea«i:er lor another fight. 
 
 His followers now resolved on slubl orn war. 
 
 Great Tarcomed to»"etlier (tailed his sons 
 
 In mio:hty council, from the South and trom 
 
 The North, and East and West, to look upon 
 
 The troubled sea. and lix upon a plan 
 
 Of warfare 'gainst the arms of I.aredef. 
 
 The feud so bitter grown wherein the claims 
 
 Of Negros deeply were concerned, did now 
 
 Appear with threatening aspect in the midst 
 
 Of this unterrified nssemblv. That feeling which 
 
 Had driven women from Virginia's soil 
 
 Who dared to teach tlie sons of Negros how 
 
 To read God's Holy Word ; that chased 
 
 From Carolina's ancient mart a gray 
 
 Haired veteran of the land because 
 
 He hated slaveiy in his very heart. 
 
 Blew blazing up. dispensing firebrands 
 
 About; and failing to agree, the council rose 
 
 Divided into parties three. The northern wing 
 
 By Douglas led, because of their position 
 
 Being midway 'twixt extremes, were strong 
 
 Allies of Laiedef. Another, led by Compromise, 
 
 Composed of weak-kneed sons of Laredef 
 
 Both iNorth and South, proclaimed 
 
 "Enforcement of the law," but failed the law 
 
 To state; the third were veteran troops 
 
 Of Tarcomed who fought for •• Southern rights." 
 
 Against these three, the hosts of Laredef 
 Made valliant war, with Lincoln at their head. 
 With *' Freedom in the public lands" upon 
 Their banners set for watchword in the fight, 
 They moved their columns up and formed 
 Their battle line. The disatfected armies. 
 Dissevered from bold Tarcomed, were much 
 And seriously in his way to sure success; 
 And thus reduced in numbers and in strength. 
 Compelled to strike at disadvantage, he 
 Withdrew, defeated for the time. 
 
 Defeat 
 Was not a common thing to Tarcomed, 
 Ami this distressed iiim sore. He called 
 
138 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 His captains to lus side in soU'inn meeting held, 
 And with thein spoke in ]on>j: determined speech 
 And eloquent, wliieli lired up the Southern heart, 
 And like a whirlwind eatchin<i- up a straw, 
 Did carry ofl'tlieir better and their older sense. 
 With one aeeord, they then and tliere resolved 
 To break the Itands which heretofore had bound 
 Them to the North, and to dissolve 
 The Union of their fathers; tiien, like men 
 Determined in their work, did set about 
 To do it. 
 
 Lincoln, victor as he was, 
 And youngest son of Independence, svvorn 
 Before Almijjhty God, ))y virtue of 
 Inherited eoninusnd. to suffer none 
 Of harm to come upon the Union placed 
 "Within his keeping" tor the time to come, 
 Advised his father of the troublous state, 
 And prayed his counsel what to do. 
 
MYRIORAMA, 129 
 
 CHAPTER yi. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Tho stormy period botwoen tho olection of Mr. Lincola, and 
 the capture of Fort Sumptor by tho Roboli?. The efforts at com- 
 promise, and th«ir success ; tho appeals made to the South ; th« 
 determination of tho Slave power j tho admonitions of the pru- 
 dent, wise and iust; a full portraiture of the public eonditioo 
 at that time : tne death of slavery foreshadowed. Taropm©* 
 draw represents that class known as War Democrats, led by 
 Stephen A. Douglas; Lartuon represents the Neutral, or *' Arm- 
 ed Neutrality" men of the Border States ; Namecaep represent* 
 the Peace men of the North, many of whom fled to Canada and 
 England, to avoid mixinR in the war- EntcrDrise represent* 
 vrhat the word itself means; Redlohovals is the Slaveholder; 
 Blanco, the white laborer ; and Negros, the slave. Mr- Lincoln'* 
 Inaugural Address, and subsequent call for seventy-five thous- 
 and troops. 
 
 Again we look. There Union stands : bis breast 
 
 Bespangled with the stars first planted there 
 
 And with them many more of recent growth ; 
 
 In all are six and thirty now. His form 
 
 To manhood grown, developed full 
 
 In every part, was perfect and complete. 
 
 His hair, now longer grown, was dark, and liiin«^ 
 
 In flowing ringlets from his high, well rounded 
 
 Head ; bis eye was deep and peerless blue ; 
 
 His shoulders broad and square, on either side 
 
 Of deep, expanded chest. From neck to waist. 
 
 In loosely gathered folds, a scarf of blue 
 
 Did hang; from waist to thigh, in vesture red, 
 
 And limbs in snowy white. 
 
 Before him, in 
 The grandest attitude, his flambeau holding still 
 Within his bold right hand which rested at 
 His side, stood Independence as a guard. 
 On either side of him and somewhat to 
 His rear, in form a full triangle, stood 
 9 
 
130 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Fair Liberty and Virtue with their saerecl charge 
 Between the three. 
 
 Behind the trio and 
 Above the plane on which they stood, 
 In his accustomed state, sat Justice on 
 A throne of brilliant color mixed of red 
 And white and blue. To riglit and left 
 Of him, descending to the plane on which 
 These symbols were, and running some beyond, 
 In semicircle formed around the three 
 Who guarded Union, thus the spirits were 
 In place. To right of Justice, Wisdom lirst. 
 Ambition next, then Progiess. on a line 
 Of front with place where Independence 
 ^Stodd; then Mercy sat, and Blanco next; ' ' icii 
 J Tlien Laredef, and next, in plainest garb. ^q 
 
 .iWas Enterprise, the restless son of Capital; 'lol) 
 
 ii Then Tarcomedraw, northern son f^^^ 
 
 '■Of Tarcomed, and like his father much \,^j'; 
 
 . ,ln all that shows descent. He wore a loos^ ' >]?■ 
 fe.:Short mantle- swinging from his waist. ■ Ii^ 
 
 i"Of scarlet. Next was patient Compromise., - - ^ ; ''^[] 
 
 ■ 'To left sat Capital, and Avarice next; i : -v ^,,i) .o'ja«lH 
 Then Pride and Aborigines, with Negroa ri«ixt^'S"^al' 
 And Tarcomed. Sat Redlohevals then .-;>->U;ar. 
 The southern son of brave old Tarcomed,, ,. . ^ . 
 And robed in, cloak of black from his ' '} ']''' ^'^^'}^.^ 
 Shoulders down, beneath the which, conceal^^-'r'^^ 
 His sword was hanging sheathed. 'Twas he/J;/'-'^^ 
 That owned the slaves^ Then Kamecaep, soa' "/- ^{^ 
 Of Tarcomed ; bis home was also in the uortU^''^ ^* 
 Then Lartueh the son of Compromise. ' ''W^.^jl 
 
 . -^ •:• i(v;( /.-oi; .•tl£ilfelIT 
 
 Addressing now the Circle in a tori'^f^"''^ i^tihroll nl 
 Of deep, resounding eloqluence, -• '^, '>v'> ?jn ;miyi 
 Thus Independence opened the debate ':'^'>'"'^' '««'** 
 
 "Again in Council, brothers, are we met '. f^ 
 
 For sternest thought and high resolve. '^ 
 
 When first the child with his bespahgled breast- "'^ 
 Was given us in charge, most sacredly 
 We sware a solemn oath to cherish and ''""'/'•'• -.'\'!*; 
 Protect his stars. By the baptismal f^''' |'!''J'.|} 
 Altar stood we sponsors at his ohristeniU^. ''^y'f- '■'!* 
 
 {:c)f»l?. .of^j.nni'iJ Uff\ /: miol nl ,i!\^i ?.JII 
 
 
 
MYRIORAMA. 13X 
 
 And took upon us vows to train him in ^^* 
 
 His j'outh, and not for?ake his manhood. . _, 
 
 Thus far, inviolate we've- kept oiif wo>d.''''*''' '''' !J^ 
 Calhoun once raised his wicked Itaiid'; ' "'" "'^^.■' .'V* 
 To pluck a star, but palsy met the stroX-^; ' -y 
 
 Once voun^ Missouri gave us some concern ; , JJ 
 And Redloiievals threatened harm" '' "; ■'■ ",',''"';' 
 When California hung her light ' ' ''f.j-iM.liK^i v/ojl 
 Upon that golden breast. By watchful tit^ff^^ Jy 
 And vigilance incessant, have we saved '^^, ',. j-j; 
 Our sacred charge unto this day. 'Tis noW" ' '\'' ''.if 
 Proclaimed that Tnrcomed, dissatisfied' "^^ 
 
 Wi*-h law his judgment once approved, 
 Resolves secession from the sisteriiood 
 Of States, and claims the right to sever from 
 Their cords sixteen of Union's Stars. Unto 
 His heart by vital thread each cine is bound ; '/. 
 
 If one were gone; then Union dies, and.that ' .,' 
 We've sworn sliall never be. If this repbi't ',''"!{ 
 Be true, let Tarcomed declare, that if tlVecau^e''^'*^ * 
 Appear a just demand unsatisfied. , „^ 
 
 It may at once be heard with dUfe'res^f)ec,t'"^^I'*'\"J ^* 
 And such consideration given it '. ''■ "'H''*! .'^,''/'/^f» 
 As justice shall require." ■ ' • . ■'■•■'>*J 
 
 Said Tarcomed : "When first \ve met •*; 
 
 For common good to make a fundamental law ,": 
 Foi- future government, a vital question ro^e ",1 
 Twixt La^edef and me. By reason 6f' ''r<!«/'q o/il 
 The r gent need of union then because * ''^ 'M '''••'■;; 
 Of wealiness in our youthful and divided <tate, * 
 And from suggesttons^made by Compromise, . Ij, 
 We signed the bond, and left the matter itt '^\ ' "\\ 
 Dispute unsettled and unfixed remain. "''''\ ''?,;' '?ir 
 The question was, in case the central powef^^e^,'^ 
 Too strong and jeopardized the'Tighr^ re.'^erve^. 
 If states at will might deerntliis. cause ,,., 
 
 For just complaint ^nd cut the bands '.■,■'.' ,' ' ';!} 
 Which bound tliem to it. Such case is ndw. ' '!'? 
 Presented in the law. The strength of Utii<rn* Pi^Wi 
 Augmented now, by power of his'might ' ', ',;;'\t, 
 Does threaten to direct that public land.t^ ^'"'\' !\'"^-irt 
 By blood of mine no less rhan yours ■ ' ''"'^ ^"' *J{ 
 Obtained, be kept forever fre(^ from foot ' l"'*'^'^^? 1} 
 Of Redlohevals uiid hlfe 56ris',wlt3T Alav"* \ 
 
 t,o«>*:'^;'i ■■' ■■■■■■ ■■■•■■ ' : 'i 
 
132 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 To tin their ground. By common right 
 
 Of law, we claim an equal share 
 
 Of all the land unoccupied for use 
 
 As we see reason to appropriate, 
 
 Without report of what we do. 
 
 Now Enterprise does claim unsettled part 
 
 Of what the nation owns for his support, 
 
 And Blanco urges on the claim. 
 
 While Laredef sustains him, and 
 
 The Government as well. To this do we 
 
 Object, and think the protest just. 
 
 The right to take his slave wherever law 
 
 Of Union reigns, and have protection there, 
 
 Is urged by Redlohevals as his lawful right. 
 
 If that's denied, I hold as purest law 
 
 Secession is his remedy, and I'll support 
 
 Him in the rio:ht. Demand is thus 
 
 Presented and the law set forth." 
 
 To Independence was this statement made, 
 And he replied in this wise : "Mistaken thou, 
 Good Tarcomed. The Government is not 
 A party to the controversy named. 
 The tiling demanded is a proper case 
 For public argument, and then 
 For settlement as those who own the lands— 
 The people of the whole United States- 
 May in the end determine. They shall first 
 Decide by lawful ballot which is right, 
 And then the Government will act. 
 The People now are parties ; 'twas they 
 Created central power to execute their will. 
 And that must needs be known 
 Before an execution issue." 
 
 "The current now 
 Kuns strong, — " said Tarcomed, " toward such 
 Result. 'Tis not so much what has been done 
 As what in future may arise from present signs, 
 That we do have our fears. The iMt election 
 Turned upon this point, and though the major part 
 Of all the voters who opposed the winning chief, 
 If concentrated, could control the law. 
 Yet by schism and distracting zeal 
 My forces were divided and I lost the prize 
 For which I fought. Opposed, 'tis true, the faction* 
 
MYPJORAMA. 133 
 
 Were against the Xorthern chieftain and 
 
 His band, but still they weakened me ; and then, upon 
 
 This very right which here I claim, my army was 
 
 Destroyed. When Douglas blew his battle-horn, 
 
 A large and useful force enlisted in his train ; 
 
 And pale-faced cowards struck my flag 
 
 For Law and Constitution. Not for^ 
 
 They are against me, and this is sign 
 
 I dare not overlook. Assembled now, 
 
 I press my claim,— demand my right. " 
 
 " Most noble Tarcomed, " said Laredef, 
 
 " We've long been warm, devoted friends. 
 
 On many a hard fought field, opposing have 
 
 We met in battle, but in friendship, not 
 
 In anger was the warfare waged. We fought 
 
 To ascertain whose right to hold the reins 
 
 Of government for four short years was best; 
 
 And in our bloodless wars, to deviate 
 
 From what upon the field was fixed. 
 
 Was farthest from our mindst 'Tis there 
 
 We see the beauty of our law. In parties do 
 
 The people range themselves, for peaceful war, 
 
 If such anomaly can be, and thus 
 
 Decide with approbation of the law, 
 
 Which, for the coming term, shall ride the car 
 
 Of State. The contest won by one, to him 
 
 The other does submit in all good conscience, and 
 
 Because that is the law. Thou seemest now 
 
 Somewhat in anger grown. I pray thee let 
 
 It pass from off thy candid face, and hear 
 
 The truth from friendship's lips, when I 
 
 Declare, no change from ancient rule 
 
 Is now in contemplation. If rightly have 
 
 I understood thy ancient creed, it was. 
 
 That he should stand at head whose force 
 
 In numbers did exceed the sum of any one 
 
 Opposed. Is such the case ? " 
 
 And Tarcomed 
 Inclined his head in recognition of the truth. 
 
 " In last engagement, then, the larger force 
 By Lincoln led, is by the ancient rule 
 Entitled to command ; and thou, by creed 
 Unto thyself acknowledged as supreme. 
 
IM MYKIOKAMA-.Z odi iiAmi-.iin avj^f 
 
 -!••' .-<...:-» >;H 
 
 Art bound to dutil'ul obedience. T 
 
 IVe ask up more from, thee than this. " . ■ • :• -U 
 
 ',,; ' ; i !, . '-But ^vhe«j/^•.f>:u:l A 
 
 Said Tarcbiried, "the governmeut assanies • -of/;^ r 1.,^ A 
 Dictation where bj^ law it has no ri2:ht, '■{ 
 
 And people are n^^rieved thereby, the case T 
 
 Another aspect wears,— majoriiies., ..> ....-,.... I 
 
 In such a case, must yield to what i* lawwff j y.cu f.^-yrq I 
 
 ♦'Dictation such ae thou presum'st has not 
 Been made, " said Laredef. 
 
 "But it 
 
 Is entertaine<l, and may, at any time, >' 
 
 When least we're able to resent its reach, ^ 
 
 Be exercised," said Tarcomed. ? 
 •* 'Tis future? overreaching power tliat 
 
 We most do fear. '' A 
 
 '' Thou art informed, " A 
 
 Said Laredef, " by him who never yet 'I 
 
 Deceived thee, that in this seeming fear, v^ 
 
 Thou art mistaken. Dost thou now or not I' 
 
 Believe the statement thus in candor made ? " ; 1 
 
 'I 
 In answer, " No ! I don't believe, " said Tarcomed. ..'7^ 
 •' Approaching danger comes like a summer atorm!?-. lO 
 
 gure evidences go b^eforc. 'Tis written iu '-'T 
 
 The very air we breathe. To me more certain 'I- 
 
 These tlian words, however candid, spoke vHl 
 
 By mortal mouth." f.iui ^I 
 
 '-Thy fathers in -1 ffiT 
 
 The olden time, " said I^aredcf, •' with t'uy «r 
 
 Consent, did promise, and made solemn vow, f 
 
 That but a few short years, and only few, I 
 
 They'd claim a riglit of property in man. T 
 
 So universal was that thouglit. that no -.. 
 Sucli word as ''■slave, " is fo\ind within 
 Our written law. By mere consent, 
 For present peace and general ^ood, 
 As tlicn appeared, it was oermitted 
 To remain untouched. Wliat then was iAM« 
 
 Accorded, now as law and rigiit i^s claimed. " , iC 
 
 : ,■: [ 
 
 "The time lias not yet come to yield, {\:■^ii 'M-^ni, 
 gaid Taroomed. 
 
 -To yield what we permitted then. 
 
MYRIORAMA. ,1?5 
 
 We do not noNV demand. But this wc do : .. . r,;^;, f,ji^ 
 
 That promise then ?o fairly made, to t!Uii| .;;;;. ' , mIV/ 
 
 Extent at least shall he performed ; — ./j, r" |' , ; ;.,,'/ 
 
 That nothinii: more shalt thou require: 
 
 For, if required it shall be refused. The time 
 
 Has comeUor earnest work. 'Tis not 
 
 The holding and the use of Negros where ^.^^V^j'ju.j.fj^y 
 
 The law does now permit it, that we do ,',j, ixKuIblid') 
 
 Oppose, but 'tis the ritjjht you claim to pladj?-, r.iiout-^'iV 
 
 Him in the lands where freedom reigns. * >j,|r,{) 'fjoiiT 
 
 To this we don't cons^^it." .< •■ ' ■■ "^ 
 
 ov/ r'f.'Wo'er all the land,"— 
 
 Said Tarcomed, — " the Constitution reigns, : yf 
 
 On public lands no less than ancient State; , ,/^ 
 And that, is binding as ihe law supreme, 
 Protects the right I claim." 
 
 " Freedom is the rule,-— 
 The public, general law, " said Laredef. 
 *' And slavery the exception. It lives by mere 
 
 Permission, not by law. Instates n-A^. 3<>'/L 
 
 Already organized, the rule obtains . ')/,';( ^ii 
 
 That public faitli, once pledged, shall lend ' ,,fjx 
 
 Its aid to hold it there until, according to yj£ 
 
 The early promise made, the people shall i//^ 
 Abolish it. Such pledge for territory free. 
 
 Was never given, then, or now, nav will , tf 
 
 It ever be. " ff" 
 
 "The remedy is then secure," i-n 
 
 Said Tarcomed. " The bond upon your part (/p 
 
 Is broke. A breach of covenant I urge JT 
 
 Against the chieftain of the Xortli. and now \f^ 
 
 Declare secession is my {only hope. " 'r](r^ 
 
 *' But hold, " said Laredef, " the remedy 
 
 You urge, with greater reason we resist. 
 
 We hold you to your bond, and sliall expect 
 
 Submission to the legal rule. Your faith 
 
 Is pledged to this; your hand is written on 
 
 The seal. We'll not disturb your peace 
 
 Where now j^ou dwell so happy with your slaves. 
 
 But not an inch of public land, now free, . i ,.;:!• 
 
 Shall ever foot of slave pollute ; nor yet i\ il-wlT 
 
 In feverish fear, shall foolish passion be 
 
 Permitted to destrov the noble work 
 
186 MYRIOKAMA. 
 
 Our fathers did." 
 
 Then Enterprise spake up 
 And said : ''My home is in the busy North 
 Where all are free, and toil is made a high 
 Vocation. There, we know of purchased 
 Sinews, bones and blood but what wc learn 
 From southern sons of Tarcomed. By labor do 
 We live, and move by labor's just reward. 
 Our children teach we industry from early 
 Childhood up, and thus we make an active, 
 Vigorous class. Our people grow, and spread 
 Their fields at magic speed, and soon will need 
 More lands to build their cities on. To west, 
 Upon the nation's newest plains, we soon 
 Will need migrate, and will not there compete 
 With slaves. Our brothers of the South 
 Are welcome there on equal plane with us. 
 But not with men in bonds. In freedom's ways 
 We've long been trained, and cannot now 
 Consent to labor by the side of slaves. We're proud. 
 But 'tis because we're free. We want 
 The western lands for common use of men, 
 Not slaves. We ask no right where now 
 By law the master holds the lash, 
 But do insist that there it shall remain. 
 By fair and ]egi\\ means this point we've gained, 
 And most persistently will claim it." 
 
 With fiery indignation Eedlohevals spake. 
 "What right, bold Mudsill of the vaunting North, 
 Hast thou to claim superior hold 
 To mine upon the unappropriated lands? 
 This brazen impudence is hard to bear; 
 And were the distance 'twixt us not so great. 
 My wratli might vent itself. To make thyself. 
 An equal with my slave, thou'dst rob me of 
 My lawful right, and break the country's peace. 
 A people who would thus permit their serfs 
 To speak where noble men do sit, are fit 
 
 Companions tor a servile race. Away ! 
 I'll hear no more of this. I'll tear my stars 
 
 Away, and leave the dastard league." 
 
 *'Thj^ braggart threats," said Enterprise, '-have lost 
 Their force by frequent repetition. Once 
 
MYRIORAMA. 137 
 
 Thy high disdain we feared, and courted thy 
 Approval. Now, 'tis otherwise. Not proud 
 Beyond our plane, we simply state our case; 
 But by persistent madness do you strive 
 To misconstrue our meaning and our words 
 To misappropriate. Again, and for 
 The last time now, I state, that for 
 Your own security in right of slaves 
 Where now you hold them by the law, 
 In order to perpetuate our word. 
 Do we agree that in our fundamental code 
 Shall be Inserted that agreement, so 
 Your petted institution may not die 
 By our hands, if you'll but keep it off 
 The public lands. Will that suilice ?"' 
 
 "Present to me an open blank witli all 
 
 Your craven signatures affixed, that 1 
 
 May write my terms above them, and I'd scorn 
 
 Your low appeal and spurn it from my presence. 
 
 With people such as you in neigliborhood 
 
 As partners, longer I cannot remain. 
 
 My honor is at stake, and I'll witli(fraw 
 
 From such debased companionship. 
 
 Our stars sixteen I now demand, that we 
 
 May do with them as pleascth us." 
 
 And boldly forth toward Independence then 
 
 He walked while reaching out his hand ahead, 
 
 But stepping quickly up, Ambition bade 
 
 Him pause. 
 
 "Hear me a time," he said. 
 "This foolish resolution tliou hast formed. 
 In later time will give thee much remorse. 
 I pray thee now recall thy step, and think 
 Of what may come of such a rash intent, 
 If thou attempt to execute it. Tliou knowest well 
 The solemn oath we've sworn to save 
 The life of Union, and as well thou knowest that 
 To pluck one star from off hi.s golden breast 
 Would deaden all his life. We cannot, and 
 We will not l)reak our oaths. Think, oh I 
 Proud brother, think of all our glorious past, 
 So crowned with noble deeds and great; 
 The memories of the holy dead, around ^^^ 
 
 That sacred symbol clinging fast . .^ 
 
188 IIYKIOKAMA. 
 
 . . . L 
 
 Like tendrils to the sturdy oak. The Banner of • \ /\. 
 
 Our iincient love llo.ats o'er us yet, d 
 
 And millions pray beneath its starry folds. ii 
 
 Forget not this; and think what deeds T 
 
 Together have we done • what vict'ries won ; -lui uT 
 
 'W nat good achieved ; what hopes we've reached, - 1 'kIT 
 
 While in our breezes floats that banner still. Y 
 
 In all the world of men none honored more ff 
 
 Than we; and this within an age of man. I 
 Of these do think, then look upon the future course I 
 
 Of such a people when united, and how great < 
 
 Should be their cause for separation. Where, l.oX 
 
 Oh ! where shall end such noble record as 'O x^ 
 
 Our annals show the watching w-orld ? »( oriX 
 If thoughts like these with thee have any weight, 
 
 I pray thee, brave American, to stop; •'Sdi*!" 
 
 lietrace thy steps ; abandon all thy wild ■ luoT 
 
 Design, and let no evil come because of thee/' ' ^[rVi 
 
 •*If war must come, 'tis thou that bring'st '7'^ 
 
 It on." said Redlohevals. "Ihave no debate A 
 
 Nor talk. The time for argument is past. ■'i . 
 
 With contemplations of the past annoy me not, -i 
 
 Unless with your devout appeal you mix > 
 
 Some thought of wrongs that you have done, ^"l 
 
 And now do threaten. Your people I •'V 
 
 Despise with all their vile hypocrisy. -t 
 No more of this. ;M)^ stars,'' again n- --'^ 
 Demanded he, as lie attempted to advance. .^feUfiq aiiH 
 Just tlien, as is her wont, with gentle hand 
 
 Before unseen, came Mercy, and before '-"'* 
 
 Him kneeling said : "Brave Redlohevals, stay ' ^ 
 
 The hand — so proud, so noble as it is— I . 
 
 That tlireatens blood. Thou knowestwell ' ' 
 
 The ills of war ; hast seen its current tlow ^ 
 
 On many a field of carnage. Thou hast seen ^^ 
 
 The widow and the orphan left a charge ^' 
 Upon a heartless world ; hast seen 
 The gathering dew of doatli upon the o^irl 
 Whose heartstrings broke because herT)rave 
 Defender fell upon the bloody Held. 
 O! no one better than thyself does know 
 What cruel thing is war; so much of pain. 
 Of sorrow and distress, tlie heart recoils 
 Upon itself in contemplation of such M-oe. 
 
WoulJst thou all tliis and greater eyili^.l)'4pg..;>Ki on 'jiIT 
 
 Upon this happy IiukV where peace ,, •- ..••.: ';!i A 
 
 So many j'ears has spread Tier blessings round ? 
 
 I pray thee now suspend the dangerous thought 
 
 A time at least. If afterthought a better one jj. 
 
 Should prove, how much of misery hadst ;ul 
 
 Thou saved. O ! see me as I kneel, and know ; ^ii 
 
 If ever heart were true 'tis mine. I know ; jA 
 
 No party to a wrong or right. In this rp* 
 
 Unhappy strife I have no part ; my sphere 
 
 Is love and only that. I know no fear, 
 
 Or hate, revenge, or other baser thing. 
 
 Away down deep within thy manly heart, 
 
 For woman and her kind I hear 
 
 Pulsations beat. In her sweet name do I appeal . .T 
 
 For stay of execution in your rash desijrn. 
 
 Thou hast dear children ; daughters fair j.'» 
 
 Around thy evening joys do circle with 
 
 Their cheerful songs; and sons, — precursors ol 'l 
 
 A higher life to come ; in name of these 
 
 And all their brilliant prospects seen ahead 
 
 Do I appeal to thee for time to let 
 
 Thy passions cool, that danger great, . . 
 
 Much greater than in this tii'y frenzied state" . ; j •. 
 
 Thou canst discern, may be prevented. , 
 
 In name of Jesus then, and His Religion, 
 
 Do I pray thee cease this mad foray 
 
 Against His Holy Law, lest danger come 
 
 Unsought upon thy head. In name 
 
 Of holy Angels I beseecli thee hold thj- hand 
 
 And spare, oh, spare the drain of blood." 
 
 And as she raised upon her feet, her arms 
 Around liis neck she gently pressed 
 And wept upon his breast. Then, softly as 
 She came, retired from the scene, while Pride 
 Came bristling up, and speaking to him, said. : 
 
 *'If from thy course, by tears of Hercy, foolish thingjir A 
 
 Thou wilt be driven, thou, lii't not the' brave , p 
 
 And noble son of Ta.rComed. Let not 
 
 Her vain imaginiiigs bestir, thee to 
 
 Thy utter niin. • Forsake hot now 
 
 Thy manly attitude. Be boM, be brave, 
 
 Be worthy of thyself and all the proud 
 
140 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Descendants of thy noble sires. 
 Thy honor 's pledged. Betray it not, 
 And with it all thy kinsniens' blood— 
 The noblest of the earth— high-toned 
 And brave. Stand firm ! Stand Unn !" 
 
 "1 will/' said lie ; and back a pace or two 
 
 He stepped, as quickly came in breathless haste 
 
 Into their midst just then, a Hkrald clad 
 
 In uniform of blue. Obeisance having made, 
 
 Addressing Independence, thus he spake : 
 
 ''There 's treason in the Capitol ! Your guns. 
 
 In traitors' hands, upon your ships are turned! 
 
 From Charleston Harbor -s driven 'Star of the West'! 
 
 Your stores, for soldiers' comfort placed, 
 
 Are stolen by tlie thieves ! Your forts 
 
 Thcv take possession of, and Moultrie 's in 
 
 Their hands !" 
 
 Asked Independence then, 
 "How 's Cass ?" 
 
 ''He 's faithAil, firm,*' 
 Keplied the Herald. 
 
 '•Buchanan ?'' 
 
 •Tale, nervous, sick, 
 Afraid.*' 
 
 "Depart; watcli well; and bring report 
 Again.*' 
 
 And quickly as he came the Herald went. 
 Addressing then great Tarcomcd and his 
 Defiant offspring Kcdlohevals, thus 
 The patriot Tarcomedraw spake : 
 
 '•Proud brothers of the South, I pray you hear 
 Mc for our common good. By strength 
 And hopes united, luive we grown unto 
 Our present state. When discord came, 
 ivo readier than you to compnnnise 
 And cluisc away'tlic cloud that rested on 
 Our hearts. Wlien trouble came, no earlier 
 Than you in raising troops for war. 
 Whcndangcrous questions rose for thought 
 And .settlement, no abler minds tlian yours 
 To lend tlieir learning and experience 
 To light us out of dread. If glory won. 
 Were none deserving more tlinn you. If fame 
 
MYRIORAMA. 141 
 
 Upon our banners perched, or victorr on 
 Our sword, no share thereof was larger than 
 Was yours. Wherever good or greatness shines 
 Upon our matchless course; where name 
 Of Uijlon gilds historic page ; wherever brave 
 And noble men have stood together friends 
 For greatest good of our common land, 
 There stand in bold relief the honored names 
 Of Southern men. Shall all this glory pass 
 From Southern fame ? This greatness die 
 Because of Southern shame? This honor lost 
 Because of Southern want of name to love 
 The memory of their noble dead ? O ! stay 
 Your madness for the time at least, 
 Impetuous men of the South, and hear. 
 A moment pause in yet an untried cause 
 To weigh tiie consequences of your wild design. 
 Let reason hold the sceptre of your brains a time, 
 And think what trouble you may save, what name, 
 What honor, greatness and renown attain. 
 We pray you calmly hear us ; hear us well. 
 The times are fiery, deceptive, treacherous. 
 If aught, we have not promised, still 5'ou want. 
 To sa^tisfy your will and let the Union stand,— 
 The noble monument it is of all 
 The fairest work of man in any age or time- 
 Proclaim it now, that if it be consistent with 
 Our knowledge of ther Ight, we may it yield." 
 
 Then Tarcomed replied, and said : "Full well 
 We know, brave Tarcomedraw, thou would'st yield 
 A proper compromise ; the same would I. 
 Between us stand, in solid barrier formed. 
 The stubborn will of Redlohevals, and 
 The vantage ground of Laredef. 
 From Northern home you come; from Southern, I; 
 And ties of common birth-place bind our hearts 
 To those we love. In final contest wac^ed, 
 WTien all debate had failed of ending the 
 Dispute, if such a thing should come. 
 With Laredef would you ally yourself; 
 With Redlohevals, I ; and this does give 
 The hope of compromise a gloomy look. 
 But yet, for sake of peace, I'll state the t ^ ms' 
 If they'll agree, upon the which I*U pledge 
 
142 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 No further prosecution of the remedy I named. 
 If in the public lands, my li^ht to take 
 My slave b)?. law shall be protected- ai^iif;.' ^r^i-) ^r.nrj 
 No inter,l:erenoe. where! urn* with this - ■■-•-. -,]q 
 Am I^qpnie^t.,;: What say my fdeaUs ?'• . ^ff 
 
 First Nameca^p spake. ''With pleasure I rj,,!^ , iQ 
 Will ^rant you this, or any otiier thing - .,;-!: if •,- A 
 That you demand. This hrmness and resolve 
 Of Laredef has vital error at its root 
 That leads to strife and only that. Within 
 Our midst for many years\has lurked • •■'i 
 
 A serpent which now shows itself. . At first !?^ 
 
 But small, in time it; greyN'. t|i)d now it, crawls 
 Across the nation's stage with lK>ldest,head 
 Proposing terms to those who liate, despise 
 And loatno its very life. The cry has been, 
 Wlien in its youthful days, The barbarism and 
 The wickednos^ of holding men in bonds.' 
 '"Tis gentler in its terms of censure now, 
 And calls its interest in Xegros. •IvOt* 
 Of liberty and higher law.' We're not • 
 Responsible for anything of wrong. . • : - ■ ■ .»' 
 There is in slav^r^'v if aught there be; •. ;; ; ,.'T 
 Much l^^ are thejiwho hpUl the, .Vomljrnen ,'thn». -,; ". 
 The law pii'oteqts them in it. Uo a^at interfen"^ '; 
 In any way with this .most ancient. rights T 
 
 Is enemy^ of liberty and, publiefoith., 
 I grant the, terms of, Tarcomed,.and do 
 Most hQWJjiiy. advi.se th^vnjxtionjoi^ ■;,.,:.;, ... ..j 
 In this most just and honorable plan." 
 
 Said Taroomeilraw then: 'rilXis moi'e than we '' 
 Demand for right to Iwrso^ or .'v^xor landi. 
 We go ui>Qn the public, spirit of the people. WUorc, 
 In their oi>inioii, slaves had better be, \ 
 
 There lot them go; where otherwise, prevent; 
 For tiiu^.is. pure 3)emQttracy,estahlishe^l in 
 Tlieland., What the people do refuse, compel 
 Them not to have ; for thisw^njld be no less .- • 'i 
 A wrong than that thou fearest from . ;■ ■■ ■ ' h 
 The central nower in the oase thyself hast shown* 
 If thou wilt nave no stricture on .the rights 
 Reserved bv th' people'^ wUVin Federal Head, 
 Combined, \ pray t^iee tijon rtOigxaiUt.tkatlawur *)i'.1 
 
MYRIORAMA. 1« 
 
 To us which thou demandest for thyself. 
 
 No fairer phiii than this cau I advauce. < i 
 
 Let those whose interests are most concerned ^ 
 
 In this contested case have free and full 
 
 Control thereof, and thus relieve the Government 
 
 Of all the ills attendant on its settlement. 
 
 In its nature local, let the local body rule 
 
 And regulate its place, its growth and death/' 
 
 **But,"said Tarcomed; -The right to slave 
 
 Is ri^ht peculiar. It must be fostered by 
 
 The law, and cherished — fed, by local power, 
 
 Else by its own oppressive weight it falls/l ;• .jjoi^.l 
 
 *Then," said Progress, "It is wrong, and oughtj; ■ ■ 
 To fall. What common love of human right 
 And justice, in the heart implanted, won't 
 Sustain without the force of written law, 
 Is rott*3n in its core, and ought to die." 
 
 And Tarcomedraw then : ""What sayest thou. 
 Good Tarcomed, to the proposition I advance? 
 Between thyself and Laredef it is^^.,!. n-ijijisJ i 
 A medium." .,'•;!!,- -7 i,..V,', ' .^ 
 
 "Pve stated my demand,'' 
 Said Tarcomed. "I've nothing more to add. 
 My people ai-e united and will not retreat." 
 
 Just then the Herald came again, and said : 
 "The Capitol is guarded well. The Veteran Scott 
 Is in command, and Lincoln 's at the helm.-* 
 
 * A^dL-^'Uere is Douglas ? " Iijd'epfeii(j^n<^ asked. 
 
 * He -s in the .Senate pleading for aji;q\n promise. " ^^ 
 
 ''And lie?'* , "^ V,'l^--r V* :''." 
 
 " Resigriidct,'a44;in;|&:^ South. " 
 
 " Go, watch again, and br^rig i^eppi'ti'Iii time. • 
 And Herald went again. 
 
 Continuing, *, 
 
 Then Independence said : '• I now do \yani ., 
 
 All threatening hands to cease their vncked work. , 
 The plan and argumeut by Laredef proposed. ^ 
 
144 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Do I approve; and if it be the people's will, 
 
 Let that, as in the olden time, be end of all 
 
 Debate. The Stars upon our Union's breast 
 
 A unity must be, and that forever. 
 
 No compromise wliich in its future execution 
 
 Would tear a star a\va}% a moment can 
 
 I entertain. If trouble come because 
 
 Of ftiilure to agree in matter of opinion, then 
 
 Let consequences rest wherever tney 
 
 Do rightfully belong; and blood first shed, 
 
 On skirts of him who draws the sword 
 
 Before its time when none do threaten harm." 
 
 Said Tarcomedraw then to Tarcomed : 
 
 '' Thy people are not now a unit as thou sayest. 
 
 Too many happy memories of the past 
 
 Around their warm and generous hearts do cling 
 
 To let such cruel feelings rise. Too much 
 
 01 our common history to them belongs 
 
 For such a bold and wicked undertaking." 
 
 Then Lartuen arose and said : " The signs 
 Grow deeply ominous of troublous times, 
 And fretful fevers come upon the people. 
 If any thing can now be done to stay 
 The tide which seeraeth setting in, all hearts 
 Of patriots should join the work. A thought 
 Would I address unto our noble Tarcomed 
 And Redlohevals, — honored sires grown 
 On Southern soil. In early times, no friends 
 More firm and steadfast had the Union then 
 Than you. The life and strength which carried up 
 The state, was much of it derived from you. 
 Our progress great, surpassing hope, has been 
 Magnificent in ever}'- part. Our Union gives 
 Us strength ; stability at home, and character 
 Abroad. The right of individual no less 
 Than body corporate or politic, has been 
 In all things most secure. Our commerce on 
 The seas ; our inter-ocean trade ; our traffic on 
 Our river boats, and on our rail-way trains; 
 The splendid net-work of our travel and 
 Communication ; our liberal arts ; our schoolil 
 And colleges ; our churches too ; our wealth, 
 Our greatness and our hopes ;— all, all. 
 
MYRIOKAMA. 145 
 
 jire fruits of Union's strength. 
 
 «, , n , ^ ,, The rio'ht we claim 
 
 To liokl our slaves b}- 1 men is ijrotected 
 
 By aforetime pledge of faitli thereto. 
 
 in northern liearts the feeling is averse to our 
 
 Peculiar institution. 'Tis nothing but the law 
 
 Of Union tluit impels them to our aid. 
 
 Because of old agreement do thev now 
 
 Deehire tliey've no design to change the ancient law, 
 
 And that is all we legally can ask. 
 
 If dissolution and secession come, 
 
 Twere not according to the wavsof men 
 
 That those who now despise should then 
 
 Protect the right of propertv in man. 
 
 Its strength and susienance'is now 
 
 Derived from force of Union as I think. 
 
 Let that dissolve, and the controlling cord 
 
 V> nich binds it. to ourselves is snapped. 
 
 And with it falls our petted svstem of 
 
 A servile race. In everv view I take. 
 
 The reason of the thing does seem tliat we 
 
 Should now accept some reasonable 
 
 Compromise, and not in anv case 
 
 Eesort to separate indepemlcnce. 
 
 TJ e bear a grievance ? Then petition in 
 The pale of Union for redress, and not 
 Outside his stately walls. AMthin, we husband all 
 The sympathetic strength of liberal 
 Minded men; attempt secession, and 
 Display another tlag within our native land 
 The very earth would yield her locust swarms 
 -Of union loving friends, and everv one of these 
 Would draw just that much blood^ from us. 
 Beneath the stars and stripes present our plaint. 
 And all tne nation's moral sense would hear, 
 it then against us should tiic iudgment be, 
 'Twere evidence that we arc wrong and then 
 At once we should desist." 
 
 T, . , ^ " I'll take the sword, " 
 
 In rage cried Redlohevals. '^ In the name 
 Of great Calhoun I swear that I'll 
 Have nothing now but independence.'" 
 
 Said Progress quicklv, '* I do swear 
 10 
 
146 MYFJORAMA. 
 
 In name of Ossawatamie and blood 
 Of Brown, that thou shalt fail." 
 
 Then asked 
 Good Tarcomedraw of the maddened sprite : 
 
 "Have memories of our common fame 
 No weiglit with thee? " 
 
 "JNone save t" inspire 
 My heart for braver fight. " 
 
 " Nor of 
 Our eommon dead ? " 
 
 "No.'' 
 
 " Nor thought of what 
 We yet may be ? ■• 
 
 - No. " 
 
 "Nothing but to spill 
 Thy brothers' blood ? " 
 
 " My brothers need 
 Not fear ; I only ask t' be let alone. " 
 
 •*' But that they mav not yield. " 
 
 "If not, then let 
 The consequences come. " 
 
 " Art tliou then fixed 
 Determined in thj^ will? Can notliing draw- 
 Away this desperate intent? — no argument. 
 Nor love, appeal, or holy prayer convert 
 Tliy raging tliouglit ? Is all hope gone 
 Of reconciliation and of peace ? " 
 
 " I'm fixed 
 In what I say ; my sword 's already wliet.'" 
 And from his dangling scabbard then he drew 
 To half its length'a shining blade, with step 
 Advancing, bu'^t lie paused to hear the voice 
 Of Wisdom who did thus declare : 
 
 " Tliou seest not what lies before tliee. Signs 
 
 More certain in tlieir sj^eech tlian if 
 
 By mortal tongue were spoke, do hang 
 
 Upon tlie near horizon's verge. 
 
 Thy madness blinds thee to their light. 
 
 Beneath thee lies a lake of slumbering fire: 
 
 'Tis hidden only by a crust of thinest'earth which jar 
 
 Of war may break and let thee drop to death. 
 
 Thou art upon the crater now.— so near 
 
MYEIOKAMA. 147 
 
 Its biiniino; cdo-e tliat swift tiestnictioii lurks 
 
 Beneath thy very leet. U tliou wouldst save 
 
 Thyself, retrace thy steps and suddenly. 
 
 If Pride, determined, still allures thee on 
 
 And all I fear does come, then slialt thou not declare 
 
 That warning did not come in time to save. 
 
 If in this wicked cause thou wilt persi.^t 
 
 'Twere just thou reap the penalty. 
 
 Thy demand is most unjust; cruel tliy 
 
 Intent and criminal tliy object. Oh ! 
 
 Do turn thee now. I pray thee turn, else die. '• 
 
 "I've grown to years mature, and ask advice 
 Of none," responded Rediohevals wild. 
 
 Uprising to his utmost height, then Justice spake: 
 
 '•Lnfaithful son! Thou hast departed from 
 
 The landmarks set bv noble men 
 
 Of early time. Eut little protit liast 
 
 Thou reaped from lessons thev did teach. 
 
 How much of evil thou hast done and now 
 
 Dost threaten to the land thy fatliers bouo-ht 
 
 With blood as pure as ever flowed in veins 
 
 Of mortals, thou dost not discern. Upon 
 
 Thee hang accumulated wrongs of ao-es. Thou 
 
 Hast bought and sold for gain" the veins 
 
 Through which the blood'of men has nin 
 
 For centuries. The bones of dead men rise 
 
 Up from forgotten graves and strain 
 
 Their eyeless skullslo stare at thee and tliy 
 
 Enormities, accusing thee of that 
 
 Infernal trade. O I monster that thou art. 
 
 Look back upon thy past of infamy. 
 
 And e'er it is too late, return to Avliat 
 
 Is just and right. God's hand is in 
 
 The moving scene before thee passing which, 
 
 Because of sin's disease thou wilt not see. 
 
 The day of retribution with its fearfui 
 
 Reckoning approaches fast, and just 
 
 Destruction waits upon the threshold. 
 
 Before thee yawns an awful vortex of 
 
 Devouring elements fast whirling into 
 
 Combinations such as man has never known, 
 
 And thou art but a step tliis side 
 
 The dreadful mass. Again I warn tliec. halt, 
 
lis MYKIOKAMA. 
 
 And turn about lost iustice overtake 
 
 Thy damning sin. Thou Avouhl'st erect a frame' 
 
 Of bones ana muscles of thy bretliren built. 
 
 And sliow it to the world as work 
 
 Of modern liberty. What stupendous fraud 
 
 Would'st thou tlius palm upon tlie world: a mass 
 
 Of rottenness and putrefying sores. 
 
 It cannot be. Then stay 'the^ hand upraised 
 
 To strike the blow whieh surely will destroy thee. 
 
 Desist, and thougii it take a longer time, the end 
 
 Of justice will be reached as well. Proceed. 
 
 And retribution lies witliin the vision of the day 
 
 In which the blow is struck. " 
 
 '• Stand boldly np 
 Brave son of the South, " said haughty Pride. 
 •'Thj' sacred honor never, never yield*. " 
 
 " I'm lirm a-e adamant. My resolution 
 
 Knows no slackening. '' And again advanced he 
 
 With a struggling grasp to disengage liis sword; 
 
 But Herald Vame'^in rushing haste 
 
 And Pcdlohevals halted for his tale. 
 
 " Your Hag's dishonored bj* the hands 
 
 Of Redlohevals' sons. Sumpter's fallen 
 
 And the banner trails in dust. Bold Anderson 
 
 And gallant little band of eighty 
 
 Union soldiers stood the tierce assault 
 
 Most nobly till the rebel shots did lire 
 
 Up the brave old Fort, and then they bowed 
 
 Their heads in sliame to see such great. 
 
 Unmerited humiliation of 
 
 The nation's arms, and gave themselves 
 
 As first fruits of secession rule. " 
 
 With inward zeal now firing ui> 
 Thus Independence asked : 
 
 " Where's Dougla:? now ? " 
 
 ''He 's building tires in the great Xorthwest. " 
 
 " And Butler ? " 
 
 " Himself transforming in 
 The East. " 
 
 "And Scott? " 
 
MYRIORAMA. 149 
 
 "' Firm as adamant. *" 
 ''And Lincoln? '' 
 
 "Cool and placid as 
 A summer lake; «^-cnial and iirm. "' 
 
 " And Seward ? " 
 
 •'Holds the compass. ■' 
 
 •• Then all 
 Is sate. Go quickly now and call out five 
 And seven tj' thousand men to take 
 And repossess the fallen fort, and raise 
 The flag again. Away ! " and he obeyed. 
 
 At this command did Redlohevals draw 
 
 His glistening sword to all its length, 
 
 And^'tlourishing it o'er his head, advanced 
 
 With pompous "tread toward Independence 
 
 And his sacred charge, proclaiming loud 
 
 " Mj' stars I Let war and all 
 
 Its horrid havoc come; let blood and tears 
 
 Like rain flow out; I'll have my lawful right; — 
 
 No less. " And as he moved an\l thus pro'claimed. 
 
 Did all his friends around him cluster fast 
 
 Save Xamecaep, who did wheel about 
 
 Like frightened cur, and sped toward land 
 
 Of Kingcraft for a safer refuge there." 
 
 With instant spring as this progressed, 
 
 Did all the friends bf Union bound 
 
 Between the raging Redlohevals with 
 
 His circling aids, and Independence, 
 
 Gathering in determined attitude 
 
 Around the glittering stars; and Xegros, too. 
 
 With his clanking chains to tli' noble circle 
 
 Hopped, but quickly was he thrust to rear 
 
 By point of the whirling sword. 
 
 A stroke 
 Made Redlohevals at the breast of Union, 
 But the hurling flambeau felled him to 
 The earth. Quick rising up, he sprang 
 Again in wildest fury on, when TarcoViiedraw 
 Kusiied before and drove him back with shout 
 Of " Treason ! Treason ! "" — loud as stroke on stroke 
 He dealt him fast, while Justice, with 
 Contemptuous look, and pointing toward 
 3Iock Xamecaep fled, wliose steps were now 
 
150 MYRIOKAMA. 
 
 In swiftness growing, cried " Oh, Shame I 
 
 iShame! Shame! thou traitor to the nation's Hag. " 
 
 The wliieh attracted all attention for a time. 
 
 And as they looked and saw the living brave. 
 
 With one accord did join the cry of "Shame ! 
 
 Shame! Shame!'' and Kedlohevals' voice 
 
 Was Avith the rest. The while the voices rang 
 
 Along the darkening air. before 
 
 Returning eonllict came, a quick paralysis 
 
 Struck Tarcomed to death, and then in'front of them 
 
 Came down as smoke a sudden mist 
 
 Whose soft and airy folds of white 
 
 And deepest blue iii curling wreaths and seams 
 
 Soft blended in. did close from further view 
 
 The lieatcd grouj). but left in sight 
 
 In glaring letters in the smoky cloud 
 
 These words which all the world could read : 
 
 ''SLAVEKYISDEAD.-' 
 
MYRIORAMA. 151 
 
 CHAPTER Vll. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 The Rebellion and its suppression, from l'(>l to I8ii5. The 
 freedom of the slave and destruction of Secession. 
 
 The nation's blood was boilin^: now. To South, 
 
 Above the fever lieat, -without restraint, 
 
 Through swollen veins the scarlet current ran. 
 
 It carried ott' the lazy scum of life; the nerves 
 
 Electrilied ; it crazed* the brain, and drove 
 
 In staggering- ruin from her ancient throne 
 
 The reason of the best of men. 
 
 All over hills and vales of the beautiful South, 
 
 Through forest, tield and town, like sheet 
 
 Of rushing fire b}' demons fed. came wave 
 
 On wave of the flying storm that passion led. 
 
 Engulfing all in its scorching blaze. 
 
 The hearts of the bravest quailed, the young 
 
 Men ran. and fiiir ones wept, while leaders cried : 
 
 "To arms I To arms I Defend youY homes. 
 
 Your wives, your daugliters, from tlie scourge 
 
 And blight of Northern vandalism. 
 
 Drive the heathens back, and drench the land 
 
 With their barbarous blood. Let not 
 
 Their craven feet pollute the sacred soil 
 
 Of the noble South. Hoist your banner high, 
 
 And rush to the gathering hosts 
 
 Where freedom rallies in her might. 
 
 Crush the serpent in his coil; burn him in 
 
 His poison den ; destroy his venomous fang. 
 
 And pluck from out his very mouth 
 
 The darting tongue that would dare insert 
 
 Its damning virus in the virtue of our land. 
 
 If treason hovers near and sounds its horn. 
 
 Destroy its dastard life, or drive it from 
 
152 MYKIORAMA. 
 
 The soil it would di?iin\co. No quarters here 
 For traitor's lioads. To arms ! to arms I " 
 
 And thus it raged from day to day until 
 
 The t>outh was^armed andVlotlied for war. 
 
 Oh I that droadtul day when the lire raged 
 
 Like Vurniug prairie' on the western plain ; 
 
 When passion ruled and reason slept, while men 
 
 And women, era/ed and fren/.ied. ran 
 
 So causelessly from house to house to throw 
 
 Their little fuel in the fast consuming tlame. 
 
 No heart so hrave or hand so strong, that auglit 
 
 Could otVcr of resistance to the tlowing tide 
 
 AVhich swept across the land. If tongue 
 
 Were raised or hand uplifted to attract 
 
 The i>uMic ga/.e and quell the storuj. 'twas hurnfc 
 
 And crushecl beneath the blow ot people wild 
 
 With rage before 'twas more tlian seen. 
 
 Apparent wrong to lh\grant outrage grew; 
 
 And slumbering tires b^irst to conhagrations in 
 
 A moment's tune. The people North 
 
 To mor.sters u-re\v. and all tlieir wealth 
 
 A stolen spoil. The words they spoke for peace, 
 
 To burning lies were turned ; their candor to 
 
 Hypocrisy^so black and damning, that 
 
 The very 'thought of honor, truth, or fairness in 
 
 A Northern heart, was spurned and scorned 
 
 With a deepened hate that a. demon, might 
 
 Enjoy. If a trembling heart was fainrt 
 
 And i^rayed for time to ask himsell what all 
 
 This meant, and if it might be wrong, the thrust 
 
 Of poisoning s^teel came quicklv iunne 
 
 And frightened him to arms. If other, still 
 
 Devoted to Ins father's graves, who loved 
 
 The name his nation boVc. and paused to look 
 
 At its ancient tlag to catch a lingering hope 
 
 Still left of life in the old land yVt, the hand 
 
 Of fury came and drove him in the ranks. 
 
 Xo words of caution or of kind advice availed; 
 
 No ear to listen, and no eye to see a thought 
 
 Or sign, save war and that to death. 
 
 Fair girls, impulsive fairies, tanned 
 
 The gaiiuning tlames. and proudly pressed 
 
 TheiV brothers and their lovers to the front. 
 
 Their vivid scorn,— their pettish arts of pain ; 
 
MYKIORAMA. 153 
 
 Tlie biirnin<i: woumls tlioir little, foolish toniiues 
 
 Coiikl make, by the brave j'omiij' Southern heart 
 
 In manly boso'in lielil for them. Vac- feared 
 
 With a dread more terrible tiien. than 
 
 The threat or seold of the oldest man. 
 
 Their mothers too, — impassioned, fond and good, 
 
 Lent all their powerful aid to drive 
 
 The current on. and make more dreadful still 
 
 The all devouring tlood- 
 
 In right, in wrong; 
 In fame, in shame;— no matter wliere; — 
 If woman's hand and he;>rt do lielp. 
 The work goes bravely on. Her potent voice, 
 Like that of music in the darkened night, 
 Gives hope and cheer to all our toils. 
 And pains, and bitter disappointments. 
 Her honored name's a shield, lier tongue a sword, 
 Her eye a star; her soul a world of hope; 
 And he who hath upon his side the power 
 Woman yields, is trebly armed; while he 
 From whom does she withdraw lier warmth 
 And soul-enlivening love; — on wliom she prays 
 Destruction and dismay, does lose his nerve, 
 And falters— staggers, and to ruin falls. 
 Oh I women of the South, if that destructive war 
 Upon your husband's, son's and brother's part 
 Was wrong, how large a sliare of evil liave 
 You helped to do; how much of pain and 
 Sorrow, botli t' yourselves and others well 
 Deserving, might your timely words have saved 
 To you, and them, and all the peaceful land ? 
 
 By systematic self deception, now 
 
 The unsuspecting masses of the South 
 
 Were led, or pulled, or driven into line. 
 
 The cant of Xorthern thirst for gold, 
 
 The cowardice, the low and grovelling taste 
 
 Of their malicious hearts, were dribbled out 
 
 To listening ears in overdose and frequent. 
 
 And if the vandal did appear in arms, to buy 
 
 His musket and his soul would be 
 
 But pleasant pastime; and if, perchance, by some 
 
 Miraculous denouement he did otfer tight, — 
 
 ( Wliich would not be if nature liad lier course — ) 
 
 'Twould be but morning recreation to destroy 
 
104 MYIUOKAMA. 
 
 His linos and drive him screaming: from 
 Tlie lield. Oli I a monster vile was Yankee, and 
 He dared not meet and ti^ht a Southern brave. 
 His talk of freedom, and of compromise, 
 AVas all a base deceiving lie to win and cheat 
 The honest purity of men whose word 
 Was never forfeited. To steal their slaves, 
 To rob their women of their jewels, and 
 Betray their dauohters into wrong-; to burn 
 And desolate their towns, lay waste their lands. 
 And give loose reins to all the wicked arts 
 And passions of degraded men, was what 
 The base barbarians would come to do. 
 Tlie whole of virtue in the land did dwell 
 In Southern heart and those who thought 
 As they, while those opposed to them and their 
 Ennobling" cause were vilest of the vile. 
 
 The stupid listeners believed it all. 
 And acted on the willful cheat thus taugiit. 
 Three men of every four who joined the wild, 
 Malignant riot of the hour, believed within 
 Their honest hearts that all this stuff was true. 
 And no way could they serve their country 
 Better than humiliate its Hag. and spill 
 The blood of those who stiUVevercd its name. 
 Stupendous fraud I How hollow ami how damning 
 All its varied and deceitful cheat ! How many 
 A noble son, or faithful husband, doting 
 Father, left behind him aching hearts tc) hear 
 His voice no more, while he did fight the hght 
 Of other men, because of this disastrous wrong. 
 Xo interest to him, mistaken dupe, except 
 That thus he might declare how well he loved 
 His land, and how deep buried was his hate 
 For freedom shriekers of the Xorth. Xo slave 
 Had he to till his little land :— no bags of gold 
 To purchase bones;— the war was his, and his 
 Alone who handled both of these— the gold 
 And slaves, ^^'hat little gain to him. 
 Deluded man; what little ultimate ol good 
 To him who, thus deceived, did enter on 
 His wicked work ? Delusion great ! 
 Oh! wlu\t retribution came! 
 
 A few. 
 
MYRIOSAMA. 155 
 
 A noble few. of brave and faithful men. 
 
 One here, one there — like rocks in the stormy sea, 
 
 Who knew, or thought they knew — at least 
 
 Had faith— that all this rage and rant 
 
 Was wrong and rotten at its core. They held 
 
 Unto theii-^aneient faith. Xo eause forgrief 
 
 Had they. Oppression's weight from the nation's arm 
 
 To tlieni had never eome. Nor eause had they 
 
 For disaffection now, nor ever had. Tiie evil'of 
 
 The bold design to break tlie people's arm. 
 
 And build upon the ruins of a happy nation's hopes 
 
 A house of doul»tful name, they plainly saw 
 
 And greatly feared. The}- swore tliey would 
 
 Not yield. ' The names their fathers bore 
 
 Had charms still left for them ; the stars upon 
 
 The nation's ensign represented strength 
 
 And majesty with equal liberty for all. 
 
 They had a strong, abiding love for all 
 
 The'solid work their fathers did. and saw 
 
 No good, but nnich of evil to arise from rash 
 
 Attempts, as causeless as they were so wrong. 
 
 To batter down the ramparts of our hope. 
 
 From hapi)}- homes of cheerful life, 
 
 From children, wife, and all, in hurried haste. 
 
 Without a parting word — a tarewell kiss 
 
 Or kind embrace from any dear one there. 
 
 To eaves, and swamps, aiid brakes and mouutaiu 
 
 Lanes, were such as these in madness driven; or. 
 
 Still worse than this,— in many a hidden spot 
 
 Where eye of man did not observe. 
 
 Where echoes of a fainting widow's scream. 
 
 Or cry of orphan child made rashly, quickly so» 
 
 Ran through the tangled wilds, a husband, son, 
 
 Or sire with his gray hairs nestling on 
 
 His furrowed brow, the forfeit paid 
 
 To wicked, crazy men in wrath. 
 
 For faithful trust in his father's Hag; for not^ 
 
 In time of stormy sea, because the waves 
 
 Rolled high, deserting cowardly the ship 
 
 That never yet had failed to reacli her port 
 
 In time and bring him safely home. 
 
 Behold that wretched train of weeping wive? 
 And tender little ones upon the plains' 
 Of West Missouri as they slowly move 
 
150 MYKIOIIAMA. 
 
 In worn attire, and little shoeless feet 
 
 Their blood-stained prints npon the llinty rocks. 
 
 In sad mementoes leaving' there. See fainting 
 
 ■\Voman with her fevered babe in rags 
 
 Close wrapped within her anns, as on her 
 
 Faithful horse she sits, wliose tender feet 
 
 Go limping on the dusty road, while 
 
 Crving children trudge'along with weary st-ops 
 
 Beliind, their little legs scarce strong 
 
 Enough to bear their starving bodies up. 
 
 And see them as they halt upon their weary way 
 
 At some befriending shade to drink a cup 
 
 Of cool, refreshing water, and to rest an hour 
 
 On the grass. Hear their sad lament as tears 
 
 In sorrow trickle down their careworn cheeks 
 
 "VVhile story of their great misfortunes do 
 
 They tell: how roving desperadoes came 
 
 At dead of night, and fron\ their last embrace, 
 
 Amid tlieir cries and prayers, tlieir lather tore 
 
 And dragged him to some limb, or cave, 
 
 Or stream, from whence he never more returned; 
 
 How then they came again and bade the household 
 
 Leave witiiin'a day the home they loved 
 
 And search a place where sucli as they 
 
 Might stay; liow when they left and looking back, 
 
 They saw'the smoke rise up from tlieir burning liouse. 
 
 Then hear them tell of other father there 
 
 More fortunate than theirs, whose neck. 
 
 By reason of liis zealous watch, escaped 
 
 The halter of the wretched men who haunt 
 
 The hills. He hides himself wliere'er he can, 
 
 And creeps and crawls from place to place 
 
 About in constant fear of death. At night 
 
 "When darkness veils the earth, some trusty friend 
 
 His welcome food sends out to him by hand 
 
 Of Jim or Sam, or otlier faithful black. 
 
 Behold that line like train of moving ants, 
 "Where frightened men are stealing to and fro 
 With tread ot cautious pace, a station here 
 And there along the dangerous route in cave 
 Or friendly house, where blistered feet might rest 
 And get a draft of cooling air; then hear 
 Them tell of treatment they received at hands 
 OfmcTi by passion crazed :"how women wept 
 
MYKIORAM.A. 15/ 
 
 And praj'otl o'er mangled bodies of 
 Their murdered deadriiow families -svithin 
 An hour or a da}', beneath the overhangin^ir throat 
 Of lauiess men, did leave their burning homes 
 And all they held most dear on earth, without 
 A change of clothing or a dime to purchase food ; 
 How men, gray haired and trembling on 
 The verge of death, were pulled and dragged 
 About from tree to tree behind a crazy inob. 
 Then hanged or shot or both, and all 
 Because they could not face their God and cry 
 *' Disunion "* in the hills of Tennessee. 
 
 Such pictures might be multipled 
 
 To many — many more, by way of painting 
 
 What the jx^nalty of treason was 
 
 To that the maddened people taught 
 
 In those alarming days when God, it seemed, 
 
 A -strong delusion' sent that people might 
 
 'Believe a lie.' So widely spread this wild. 
 
 Unregulated zeal of passion and of hate. 
 
 That these, and such as these were common things 
 
 Wherever union loving men appeared 
 
 And held their heads above the stream 
 
 Which rushed with deadly current o'er the South. 
 
 To North we now will look. The news 
 
 Of Sumpter's liiU like mountain lire spread 
 
 Throughout the anxious land ; the people thought 
 
 That time had come the insult to resent. 
 
 The President for soldiers quickly called ; 
 
 Kentucky and Missouri Hahed 
 
 Defiance' back, and blew a blast of scorn 
 
 In the face of the nation's honored Chief. 
 
 Insulted thus on every side, the deep. 
 
 Slow current of that native pride which tills 
 
 The hearts of liberal minded men toward that 
 
 They honor as a common good, began 
 
 To swell its channels and increaselts speed. 
 
 Responsive to their instincts of the right. 
 
 Their hearts began to beat and fiister beat 
 
 Until excitement of intense degree 
 
 Like earthquake shook the land. 
 
 The PEOPLE of the north were rising now. 
 
 'Twas not that wild, terrific flood of hate. 
 
158 MYlllOKAMA. 
 
 That bitter ra;;iiig of impassioned blood, 
 ■\yhieh inundated all the frantic South; 
 But 'twas a .n'rand upheaval of the wave 
 Of popular devotion to tlie nation's flag. 
 As thouoii Jehovah svere beneatli tlie swell 
 To re.ii:ulate its rise and fall. Carlisle 
 Her little g-arrison did send, and like 
 The snow-tlakc dropped from raountnin hitj-hf, 
 Increased its size and weight as toward 
 The Capitol it went with many braves 
 Of Pennsj-lvania's tribe. From Boston, too, 
 They came ;— but why repeat the names 
 "Where all. like gathering streams, did flock 
 To Washington^ and none behind save those 
 Who farthest came ? In court house, church 
 And school the people met in nervous. 
 Anxious meeting to resolve their willing aid 
 To him wlio held the reins of government, 
 And bid him to replace the fallen flag 
 On Bumpter's broken walls no matter what 
 The elTort cost. ' Twas this tliat pained them most; 
 That hand of an American sliould raise 
 Itself against the Stars and Stripes. 
 And war upon the nation's soldiery. 
 Atonement proper for tliis rutliless act 
 Would then have stayed tl>e rising tide and made 
 The people's pulse beat easier; but in 
 Reply to overture, derision came and scorn. 
 Endure this long they could not— did not; but 
 As called they went, and tliousands more. 
 From sho]^ and fai-m and bench ; from press, 
 From pulpit and from counting house, they went 
 In long and earnest lines of ])atriots. 
 No burning houses, with their lurid sm'oke 
 To terrify the night; no hanging victims of 
 Malicious hate to horrify frail women; no, 
 Nor weeping trains of starving refugees. 
 Or homeless^ wandering, hiding patriots. 
 Resulted from this rapid gatliering of troops 
 As might be seen in southern lands. 
 No conduct unbecoming earnest men 
 Unless, indeed, some isolated case, 
 Where blatant fool, forgetting sense, did bray- 
 Behind his shield for •' southern rights " the while 
 Ashamed to fight, and poured his sickening slang 
 
MYRIORAMA. 159 
 
 Into the rear of those who armed themselves 
 For war. On him the storm came sorelj' down, 
 And God forgave the people*s wrath. 
 
 The action and the haste ; this «-reat 
 
 Commotion of the moving mass of men 
 
 B}' business rule was governed, and it came 
 
 And went b}' systematic change. The passion 
 
 Kindled— not of hate or malice born— 
 
 Betoolv irself to zealous effort at redress 
 
 Of this great national wrong; and while 
 
 The hand upraised in opi)osltion there 
 
 Was struck to shame, no warfare waged 
 
 Because opinions did conflict, and feeling did 
 
 Not run to blood. 'Twas after this that baser thoughts 
 
 Were nursed. Miien graves began to multiply 
 
 Themselves on southern fields, and northern homes. 
 
 Bereaved of dear ones dead, wore crape 
 
 Upon their doors and still the war went on. 
 
 Missouri was the lirst to feel the grasp 
 
 Of the nation's hand, when in the secret den 
 
 Did Lyon throttle treason there. He vratched 
 
 The glowing current as it flashed 
 
 From traitor Jackson's hand—- An insult 
 
 To Missouri that the President should want 
 
 Her troops to help maintain the law.*' He snatched 
 
 The tooth, fresh poisoned for the fatal plunge. 
 
 From out the opening mouth Secession hid 
 
 From public gaze, and buried it. 
 
 Brave man. by friend and foe alike 
 
 Admired; within the hearts of all his men 
 
 Is reared a monument undving to 
 
 His generous and devoted heart. 
 
 True soldier as he was, when duty called. 
 
 It found him at his post. Long live his name : 
 
 Forever green the spot that drank his honest blood. 
 
 By proclamation issued from the chief, 
 
 The South was asked again to cease her wicked war, 
 
 And to her allegiance fiiithfully return. 
 
 Advised and counseled then as father would 
 
 His child, that danger might arise 
 
 From further disob^edience. But nought 
 
 Of good did this appeal effect. It stirl-ed 
 
160 MYRIOKAMA. 
 
 The nerves of Davis ami his men t-o ji,rcntei' \vratli 
 Aud lixed determination. 
 
 The armies met ; 
 And in the first eni^"ao:ement of tiiis bloody- war. 
 The Union troops were routed in most 
 Terrible confusion. Not trained to use 
 Of musket and of Jield piece ns the men 
 Opposed to then\ had ])een ; — their captains and 
 Themselves from peaeetul homes just fresh, — 
 The\- little knew the skill and ardor of 
 The^nen who followed Lee. Position strong', 
 And chosen for the day ; the leader learned " 
 In all the military' art; the soldiers young 
 And panting for the conllict near, they made 
 A brave heroic light. " Manassas lost 
 And won,"' along the wires Hashed to North 
 And South. Enthusiasm tlushed the Southern troops 
 And nerved their victor arms. Upon 
 The Union heart determination seized 
 With stronger hold, and lessons learned upon 
 This iirst fouglit Held were put to useftil end. 
 The soldiers gathered into camps and trained 
 Themselves for war. From East, from North, 
 Northwest they came and learned 
 The art destructive. 
 
 Many a shop 
 And factor,y, wliere heretofore r.he busN" hum 
 Of peaceful industry was heard, now rang 
 And sounded with a warlike ring. 
 By reason of the treachery of Floyd, and his 
 Brave coadjutor, Cobb, the nation's armories 
 Were empty, as was the treasury deplete. 
 But soon the brain and muscle of the people 
 Were at work, and wide extended operations now 
 Began for strong, determined battle. 
 Douglas said,— -the (luickest way to peace 
 Is most stupendous preparation for" 
 Its opposite, and so the people felt. 
 W^ith speed almost miraculous, were arms 
 And army stores created, while Chase began 
 To fill the purse, and Cameron to clothe the men. 
 
 A year had gone. The South was fortified 
 
MYRIOEAMA. 161 
 
 In all her strongest points. Tlie nation's arms 
 She held, with many more from foreign realms. 
 Her lands tlie no<xroes tilled while wliitc men went 
 To war. Enrolled were all her tif^fhtins' men, 
 Equipped and well intrenclicd behind 
 Her hundred eartiiworks built by slaves, she now 
 Displayed a bristlino; front. From mountains of 
 Virg-iiiin, "long Ohio's banks, and westward on 
 To Mexico, she drew defensive lines. 
 
 Another warning from the Chieftain now,— 
 
 A kindly warning and a fatherly rebuke. 
 
 In answer other insults came brim full 
 
 Of scorn and proud detiance. Xow an overture 
 
 From him wiio oft had prayed for peace 
 
 On any reasonable terms and quite as oft 
 
 Met curses in response, was made a law. 
 
 An ofter by the Union of a recompense 
 
 For each and every slave within the land, 
 
 Bj' Lincoln's lionest lieart proposed to save 
 
 The flow of blood and all the ills that slept 
 
 Behind the curtain of the coming time. 
 
 To-day is law. But what ertect upon 
 
 The southern mind this fair propos:\l had, 
 
 The sequel shows. By careful watch 
 
 Of captains o'er their men the warm 
 
 Desire of the North for peace was kept 
 
 Unknown in Southern ranks; and thus 
 
 The early spirit kept alive which taught 
 
 The silly dupes that North-men would 
 
 Not press their tight. 
 
 They came however, in 
 A thousand streams from all the busy hives 
 Of th' swarming land. From day to^lay, 
 And week to week th' incessant hood 
 Came pouring in. In massive boats upon 
 The running"streams; o'er rattling rails 
 And on the dusty roads, in lines back reaching to 
 The outer borders of the land, they came; — 
 Their coming knew^ no end. While down 
 Themountains on Virginia's north the cautious young 
 McClellan led his valliant men, the rising man 
 Steamed up the Tennessee and proudly raised 
 His banner on her banks where Ilenr}' fell. 
 Across the rocky blufls his noble armv moves 
 11 
 
162 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 In columns solid, lon^?: and deep ; 
 
 Deploying then in skillful lines among 
 
 The thickly wooded hills, he falls upon 
 
 The enemy's defence. By day, through deep 
 
 Ravines and over rocks, up hill-sides steep 
 
 And strewn with trees in tangled mass, 
 
 The gallant soldiers fought ; by night, in snow 
 
 And ice they laid upon the cold damp ground 
 
 With earth for bed and heaven's starlight 
 
 Overhead their counterpane. Three days 
 
 And nights they battled hard with many strong 
 
 Defences in their front. Xot only hills, 
 
 And hollows deep and yawning ditch ; 
 
 But line in front of line of earth-worivs thrown 
 
 Around the tree-top-tangled hills 
 
 All manned by soldiers brave as ever stood 
 
 Upon a parapet. The outer line obtained. 
 
 Within, the obstacles less numerous 
 
 And intricate, with oft repeated charge 
 
 Amid the trembling tramp of heavy rushing horse, 
 
 The deadening roar of constant cannonade, 
 
 The muskets' rapid, rattling jar, like tread 
 
 Of caravan upon some nnght}' bridge ; 
 
 Through smoke and iron nail, 'mid dead 
 
 And dying, did the weary braves pursue 
 
 The tight until the Stars and Stripes o'er walls 
 
 Of Doiielson in heaven's breezes played 
 
 And purified surrounding atmosphere. 
 
 To Shiloh then, Grant led his faithful men 
 Where Buell came, and proud success upon 
 The Union banners perched,— a just reward 
 For honest warfare waged. 
 
 Xot all success 
 However, was the fate of Union arms. 
 With varying result the contest raged from point 
 To point ; upon one single t:>loody field 
 Repeated battles fought ; now one, the other army. 
 Then its banners planting o'er it, till the time 
 When all believed the war was war indeed. 
 
 Though oft defeated and with havoc great. 
 This only nerved the northern arm to f>-reater strength. 
 More men were called, and like a rolling sweep 
 Of avalanche they came from every quarter of 
 
MYRIORAMA. 163 
 
 The land. Six hundred thousand men 
 Almost within a day were mustered, armed 
 And thrown upon the field. A million now 
 And more of Freedom's sons, with hearts 
 Emboldened by a consciousness of rig-ht. 
 With glittering sword and bayonet set 
 Around the frowning ramparts of the South 
 Were tightening up their iron coil. 
 
 The noble hearted Lincoln, patient, brave 
 And generous as he was, looked now 
 Upon the scroll which hung be3'ond the veil 
 That shut the future out. He siiw the prop 
 Sustaining all tlie framework of the war; 
 He saw that servile blood supplied the veins 
 And arteries of all the power in the south ; 
 He saw that all her fighting men iiad nov,' 
 Deserted field and study for the fight 
 While slaves rebuilt her wasting foi'ts. 
 He called his people unto him and said : 
 
 '*The confiict irrepressible goes on 
 
 Nor weakens aught its strength the while. 
 
 But stronger grows in virulence and power. 
 
 The stars or slaves must yield ; which shall it be ? " 
 
 The People answered,—" SLAVES ! " 
 
 Once more he sent his warning voice abroad : 
 
 *' An hundred days, " he said ; '^^ an hundred daj^s I give 
 
 You to abandon your mistaken work 
 
 And come again in peace into the liou?* 
 
 Our fathers built. Forgiveness then 
 
 A warm and kind reception if you .come. 
 
 An hundred days, and if the fight does tiien go on, 
 
 I'll turn the key which locks your servants' chain^. 
 
 An hundred days in wliich to save yourselves 
 
 And slaves. The Union must be saved. 
 
 Come back. Be not deceived : Come back. " 
 
 Like those that went before, this warning brought 
 A sneer and bound in closer union still 
 The fevered South. '* 'Tis now discloscd.j'' sftid they 
 "What oft we prophecied in the beginning: 
 These vandals want our slaves. *' 'Twas this 
 
164 MYEIOKAMA. 
 
 From that day on that gerved as battle cry and kept 
 The soutlicrn licart alive to wa^re its war. 
 
 The hundred days had passed, and still 
 
 The war went on. It came. Th' uplifted hand 
 
 Had fallen. Ag lorious light as of a thousand suns 
 
 Burst out in th'' Southern sky and lit 
 
 Up all the land. A voice as soft and sweet 
 
 As starlight's speech to a slumbering lake, 
 
 In every cabin whispered to the sleeping slave: 
 
 "You're free ! you're free ! Slavery Is dead ! " 
 
 Four millions then of slaves rose up and clasped 
 
 Their bony hands together o'er their heads, 
 
 And shouted " Thank the Lord ! O ! Thank the Lord 1 
 
 His holy name be blessed forever ! O ! 
 
 Our day at last has come ; — we're free. 
 
 We're men and women now. Xo more we'll see 
 
 Our children sold and bought, nor see the hand 
 
 Of traders lead our wives away. God bless 
 
 Old master Abraliam, and spare his life 
 
 A thousand years to spread the blesuings of 
 
 His good and honest nature round ! 
 
 He's planted Liberty's jewel here, and in 
 
 The family of Freedom' will we keep it. 
 
 God bless the Stars and Stripes ; and may 
 
 They never cease to wave ! God bless 
 
 The Union Army now and evermore ! 
 
 God bless us and our children ! God bless 
 
 The world — the whole great world I 
 
 O I Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Bless the Lord I " 
 
 And a rain of joyful tears bedewed 
 
 The very earth. The slave was free. 
 
 Another year Iiad gone. Kentucky now 
 Missouri, and their sister Tennesse*^e, 
 With soutliern Louisiana, were in hands 
 Of Union men. The battle tlags. besides 
 Their stars, now bore a shield, behind 
 The which a flying slave might shelter find 
 From heavy chains and their effects 
 Still lingering in the hearts of men ; and soon 
 They came. In herds, like famished cattle on 
 
MYKIOPvAMA. 165 
 
 The arid plains; in rags and wretched filth 
 
 And up from these tli rough every pliase 
 
 Of garb and kind of dress^to those who wore 
 
 Their master's coat or mistress' frock; 
 
 The old, the j'oung; the sick, the well; in wnnt, 
 
 With means; on foot, on horse, on crutch ; 
 
 In carts and wagons old ; pure black, 
 
 And almost wliite with every shade between ; 
 
 Of feature Saxon some with raven hair 
 
 As straight as ever Indian wore, and down 
 
 From these through every shade of color and 
 
 Of look to Guinea" face and head. They came, 
 
 And constant was their coming. 
 
 Two hundred thousand of their men 
 
 Were mustered in the line, and side by side 
 
 With Union soldiers helped to earn 
 
 Their liberty. Tlirough all those anxious days 
 
 Of blood no hand of slave against his master's head 
 
 Was ever raised. In patient hopefulness 
 
 He served his j'ears, a faithful, trusty friend. 
 
 Whatever else is said, all mouths are ever stopped 
 
 From charge of blood or treachery on him 
 
 Unto the hand that bought and sold his sons, 
 
 So long as he was chattel, thing. But now 
 
 As property of enemy in war. the Sovereign will 
 
 Declared him contraband, and taught 
 
 Him how to carry arms. 
 
 The war 
 Was earnest now. The passion and the rage 
 With which the Southern heart at first was tired 
 Began to cool and soften down toward reason. 
 Experience had taught them the deception wrought 
 Upon them when tlie storm was raging iirst. 
 A light at times came from the north, 
 And'some mj^sterious attraction drew 
 From many a chosen band one two or more 
 Of men who saw the day was lost. 
 And further saw their interest and true 
 Position in the fight was on the other side. 
 But still the conflict spread and grew 
 In terrible intensity. 
 
 Defensive war 
 A time did Lee abandon as not best 
 And ran his lines across the border 
 
166 MYRIORAiMA. 
 
 Into Fennsylvani:i's Capitol. At Carlisle, 
 
 A tribute to his arms he levied, and a shell 
 
 Or two, — reraimlors of his presence, — lefc 
 
 He there, and burned the ancient barracks 
 
 Standing on the green where many a soldier trained 
 
 In honored times gone by. To mark 
 
 His trail in ruins left he Chambersburg; 
 
 And then to show the peo])le war washout, 
 
 And its necessities to teacli. he took 
 
 Their animals away. But th' old Keystone, 
 
 And by iier side the Einpire of the east, threw in 
 
 Their '-boys in blue" until the valley of 
 
 Old Cumberland did tremble with 
 
 Their heavy tramp, and Lee reversed his plan. 
 
 With fatal 'wounds tlie flovv-er of 
 
 His gallant army pierced at Gettysburg 
 
 Where Reynolds fell and with him twenty 
 
 Thousand Union braves. With great 
 
 Precision fell he back to Richmond and 
 
 Her eartlien walls. 
 
 If aught before 
 Were wanting to increase the battle l?eat, and breed 
 A stronger zeal in northern Iiearts, this break 
 Of Lee across tlic lines supplied the neod. 
 Their spirit from that fatal lionr grew 
 More daring, reckless and determined. 
 Then prison dens and liospitals grew fast 
 And tl»ick, and women came in clouds 
 Witli healing in their hearts to minister in love 
 To need}', fainting warriors in their need, 
 Tliey came to watcli and fan tlie dying 
 Soldier on his couch and wipe the death-damp oil" 
 His manly brov/. They came to work, to soothe, 
 To sing, to pray and scatter blessings in 
 Their path. Like angels to tlie weary shepherds on 
 Judean hills, tlieir welcome voices cheered 
 The gloomy night of deatli and made 
 The (\vinir soldier feel how sweet her touch 
 Upon his aching heart; how strong is woman's faith; 
 How deep her love; how patient her distress. 
 Oh, liappy, cheerful, loving, patient woman ! 
 How oft your hand lias softened down 
 A hardened pulse and bathed a burning wound; 
 How oft 3'our soothing tongue has cooled 
 A fevered head and sung it into sleep; 
 
MYRIORAMA. IG? 
 
 How oft yonr thonsnnd little, o-entle, nn'stic 
 
 Kindnesses relieved a ptirchina; thirst, 
 
 Has dressed a drippin^i? wound and stayed 
 
 The march of death; how often has 
 
 Your angel voice made beautiful and bright 
 
 The pathway of the soldier's parting spirit to 
 
 TJiat purer land above. 
 
 How noiselessly 
 Her little work she does. From cot to cot 
 With fairy step she goes upon her round 
 Of love; the bloody blanket she removes; in soft 
 White drapery she now enwraps the iron bed ; 
 The dusty, blood-besprinkled coat removes 
 From off'the pale, sick soldiers arm and clothes 
 Him in a new clean gown. The sickening smell 
 Of putrefying wounds andj'otten blood. 
 By some mysterious method she removes ; 
 Her little vials of delicious odor brings; 
 Her bundles too. of snow-white cloths of every shape 
 And size. Her voice, her footstep and 
 Her touch, make all things new and happier 
 And better wherever she appears. 
 Her presence brings repose and pleasant change 
 As silent as transition from tlie niglit 
 Unto the morn. — so happj^ and serene. 
 Can soldier ever cease to love her name ? 
 Can he forget that v.-oman was his friend 
 And best companion in those dark 
 And gloomy days ? Is there soldier in 
 Tlie land who lias not been a better son, 
 Or husband, father, since in hospital 
 And on the blood}' field he learned 
 The value of a faithful woman's love ? 
 
 The churches sent their missions out with stores 
 Of pleasant food by woman's hand prepared 
 For hospital and field, wherever soldier lay 
 In need; the schools sent out tlieir pioneers 
 To teach the slave his name; the Government 
 Did throw its strong protecting arm around 
 The ragged freed man and the beggared refugee, 
 And fed them with a liberal hancK 
 
 The grand machinery combined 
 
 Of all tlie mighty North was now at work. 
 
108 MYllIORAMA. 
 
 The cliuroli, the scliool, the shop, the court, 
 The plow, the ]u-ess, the hand, the brain. 
 The heart, the head, the women and the men ; 
 All, all were now exerting- every nerve. 
 A few of Naniccaeii's sons, 'tis true. 
 Their ancient blood deserted and did run 
 To Kinn'craft's soft embrace awa^-, but then, 
 When (danger passed returned they all 
 t50me what ashamed, quite true and ri^^lit, but still 
 Thev came; and Iheir absenting:; worked 
 No evil save their ov.n disgrace. 
 
 The sinews strong of war were stretclied, and proved 
 
 Its dreadful cruelty. At Vicksburg Grant 
 
 Unlocked tlie west, while Rosecrans 
 
 Stood watching at the northern door. 
 
 And Meade was at the East, and Butler, 
 
 AVitli brave Farragut and Torter, in 
 
 Their smoking monsters at the iSouth. 
 
 Surrounded tlius by strengthening wall 
 
 Of lire and sword, the faithful band inside 
 
 Made war as never they had done, the while 
 
 The l^nion lines in blue, in circle after 
 
 Circle growing less, did tighten up their coil. 
 
 No haUing now for winter or recruit; no place 
 
 Of rest biVt on the busy march; 'twas one 
 
 l^nceasinu'. cruel war unto the end. 
 
 The oU'er of a full, free amnesty to all 
 
 Who would abandon now their failing cause. 
 
 Was made by him whose he:irt was all 
 
 The time for i)ca<-e— the faithful President, 
 
 But his kindly ellbrt fell stillborn. 
 
 From Mission Kidge, and down its side?, 
 
 Throuii'li hills and tangled forest, ran 
 
 The stricken legions of the South in great 
 
 Dismav, and Ohickamauga tells a tale 
 
 Of bloodv, bloody war. The Mississippi free; 
 
 The theater of strife contractiug fast, 
 
 And still the wave went rolling on. 
 
 At Bichmond, I.ee defied advance 
 
 For davs, and weeks, and months, until 
 
 The very rocks of old Virginia frowned 
 
 In warlike mien, and opened up 
 
 Their rugged jaws for gruve- of Union 
 
 Soldiers, while the bloody drama lengthened 
 
MYRIORAMA. 169 
 
 Out its plav. 'Tw«is here amid the hills 
 That Secio-ewifk fell. The soldier of the West 
 Went round tlie hills to give the battling troops 
 New zeal and hope — (for the very presence of 
 The modest chieftain. Grant, Avas hope itself,) — 
 While Sherman,— great exemph^r of 
 The Northern heart and will. — took up 
 His wondrous marcli, — unprecedented for 
 Its peril— toward the sea. He gave 
 New impetus to all hi.* feeders, and 
 Thej' poured supplies by tons into his train. 
 On everv line of trallic.'on river and on land; 
 From all the farms and stores, through hills 
 And valleys; over plains ami on the rivers, came 
 The smoking boats, and rattling trains, 
 With bread "and shoes to save his men. 
 With Thomas in his rear to guard the veins 
 Througli wliich he drew his blood, the noble 
 Chieftain with his brave command, embarked 
 Upon the dangerous voyage. From Chattanooga 
 Fought his way through many a blood}* lield, 
 With gallant 3'oung McPherson at his side, 
 (Who'fell, the' bravest of the brave.) o'er hills 
 And mountains, and through valleys deep; 
 No halt or resting place he" found. Atlanta 
 In his grasp, to praying, tearfuL helpless 
 People^tliere, he told the cruelty of war, 
 Necessity of peace, and how the nation's heart 
 Was beating for return of due submission to 
 The law. Fen never wrote a braver line 
 Than Sherman's answer to Atlanta's prayer. 
 Controlling now this center of the South, — 
 This active heart from whence her outer 
 Pulses took their steady Ijeat, — four arteries 
 He snapped apart^ and'then began 
 Her dearest blood to flow from every vein. 
 
 Three columns moving — none knew where 
 Save him who led the whole, while sending 
 Back the news tiuit he was loose from all 
 Behind, and looked for help ahead, 
 Th' intrepid warrior led his armies on. 
 The waste and desolation in his wake. 
 As through the heart of Southern land 
 He moved, disclose in no mistaken voice 
 
170 MYKIORAMA. 
 
 How sorel}' felt his travel was. 
 
 'Twas'narrowino; now to near the end. 
 While Grant in iront, with aid of rich, 
 Exhaustless people at his back, sustained 
 By captains brave as ever wore a ])lame — 
 With Hancock, Warren, Meade and 
 Hundreds more, with thousands humbler names 
 As good and brave as tliey — beneatti his eye 
 To catch its every glance", — with Slieridan, 
 The dauntless cavalier, and all his fearless host 
 To change the tide, did pour unceasing shot 
 And shell in face of Kichmond's frowning walls, 
 The great leviathans with Sherman came 
 Up slowly in the rear of Lee. 
 
 A cloud of gloom 
 And black despair fast settled now upon 
 The city doomed to yield. A last and 
 Powerful struggle yet remained and only that. 
 That brave old soldier Lee, for truly such 
 He was, now ventured out, to tind 
 Some avenue of safe escape, but he 
 Was near Ids end, and so lie saw. He struck 
 Now left, now rio-ht, now forward, then 
 To rear, but every channel closed against 
 His flight. Like locusts came the assaultijig hosts, 
 In front and flank and rear; by day, 
 By night; with shell, with shot; on foot. 
 On horse; — no end to the pouring stream 
 Of warring men. He looked to rear, as back 
 Again he fell; far, rising dust betokened 
 Danger there. Again lie struck, but there, 
 Brave Sheridan drove off the blow. 
 Across the line lie called to Grant 
 Who had already prayed him cease his war. 
 The Chieftains met. He tendered up his sword. 
 But no : too brave and fair a soldier he 
 For such humiliation, and too generous 
 For that the captor hand. His word was good. 
 No : lie kept his sword by G rant's command. 
 The din was liuslied. The ])ravc. deluded men. 
 So faitlifuUy and long their gallant 
 Leadei- followed, now laid down their 
 Burnished arms in silent pence beneatli 
 The nation's flag, and then, with food 
 
MYRIORAMA. 171 
 
 From former enemies' stores in cheerfulness 
 Dealt out lO I'eetl them on their way, 
 Unto their homes returned they all with but 
 A sin<jcle promise, — that t' "obey the law. " 
 And then to Sherman Johnston :^'avc liis men, 
 Who all, without a struggle, laid' their arms 
 On pile's beneatli the banner they'd insulted, and 
 As those of Lee had done, returned. 
 
 A wild, unearthly shriclv came rushing o'er 
 
 The troubled land just then like frantic cry 
 
 Of a drowning child at sea. The nation's heart 
 
 Was sick and faint. O ! foul, remorseless 
 
 Demon, clad in human garb! When peace 
 
 And gladness beckoned and the people saw 
 
 The end at hand, thy deadly ball 
 
 Must pierce that noble brain which then 
 
 Was framing amnesty for all, and send uncalled 
 
 To heaven best of earth ! Tiie President 
 
 Is gone. — murdered— dead ! A sickening grief 
 
 At first came o'er the i>eople's hearts, 
 
 Eevengciul hate came next, at last 
 
 The wiser, better tliouglit :— On I'.im alone 
 
 Who did the damning deed shall rest its curse. 
 
 Then Andrew Johnson took the wheel. 
 
 To west did Kasliville's hero, Thomas, take 
 The tbndered sword, and fed the wandering 
 Warworn soldiers on their journey home. 
 
 The battle 's ended and the field U .svon. The flag 
 
 Floats over Sumpter now with all its stars 
 
 fStill there, and ISTegros is a man. 
 
 The nation's law 's obeyed ; the Union 's saved; 
 
 Each golden star retains its place; and high 
 
 O'er every battlement in beauty floats 
 
 The Star Spangled Banner. 
 
17:^ MYEIOKAMA. 
 
 CHAPTER Vlll. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 Disbanding ol the armies; our political history from the 
 closeof the war to 1868. Reconstruction; the impeachment of 
 President Johnson; his opposition to Congress, etc.; rise of 
 )50uthern feeling. 
 
 We hear the heavy tramp of armies now 
 Retiring from the scenes of bloody M'ar 
 Wherein four millions men were a]-med, 
 And they our own. In columns long and deep 
 They move upon their dusty way, with weary feet, 
 But joyful hearts, to think thcii^work of death 
 Is done, and home is near. They carrj^ up 
 Their tattered banners as they march ; they hold 
 Them stitliy, proudl}' up, as though 
 The battle smoke still lingered near 
 With enemy in front. They love those old 
 Scarred banners well,— are proud of every hole 
 And sabre cut that in them are. The steady eye ' 
 Of the warworn brave, wlien he looks upon 
 That proud old battle flag, lights up again, 
 And four years more he'd light to save 
 It from disgrace. 
 
 For four long years 
 They fought, and bravelj^ fought, but now they halt. 
 They stack their arms in lines, and stand 
 Their banners up against the guns. 
 Their dusty, sun-cracked knapsacks they 
 Unsling, and lay them on the ground. Adown 
 And up the lines they look upon the implements 
 Of w^ar before them spread, a proud, sad look. 
 A tear, a strange, unbidden tear, starts out 
 And trickles down the sunburnt cheek 
 That knew not tears when danger faced. 
 A soldier's heart has feeling left. His eye 
 
MYEIORAMA. 17s 
 
 Within its steadj^ light, holds still a tear ; 
 And when he looks as now he does, upon 
 The long, long lines of what upon 
 A hundred fields had been his best 
 Companions, the silent tears will come. 
 
 He leaves his favorite gun in friendly bands, 
 Xhen turns about and goes with strano-e 
 Emotion never felt before, to where ° 
 
 The steaming engine waits. Like rays 
 
 From fire shining out, the varied lines 
 
 Vt travel seen from business points 
 
 Where armies met and left their arms. 
 
 In trains uncounted now they're dashino" o'er 
 
 The quivering rail, distributing themselves 
 
 Along the line, one here, one there— these starrv 
 
 Ibights of home— until the whole great army 
 
 Ul the Lniou's gone away and lost itself 
 
 Among the people, 
 
 _. , . , Then see that other train 
 
 gehmd the first on every rail, where soldiers, 
 
 I'ale and sick, do sit and lie, with arms, 
 
 And legs, and hands, behind them in 
 
 ;J{;e. South. Their eyes light up as now 
 
 Iheir homes are called and anxious friends 
 
 Come in to meet and love them, and receive 
 
 inem home. How many, oh, how many such 
 
 As these in every portion of the land, 
 
 Where but a few short years before 
 
 J^one knew the art of war, or ever felt 
 
 Its curse ? 
 
 The husband comes. His tender 
 
 Trusting wife his footstep hears upon 
 
 The threshold rest; she bounds to meet him as 
 
 He stands and weeps such tears as never 
 
 gattle saw. Her tender arms around 
 
 His neck she throws, and on that manly breast 
 
 &he weeps, oh ! how lovingly and long. 
 
 fche leads him in and seats him in his home. 
 
 bhe smiles, she laughs, she looks that sweet, 
 
 Angelic look he saw a thousand times 
 
 Before, but never, sweet as now. 
 
 He clasps her to his heart again, and thoughts 
 
 l^rowd out his utterance— he simply weeps. 
 
 His soul flows out to meet her tender heart 
 
174 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 In tears : Thej' are his only languas^e now. 
 
 She looks, and starts. "Tfiat arm? " She asks. 
 
 *' At Chickamau^a left. " he answers low. 
 
 *' But you are left, thank God, " she says. 
 
 He gently takes her trembling hand and puts 
 
 It on his knee : '* Feel that, " he says. 'Tis wood. " 
 
 "But still my husband's left, and he is all 
 
 To me. " They're happy then. His duty's done, 
 
 And he's at home again. 
 
 The son unlocks 
 The front-yard gate, and walks with beating heart 
 To the old home door. There sits his father 
 In his old familiar garb, to welcome him. 
 "Brave boy." the old man saj^s. ''God bless 
 My soldier lad, " and pats him on his dusty face 
 While rising tenderness chokes up his speech. 
 The loving sister comes in wildest joy, and throws 
 Herself upon his neck and kisses him; 
 The mother then, with trembling lips, and tears 
 Beneath the glasses running down; 
 The little brothers shy, and sisters,— ail 
 So glad to see him home again. 
 His sister asks : '• Where's Charlie ? " " Dead. " 
 " And John ? " — A tear comes in the soldier's eye : — 
 That tells it all ; he 's dead too. They all 
 Sit down together round the old door-step 
 And he tells them of the war. 
 
 And so it i.- 
 All o'er the land. Go, count the homes 
 Where vacant seats are seen and names 
 Of dear ones lost are heard repeated ; count 
 The aching hearts where voids are left; repeat 
 The number of the widows and of orphans left 
 As pensioners upon tlie nation's bounty; then 
 Go, speak it to the v.orld. The tale vrill ne'er 
 Be told. 
 
 Brave soldiers of the Union Armj', 
 The nation owes 3' ou much. Your cause 
 W^as noble just and pure; your sacritlces great 
 Beyond computing, and your patriotism 
 Unalloyed. How \\e\l you fouglit your nation's fight ; 
 How long and steadfast was your work ; how much 
 You lost, how much you won. how much 
 Endured, and all for liberty and law. 
 Is written in the heart of every true 
 
MYRIORAMA. 175 
 
 American. Your names are written on 
 
 The everlasting page where all the good of men 
 
 Is penciled out. Maintain that great 
 
 And glorious record pure, and take it with 
 
 You to your graves untarnished. Let your children 
 
 Learn to love your names when those who bore 
 
 Them sleep their last, long sleep. And while 
 
 You treasure up your own, let not the waste 
 
 Of time obliterate that other charge 
 
 You have, — that sacred legacy of war, — 
 
 The name and child of him who sleeps 
 
 In shroud of blue upon the field of carnage 
 
 Where he fell. Forget him not. His work 
 
 He nobly did. He fell where others stood, amid 
 
 The fiercest fight. Go, mark his grave. Plant there 
 
 A pine — a rose — some evergreen— that though 
 
 The winter come, its leaves will never fade. 
 
 Forget him not, and save his child. 
 
 His widow, look to her : she's worthy of 
 
 Her dear lost dead. Spread fiowers in 
 
 Her path. He loved her dearly, well. Forget 
 
 Him not. 
 
 And he that lost his cause, 
 See him. With sadness in his face, he looks 
 About to find the corner stone, or other trace 
 To mark the spot he called his home four j'ears 
 Ago. His beautiful wife who bade him go, 
 Now leans upon his fainting arm, and weeps 
 To know how sadly they have fared, as thus 
 From place to place they wander, looking up 
 The landmarks of their former happy home. 
 The mansion house, the trees, the lawn, 
 All gone. The blue grass sward, v/herein 
 His happy children played in the good old time 
 Gone by, adorns the parapet of some 
 Great Fort, or embrasure where many a 
 Deadly shell came out ; and cannon balls 
 Have furrowed up his fields. Yes, war 
 Was there. They're homeless now, and poor. 
 Then proud, they're humble now. Then, slaves 
 To come and go at call, — in alTluence and ease 
 They dwelt,— how changed! They.re bankrupt now. 
 
 That other poor and sac^dened face we see, 
 Is he whose heart was never in the fight. 
 
17G MYinORAMA. 
 
 lie did as lie was bid to do. ITe goes to where 
 He left his wife and nestlings on the fatal day 
 That swept him from his home. They're gone. 
 He sits upon his humble door-step, now grown up 
 With moss and weeds, theciiimney toppled down. 
 '•Oh, where ? " he asks himself, " may they be found ? '* 
 A stranger says : '"They struggled I'lard 'in poverty, 
 And to save themselves from starving, left 
 To feed from hand the Government held out. 
 They're refugees. " 
 
 But there's another young 
 And sparkling eye that lights the air about 
 It, whose look betrays the noble thought 
 Of never yielding to despair. He looks 
 About hiin with a eareless air for those 
 Around to see, but liides his heart from view. 
 He ealls his sister to his side and says : 
 "Not all is lost, my pretty girl. This heart 
 Is manly still. I've lost my cause, but not 
 My manhood yet. Tiiese hands that never j'Ct 
 Have toiled, m'list now hold up the plow, 
 And 5'ou shall be nij^ help. Tliere's life in 
 The old land yet. Go hide away this 
 Little flag; put it in a silken ease. 
 And let it sleep in peace. For a time 
 It fluttered proudly in the breeze, but now 
 The Stars and Stripes must be our flag. 
 Put it carefully away, and keep it as 
 An heirloom. "^Don't destroy it; I love 
 It still. There, dry your tears ; have hope 
 My darling, not a fear. " 
 
 Froud hearted boys 
 You were. Your fight was bravely fought. 
 Though wrong, you did not think it so. 
 Were j'ou and those you fought, combined 
 Against a common foe, the world would stand 
 Aghast to sec our greatness and our strength. 
 
 'Tls over now. The nation gathers up its dead. 
 And side by side as when they fell, they're placed. 
 Within their last, long resting place, with little 
 Head-boards raised to tell their names. 
 Upon the little mounds the grass grows 
 Greenly up, and trees around them wave 
 Their sunlit leaves, while overhead 
 
MYPJORAMA. 177 
 
 The banner waves to save whose stars they fell. 
 But what are those outside?— those ragged mounds 
 All through the woods, and on the hills about 
 The lield wliereon did fall those sleeping braves 
 Now resting on the grassy green ? 
 They're '• Eebel graves. " Ah ! Why not have 
 Them gathered too ? They fought ; they lost ; 
 Tliey gave the people much distress ; but now 
 Thej' tight no more. Go, gather them up too. 
 
 And those that live, who, in the smoky siege 
 Were uniformed in gray, — with tliem wliat shall 
 We do? Tiiey're humble now and would return 
 To him they spurned when in their rage. Be kind 
 To them. Secure the state and tiien forgive 
 Their wrong, and let tliem be our friends again, 
 oee them strew upon the graves of those who fell 
 Their flowers and their tears. See them fold 
 Their cherished banners up and hide 
 Them from the public gaze, and now and then 
 When no one's ne:ir, display them to 
 Tleir cliildren while they tell the story of the war. 
 Shall we ask them to instruct their babes 
 To hate their fathers for their cause and curse 
 The hand that gives them bread ? "Tis not in man 
 To so demean himself and teach his child 
 To spurn him. It is better far for us and tliem 
 To make ourselves secure, then draw a line 
 Across the face of all those dreadful years; 
 Wipe all their painful memories out, and lead 
 Our erring brothers back to better life. 
 They see tlieir weakness now, and know full well 
 The strength that mastered them. They'll not renew 
 The fight. They think much better now of him 
 Who wore the blue than when they knew him not. 
 We all do know each other better now. Let us 
 Be generous to them then. Their loss 
 Was greater far than ours, and nothing gained 
 But lessons which in future will deter 
 Them from repeating this their grievous sin. 
 If punishment were needed, that they've had 
 To ver}' great extent; their slaves, their cause, 
 Their pride, all gone. Can we not forgive 
 Them then and live together friends? 
 Be merciful, be kind, be just. Wipe out 
 12 
 
178 MYKIOKAMA. 
 
 The sadLlening" lines that mar our pajst. 
 If we had done no wronjr. there mi<i-ht 
 Be more then to avenge. But much remain.* 
 Untold of wrong that^Nve have done. 
 Perfection comes not here, and all have gone 
 Astra}'. Save this one sin of theirs, we stood 
 On equal plane. As moral men and good. 
 In all things else, they stand as peers of all. 
 Give back to them their ancient rights 
 Save those their war destroyed. Xo harm 
 Can come of this if first we'save tlie state, 
 Ar d of rebellion write our hate in lines 
 Effulgent that tlie fool need not mistake. 
 The Xegro now is free. We'll clothe him with 
 The ballot ; then let us all be equals as 
 Our law intends. A sword will each have then 
 For self-protection and defense; and race 
 Or color of his skin will not debar him from 
 An equal voice in national affairs. The State 
 Will thus be safe and public health improved. 
 
 Four hideous years of raging fever passed, 
 The nation's throbbing pulse beats easier now; 
 It rests. A peaceful calm jiervades the land. 
 Like human body by disease that's racked, 
 Its progress checked,— the crisis reached, 
 Recuperation then its silent vrork begins ; 
 But every nerve by long abnormal strain 
 Is weakened and the patient prostrate lies. 
 It needs repose and quietude. The gei-m 
 Of health returning 's hidden tliere' 
 But peaceful sunshine only is the pure 
 Safe atmosphere to grow it in. And so 
 With nations,— so with us. Our every nerve 
 We strained and held them thus for j'cars. 
 Of strife so weary now we need repo'se. 
 
 To view the nation on the present now 
 We stand and back upon the country look 
 As there she basks within the glorious 
 Sunshine of that welcome peace which came 
 With all its golden fruits when half 
 A million men had wrapped themselves 
 In shroud of death for Union's sake. 
 And little less than these in rash attempt 
 
MYKIOEAMA. " 179 
 
 To take his life had died, while many millions of 
 
 The people's gold, to feed and clothe*^ 
 
 The soldiers with was spent. AVe see 
 
 The 3'outhfiil nation resting from a war 
 
 Whose like the world liad Avitnessed ne'er before; 
 
 A war wherein Vvere armed more men, 
 
 In shorter time more biitles fought. 
 
 More property destroyed, more money spent. 
 
 Than world had ever known in four short years 
 
 To any single people's land conlined. 
 
 But what result, — what end obtained ? 
 
 What questions settled, what principles 
 
 Not recognized before established in 
 
 The State ? Of gain to Union's arms how much 
 
 To ecjuipoise the balance on the otlier end of which 
 
 Do hang one half a million lives of men 
 
 And all the ills upon their death attendant? 
 
 We answer these : Secession is a crime 
 
 The nation won't excuse, or palliate its dye; 
 
 And human slaverj^ shall ne'er again 
 
 Our people's peace disturb. The^Dlood 
 
 Which in that dreadful war was spilled 
 
 And all the treasure lost. — the lands 
 
 Made desolate, the cities burned, — it seems 
 
 Was necessarj'' to intruct the people that 
 
 We are a nation with adhesive force 
 
 Sufficient to perpetuate itself, and that 
 
 The f'-reat, Eternal Friend above 
 
 Wou d not permit another people to 
 
 Arise and grow upon the earth from seed 
 
 Their own great wickedness had planted, — that 
 
 The day and age had passed when Sl.'n'er3' 
 
 Might be the corner stone of any nation new. 
 
 Secession dead, and slavery expiring fast : 
 
 To these determined facts the public heart 
 
 Ilesi:onded ; and did they who had rebelled 
 
 Declare; '• Our honor 's sealed : we will not e'er 
 
 Again renew the strife. Our slaves we yield ; 
 
 Our cL.im to independence too, as well; 
 
 Surrender all for which we waged our war. 
 
 Unto the nation's will submissively we bow, 
 
 And for the future peace of all devoutlj' pray. 
 
 No object have we now to bring distress 
 
 Anew. We've felt the pains of'war and great 
 
180 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Humiliation of ("lcfe.it. The People's banner 'a ours ; 
 To it we owe and bear allegiance. " 
 
 But though has ceased the clash of arms, 
 
 A contest great as that does yet remain. 
 
 The war of mind, a battle of ideas now, 
 
 The future of the land how best t' arrange; 
 
 How best to profit by experience learned; 
 
 What safety-valves to make and where to place 
 
 Them in the great machinery of state; 
 
 What safeguards throw around the nation's head 
 
 To make the future safe ; hoM' best to regulate 
 
 The new conditioned mass so badly torn; 
 
 How much to give how much reserve ; 
 
 What sureties to require of the vanquished men 
 
 Who yielded only wlicn tlieir strength had failed ; 
 
 How best apply the lessons taught by war. 
 
 The errors of our past must now be cured; 
 
 Destroyed our causes of disease ; and what 
 
 We've 'f^ained by such a costly war made safe 
 
 Be3^ond a doubt. If Slavery be dead, 
 
 'T must not be so in name alone; 
 
 All bulwarks of its ancient strength 
 
 Must be surrendered too. That foolisli pride 
 
 Of Caste, begotten of the institution, must 
 
 Be buried with the rotten carcass of the thinfij 
 
 Itself, and so interred that when, in time 
 
 To come, if sympathetic trump should sound 
 
 Prom bugle of ambitious chieftain who 
 
 Arranges parties politic, to call to life 
 
 The old-time bitterness which ruled 
 
 And drove free thinkers from the South, 
 
 To aid in building up his strength, 
 
 A balance power shall be left to save 
 
 The fruits of victory. won in Freedom's cause. 
 
 At least the former slave must yet 
 
 Be placed where weapons of defense 
 
 Within his own weak hands may hold 
 
 The preservation of his liberty and right. 
 
 Without the means of holding it, is freedom 
 
 Valueless. With these the slave must now 
 
 Be clothed, that in the future evolutions of 
 
 The changing times, he'll not bo trampled down^ 
 
 And made no less a slave than if he wore 
 
 His chains. He must be free indeed, 
 
MYRIORAMA. 181 
 
 And in his freedom be protected by 
 
 An equal law which governs all. 
 
 The social system of the South must all 
 
 Be changed, and to the new condition made 
 
 Conform. So long accustomed was 
 
 She to the presence and the blight of this 
 
 Devouring curse, that all her body was 
 
 Diseased, and tlirough her every pore 
 
 Was oozing out the poison of her sin. 
 
 She must now return to where she was 
 
 When in lier infancy she prayed Kingcraft 
 
 To keep his slaves away. To great 
 
 First principles of government must she 
 
 Come back that all her sunny fields 
 
 May start afresh in equal race 
 
 With other portions of the land where rust 
 
 Of slavery had never eaten up their life. 
 
 All this and more must now be done. 
 That battle rages now. Tlie end has not 
 Yet come. The Union safe, and Negros free; 
 Yet still in freedom more is meant 
 Than merely name. 'Tis thought that when 
 The struggle ends, we'll all be equal then 
 Before the law, each holding weapons of 
 Defense to parry all encroachments on 
 His rights, when color will no more be sign 
 For rise or fall of men. So maj- it be. 
 Its day has passion had. Shall reason now 
 Return and do her proper work, or shall 
 We still by hate and bitter jealousies 
 Prolong the past and deepen all its pain ? 
 
 Forgetting all the bitterness with which 
 
 His rash, impulsive nature, in the times 
 
 Of strife within his native Tennessee, 
 
 Had shown how much a man could do 
 
 And say to baffle enemy's designs, 
 
 The President, now rising far above 
 
 The common plane of passion kindled by 
 
 The deadly war, upon the anxious people did 
 
 Bestow full amnesty for all the evil they 
 
 Had done, reserving leading few, whose prayers, 
 
 As common good in after time might seem 
 
 To indicate, for i)ardon would he hear. 
 
182 ,. 3IYiUORA3JA. . 
 
 Like dews upon the thirst inp: valleJ^<, fell 
 
 This maonaniiiiity upon the Southern heart, 
 
 And people everywhere said,— 'Mvell ! " 
 
 He then, to give'the chastened Southrons 
 
 Instruments for better governuie t, ''nult up 
 
 A system of initial rules to set them on 
 
 Their feet again. He asked them kindly too. 
 
 To give to some of Xegros' . ons an equal right 
 
 AVifh them of sulfrage. and share in the 
 
 Affairs of State; but tliis did they refuse, 
 
 And in its stead decreed some "vagrant " laws, 
 
 And otlier stringent acts, that bore 
 
 Witli hardsliip and unequal Vvxi<^ht upon 
 
 The freedmcn there. In office did they place 
 
 No one who in the stormy night of war 
 
 lletained his love for Union's flag, and fought 
 
 Its battles, bnt reward to those, and those alone, 
 
 Whose h-ands were yet unwashed from blood 
 
 Of loyal men, was freely given out. 
 
 To represent them in the nation'' halls. 
 
 Such men as these were sent- and for them claimod 
 
 Admission in her gates without report, 
 
 Well knowing thac it was against t' e law. 
 
 The loyal people's representatives complained 
 
 At suHi return of faith, and thought 
 
 That those who proved in time of need 
 
 Their worth as guards on freedom's w Us, 
 
 Should rule the conquered land. They held 
 
 The matter up for further thought, and said 
 
 'TAvas better not be hasty, lest an evil now 
 
 Be done which time could never cure. The keen. 
 
 Discrijninating eye of Stephens saw 
 
 Witliin the possible results in future of 
 
 Foreshadowed combination, a g'oom 
 
 Which might eclipse the liberty, and bind 
 
 The arms of those to whom the nation pledged 
 
 Its strong protection. lie counselled that 'twere besft 
 
 To wait for better signs. Thus, a time delayed 
 
 Was restoration of the ancient law, 
 
 And Southern delegates were out of order ruled. 
 
 At this the zealous Johnson l)itterly 
 Sent back his strong, sarcastic shafts 
 Of anger, and as traitors, equal with 
 The hand that recently had laid upon 
 
MYRIORAMA. 183 
 
 The nation's throat its ruthless irrasp. 
 
 He styled some men in public estimation lieUI 
 
 Above reproach for virtues, and denounced 
 
 Their tardy disiK)sition as an act 
 
 Of treachery deserving great contempt. 
 
 Unfortunate the sequel proves of this 
 
 Most ill considered speecli. It threw 
 
 Into the very midst of all the people's liopes 
 
 A burning brand that started up afresh 
 
 The smouldering lii-es of the awful lire which 
 
 But recently consented to withdraw 
 
 Its fury and let the nation rest in peace. 
 
 From this imprudent and most ill-advised 
 
 Attack, between the two departments of 
 
 The government sprang up a contest bitter 
 
 As 'twas dangerous and long. As lawful right 
 
 The President did claim his plan 
 
 Of re-habilitation should remain untouched, 
 
 And representatives should be admitted from 
 
 His re-constructed States; and this infused 
 
 New hope into the dying Southern heart. 
 
 Perhaps not yet, thought they, all hope is lost; 
 
 And possibly in future droppings of the wheel 
 
 Of time, as signs, now ominous and growing, seemed 
 
 To indicate, the public sentiment they might 
 
 Divide, and still have power left. 
 
 Txie Congress thought it well to hasten not 
 
 Too fast in such important work, 
 
 Lest evils should arise in time from errors now 
 
 Committed, and did hence, declare that no 
 
 Authoritative restoi-ation of alTancient rights, 
 
 Without their sanction and consent, could come. 
 
 A simple plan of settlement they tendered to 
 
 The people of tlie land, amendatorj'' of 
 
 Organic law, whereby an equal system might 
 
 Prevail of power in the nation's council, and 
 
 Whereby the rule forever might remain 
 
 Tn loyal hands. It offered, too. reward 
 
 In power greater grown, to all the States 
 
 Where color was no bar to suffrage, and 
 
 Declared as equal citizens all persons born 
 
 Witliin the limits of the land and not 
 
 For crime disfranchised. This, with Johnson's own 
 
 Consent, by all the Southern States 
 
 Save Tennessee, was stubbornly refused, 
 
18i MYRIORAMA. 
 
 And here this great and honored man 
 Destroj^ed himself. Some little deference 
 To those the Northern peojDle honored in 
 The rights they claimed, would then have given 
 All the moral force of government combined 
 To work which so much needed it. 
 
 This fatal error of a patriotic President 
 
 Gave courage to a conquered people's pride, 
 
 And sad effects resulted both to him and them. 
 
 A word of prudent counsel from him tlien. 
 
 Restraining useless liopes, and urging meek 
 
 Compliance with the nation's will, had saved 
 
 Us much regret, and them a lasting pain. 
 
 A word of caution not to press but yield. 
 
 As the}" of riglit should do, would then 
 
 Have healed tlie sores which all did pray 
 
 Most ardently might cease their putrid itlow, 
 
 And not again besmear the country's face. 
 
 A word of kind advice.— that they were conq'rd men, 
 
 And should obey, but not command ; a word 
 
 Of truth, that government did not require 
 
 Surrender of all manhood nnd estate. 
 
 But simply exevy tributary stream which fed 
 
 The rushing tide rebellion emptied in 
 
 The nation's lap;— that loyalty should rule, 
 
 While those remain behind whose record was 
 
 Not fair; and that when these by acts, as well 
 
 As promise, were admitted right, and made 
 
 Secure, the end was reached ;--had this 
 
 He done, our country's peace had been preserved, 
 
 And vastly better state prevail than now 
 
 We see. But he thought otherwise, and lent 
 
 His power and his name to stirring up 
 
 Of strife and discontent. 
 
 In place of steady work 
 Restoring peace and stronger Union, now 
 The people joined the governmental war, 
 And those who never saw the smoke 
 Of enemy's gun or joined the list of them 
 Who fought when war was raging, clamored loud 
 And long against Republican aggression, 
 ' Usurpation of the Congress, and despotism 
 Of the military arm. as well a horrid want 
 Of common love of liberty, and great 
 
MYRIORAMA. 18& 
 
 Ck)rrnption in the highest places. Thus 
 A party, strono^ and threatening, rose, 
 Whose object was to ring these changes on 
 The public ear till, frightened lest 
 Their liberties should pass away forever, 
 They might be goaded to resistance, and 
 Keplace it once again in power. 
 
 This gave 
 The wasted pulses of the stricken South 
 New energy and zeal. Xow. nothing would 
 They do but wait result of contest Johnson waged. 
 The Congress then thought time had come 
 To face the danger and its consequence accept. 
 Tliej^ held the reins while o'er tlie people's homes 
 Rebellion swept like unchained thunder in 
 The troubled sk}"-; no reason saw they now 
 Whj' still another yeav or two they could 
 Not steer the gallant ship they'd manned 
 So well before. 
 
 They sent the warrior Grant 
 To hold the people still while they reorganized 
 The Southern land. For such ungrateful acts 
 As here have been detailed, tlie}^ drew a line 
 'Twixt tliose wdio had remained the friends 
 Of national supremacy', and those tliat failed 
 In this first duty of the citizen in times 
 When loyalty was in demand ; and passing o'er 
 The color of tlie skin, clothed /a/.^/\/w; men, 
 Without regard to former state, w^i'th right 
 To choose their rulers and their laws. 
 The leading lights whose glitter stirred 
 The deadly strife and chased its fury on, 
 Were all disfranchised ; and the people, thus 
 Arrayed, were taught to build them up 
 A safer, and a better law, by which the right* 
 Of all are equalized. The work is near 
 Completed now. Two years have passed. 
 And in the Congress sit the representatives 
 Of all those troublous States save three, 
 And they will come in time as well. 
 
 But one thing now remains to make 
 
 Our States that which within the cloud was first 
 
 Designed but crippled througli the years 
 
 By evil spirits' work : — a perfect and 
 
186 31YrJ0ilAMA. 
 
 An universal freedom. Through their pride 
 And persevering obstinacy, led by tliose 
 Of whom were better things expected, sons 
 Of Redlohevals tlud themselves of power 
 Stripped save that which mind on mind 
 In different planes of life exerts. 
 The negro now in all respects secure, — 
 ( Unless, indeed, the ghost of Tarcomed 
 Should rise again to curse the land ; ) 
 Why not at once restore to them 
 Their ancient rights excepting those 
 Bj'' fundamental law denied ? When this 
 Is done, and not till then, the land will bloom 
 Again as in the olden time, and not 
 On earth so free a people and «o great, 
 In all the elements which give success, 
 As happy, free America. 
 
3JYrJ0RAMA. 1S7 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 TwPZMARKS. 
 
 The United States as seen from an aerial journcv ; the Temple 
 Of Liberty; an American Presidential campaign; the recent 
 contest between Gen. Grant and Gov. Seymour; trial of Laredef, 
 
 The midniu'lit has passed and the starliofht's receding*, 
 While far aNvay east, on the y'rayish liorizon 
 We see the faint dapples of da3'"s early dawnino-; 
 Then lighter and li<^hter the morning is growing 
 And fiery gleams of the earliest sunlight 
 Are streaniii]^ in masses of glimmering splendor 
 All over tiie hills and the valleys and mountains, 
 Awaking up Nature from silence and dreaming 
 And draping tlie heavens in silvery lining. 
 
 Above the clear tide of the lucid Oliio, 
 
 With all her fair meadows and beautiful farm lands. 
 
 Where thousands of farmers are happily dwelling 
 
 Whose fields with rich harvests are heavil}'- burdened 
 
 And sending above them their delicate fragrance; 
 
 Where cities and villages, raising tlieir steeples, 
 
 In floods of the healthiest, cheeriest sunlight, 
 
 A" e looking like so manj^ innocent teachers 
 
 That point to the happier heaven above us. 
 
 'Tis here tliat we stand, 'mid this beautiful landscape, 
 
 Enjoying the sweetness of purest of mornings. 
 
 And enter upon an aerial journe}' 
 
 To pencil and sketcli out the country we live in. 
 
 Awa^ to the cast of us, pure in the morning's 
 Serenity, cautiously op'ning their caverns 
 And rocky, precipitous cliffs and bold led^^es, 
 Th« rugged old mountains of happy Xew England 
 Are robing their summits in golden adornment, 
 And silently showing a look of contentment 
 
188 MYRIOKAMA. 
 
 That mortals around them miorht well take a note of. 
 
 Beneath them the valleys with fatness o'erflowing, 
 
 Where happy and peaceful are dwelling the farmers; 
 
 And milk-maids abundant attending the dairies; 
 
 Where neat little cottages workmen are building, 
 
 And fabrics of endless varieties, fingers 
 
 Of women are constant, unceasingl}' spinning; 
 
 Where active, industrious people are busy 
 
 In every conceivable kind of employment 
 
 And making themselves and their studious children 
 
 The better and wiser because of their training 
 
 In arts that are useful and duties ennobling. 
 
 All over this busy communitj', nestling 
 
 Beneath the cool edges of many a forest 
 
 Where tenderly martins are singing their carrols 
 
 To those who attend their sequestered amusement, 
 
 No less than upon the fair bosom of valleys 
 
 Where orchards and gardens make sweet with their 
 
 t)dors 
 Surrounding encliantment; or on the great headlands 
 Where ocean comes solemnly near them with deep, 
 
 hollow roaring 
 To bathe the rough rocks and the trees that upon 
 
 them 
 Do rest in their places securel.y; or there, in 
 The villages where the mechaliics are plying 
 Their industry, filling the land up with plenty, 
 We see the neat school house and numberless scholars 
 Attending the lesions that in them are taught there. 
 The churches and colleges, airy and cleanly'. 
 That rear up their belfries in modest demeanor 
 Bestow on the land the riches of learning 
 And piety pure as is taught among christians. 
 
 To south of the region we now are surveying, 
 
 We hear the deep roar of the rock-ribbed Atlantic, — 
 
 As, washing the shores with her high rolling waters 
 
 She rises and falls again daily and nightly 
 
 With regular intervals resting, save when the Storm 
 
 King 
 His cold, chilling currents does blow on her bosom. 
 Then, rising in fury and madness, she flushes 
 Witli anger, and foamina: in desperate pfissim. 
 She lashes the rocks on her borders, and frightens 
 The ships that do sail on her surface, and sinks them. 
 
MYRIORAMA. 189" 
 
 To north do we hear the low moan of JNiagara. 
 
 As over her ledges she pours down her waters, 
 
 And foaming from bottom where plunged they in 
 
 madness. 
 The mists rising o'er it display to the watcher 
 That's anxiousfy gazing, most beautiful rainbows, 
 Then pass to the clouds for another refreshment 
 Of earth when she prays in her violent thirsting 
 For heaven to moisten her fiice. and to cool it. 
 Wc look at the fields of the Genessee farmers. 
 And see their ripe harvests o'erlaying the distance, 
 And then do we see the neat valley of Mohawk 
 Who mingles her waters with those of the Hudson 
 Which flows at the feet of the Empire City. 
 And there goes away to the South Susquehanna. 
 Through lauds of contented and happy old Keystone, 
 And near toiler southward, Po,;omac Vv'itli substance 
 That bright Shenandoah has fed her from mountains 
 And valleys of old Allegheny, where often 
 In olden time gone the wigwams of Indians 
 In peace and security were with their inmates. 
 
 To northward again do we look, on the border. 
 Where lakes and their streamlets in silence are resting ; 
 And westward from these to the wealtheir region. 
 Where miners and trappers are building their fortunes 
 In digging for copper and catching the beaver. 
 To southward of these then we come, where the 
 
 prairies, 
 Outstretching their beautiful margins, invite us 
 To pluck the fair flowers and look at the farmers 
 While they, with their reapers and mow^ers, do 
 
 shear the 
 Fair face of their fields, and do gather their crops in. 
 
 Across the deep tide of the Father of waters, 
 Missouri, with iron beneath her great mountains 
 Suflicient to cover the land with ner armor, 
 Implores us a moment to view her broad rivers, 
 Her hills, and her valleys, and fast growing people. " 
 Then off towards the sunset, we go on our journey, 
 Where elk, and the buffalo, feed in great numbers — 
 Where upper Misouri, and all her great feeders. 
 Come springing in gladness from feet of the mountain*. 
 
190 MYRIORAIMA. 
 
 From lienco the eye glances on over the vallevs 
 And widening ph'iins of the Carson, to westward 
 In hind of the miner — in hind ricli and goUlen — 
 Where vines, in their richness grow wild and 
 
 luxuriant, 
 And j'ield to the gath'rer their sweet luscious vintage. 
 To northward is Oregon, clad in her forests, 
 Where glides the Cohimbia toward the Pacitic, 
 Whose hoarse and deep voice the pioneer welcomes 
 To breathe in his health-giving currents and breezes. 
 Then soutliward th(;re lloVing tlie j'oung Sacramento 
 From mountains snow-capt in the liottestof summer, 
 Througli vallej'S rich teeming with grain and with 
 
 verdure. 
 Where cattle are pastured and w\atched by their 
 
 herdsmen. 
 
 Then backward again, o'er the great mountain ridges 
 Dividing tlie land that we love in two portions. 
 Where breezes refreshing spring up from Xevada 
 To heighten and stimulate pleasing emotions. 
 To east, and to south of us, tlieae lay the prairies, 
 With wild horses grazing near edges of forests 
 Wnich border those Ijeautiful plains and adorn them 
 As silver}' rays do tlie clouds of the morning. 
 Then, far in the distance, we see tlie good people 
 At work in the lields, while prairies around them 
 Are dotted all over with cattle there feeding. 
 With sheep, and witli goats, and many Idithe kidlings 
 That pla}'' upon ruins of ancient cathedrals 
 In olden'^time built, and on ]\[exican Missions 
 Whose mounds may be seen in those limitless prairies 
 Where springs issue forth from their life giving 
 
 fountains, 
 And groves of live oak, and of walnut abundant, • 
 Do stud here and there the plateaus of young Texas. 
 
 O'er sugar plantations of fair Louisiana, 
 
 Whose oranges come to the chamber of fever 
 
 As wine to the weary and desolate traveller, 
 
 Continuing now our hurrying journej', 
 
 We pass over forests of cotton and pine trees 
 
 Which cover the features of proud Mississippi, 
 
 And breathe the fresh odors ascerding up from thein. 
 
 Then over the live oaks of fair Alabama. 
 
MYRIORAMA. 191 
 
 Whose branches are hanging in festoons of mosses, 
 Suspended like so many silverj- garlands 
 On heads of the fairest of virtuous women. 
 We see her fair cities in midst of her oak trees. 
 Secluded and cheery, like maids of the mountain, 
 Whose hearts are the places where nature's seclusion 
 Does purify, brighten, and elevate passions 
 Directed and trained in the schools of teachers. 
 
 O'er Georgia we pass with her rocky faced hill-sides, 
 Where breezes do reach us from far ofi' Atlantic ; 
 And next to tlie Caroline sisters then sail we 
 O'er sand-hills and ridges, where odor of charcoal 
 D jes welcomely come to our nostrils. Still onward 
 To Tennessee then, where the honest old farmers 
 Consume their own produce and smoke their tobacco, 
 Wlio dwell in contentment, not feeling the anxious 
 Solicitude some of their neighbors around them 
 Do have as to coal, and to lead, and to marble. 
 Which lay in great beds in their beautiful mountains; 
 To wheat and to vines that abundantly grow there 
 In valle3'-s of greatest fertility', watered 
 By deep winding rivers and springs never failing. 
 Then over Kentucky, whose blre-grass and horses 
 Give note to her acres ; whose beautiful women 
 Aie part of the spirit that lends its enchantment 
 To this most deliglitful and ornate of regions, 
 We pass to th' beginning; and on tlie fair margin 
 Of young Indiana, whose network of railroads 
 Extending in every direction from centre, 
 Commands the attention of every observer, 
 Wnose people are ever directlj' connected ' 
 
 With all of the world tliat is lying about them, 
 We rest on the banks of the lucid Ohio 
 At 1 'int where we started this beautiful morning 
 And look at the picture we've hurriedly painted 
 Of all our land, — the American landscape. 
 
 In midst of this landscape which here we hav« 
 
 painted. 
 On banks of the beautiful, limpid Ohio, 
 There rises up now a magniticent temple 
 Of structure artistic and grandest proportions, 
 Whose spacious apartments are ample and roomy 
 T' accommodate all of the gathering freemen. 
 
192 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 It stands upon pillars on pedestals massive 
 
 In number uneven — ^just tliirtj' and seven. 
 
 They rest on a solid, a rock}' foundation 
 
 Of smooth and of j^lassy appearance and finish. 
 
 The i)illars are walls, and the spaces between t hem 
 
 Are doorways for places of entrance, and windows 
 
 For passage of light and the free air around it. 
 
 In form it is that of a regular circle 
 
 Extending up heavenward many a cubit, 
 
 Surmounted at intervals equally distant 
 
 By turrets and towers of firm architecture. 
 
 Where sentinels diligent, faithful, are vfatching 
 
 And guarding this grandest of temples beneath them. 
 
 Inside of the"circle of towers, there rises a dome up 
 
 With series of arches and braces sustaining 
 
 Its manifold parts and its wonderful angles, 
 
 Whose surface, though built up of squares and of 
 
 corners, 
 With numberless changes of commonest figures, 
 Is arching in perfect proportions and glowing. 
 Above it there rests on a S3'steni of circles 
 Each smaller than that uj3on which it is resting, 
 A dome, but of smaller dimensions, inverted, 
 In midst of which Liberty's fires are burning. 
 From center of this up there rises a column" 
 Surrounded b}^ smoke and the tlames of the altar, 
 Which serves as a beacon to suffering nations. 
 Inviting them here to the pleasures of freedom. 
 Above, and to guard it, in pride of his grandeur, 
 With eye of a keenness and lustre defying 
 The brightness and glare of the sun in his splendor, 
 Contented with duty conforming to nature. 
 And looking avv^ay all the storms that would harm 
 
 him. 
 In plumage of varied and magical colors. 
 All tinged with a matchless and silvery lustre 
 That dazzles the eye of the eager beholder, 
 As, gleaming, and flashing, it glances the brightness 
 Of sunlight that's darting its streams of effulgence 
 Upon his unspeakably brilliant apparel ; 
 Majestic and patient, and silently watching 
 In gloom of the noontide, in calm of the twilight. 
 In hush of the quiet of midnight, and J^auty 
 Of morning, an Eagle is sitting — an eagle 
 ITnchained from the mountains— liberty's symbol. 
 
MYRIORAMA. 193 
 
 He holds in his talons that glorious banner 
 Which lirst he had shown to the strugglino: pilgrims, 
 And throws to the breezes of heaven its colors, 
 Proclaiming that this is the Flag of the Nation. 
 
 At centre below, in a golden enclosure, 
 A circular area's open and empty. 
 The wliich for convenience is properly known as 
 The Forum with entrances four at the points of 
 The compass, where, out from the Forum extending, 
 With spaces between them of equal dimensions 
 Within the great Temple, in segments of circles 
 Near centre though short, to the outer edge lengthened 
 And rising as each is receding, in numbers 
 Sufficient t'receive the whole people with comfoi 
 Are seats for the pleasure of listening freemen. 
 
 From every direction the people are coming 
 
 In numbers uncounted with badges and banners, 
 
 {-'ouie tattered and war-worn, some shining and 
 
 glist'ning 
 Just fresh from the hands of their skillful projectors; 
 With music and dancing, the blowing of bugles 
 The beating of drums, and v.ith Qvery manner 
 Of musical pleasure that could be devised for 
 Atiecting emotions of patriot freemen. 
 The wealth of the country, its poverty, weakness 
 And stren'i'th do we see represented ; the masses 
 Are mixeci in an endless and curious confusion. 
 With whites in their varied and singular feelings 
 Are coming the blacks in their medley of colors. 
 Who now, they thank God, are divested of fetters. 
 All manners of classes in many gradations. 
 But massed in a general admixture of equals; 
 All shades of opinion, of look and of stature. 
 With habits and customs as equally various. 
 
 And such are the people in streams that are coming, 
 No end that we see to the lines reaching backward 
 Away in the deep of the widening distance. 
 
 Now into the Temple they're pouring incessant 
 Through each of the doorways so airy and open, 
 Dividing and seating themselves in the places . 
 Which fancy dictates as the choicest and safest., 
 13 
 
194 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 / 
 
 No noise or eonfuRion, but plea.^ant and quiet 
 Is all their deportuient; no discord or striviug, 
 Thouoli rivalry 's lurking' in nian}^ a bosom. 
 And passion and prejudice lie in abundance 
 Beneath the calm surface so peacefully seeming. 
 
 Oh ! There they are resting', this liberal people. 
 They equal in all many millions of faces 
 In circles enlarging as outward and upward 
 They rise in the limitless distance awaiting 
 Impatient the scene tliat's aproaching the Forum; 
 For this is our cherished American Court Room. 
 
 '' "W nat do they all here thus assembled ? " yoa're 
 
 asking : 
 " What national trouble now fevers the people 
 That thus in such numbers and strength they are 
 
 gathered ? '" 
 In answer, you hear, a quadrennial Law-suit 
 Is pending in this most exalted Tribunal 
 Where all of the people are jurors to try it. 
 The great Court is this of Appeals where do causes 
 Come up from inferior courts (with the reasons 
 Why Justice or Liberty has been insulted 
 As those who -are grieved do most earnestly view 
 
 them,) 
 For settlement fair as the voters decide them. 
 
 The cause that is set at this term for a hearing 
 Is one which dissatisfied freemen presented. 
 With charges of serious and threatening nature 
 Against a responsible part of the nation. 
 And noble old Laredef is the defendant. 
 
 In midst of the Forum, on pedestal granite. 
 Superbly in robes of his ermine, sits Justice 
 Presiding, while near and behind him, in grandeur 
 Unequaled, is Union in charge of his keepers, — 
 Fair Virtue, with Liberty and Independence. 
 The anxious assembly are breathing in silence 
 As listening, hear they the sound of his gavel; 
 And then, as an echo goes on through the mountains' 
 So echoed the voice of the Judge: ''Let him be 
 
 presented. " 
 The widening circles of earnest spectators, 
 
MYRIOEAMA. 15)5 
 
 To see the g-reat prisoner, highly distingnished. 
 Now looked in great eagerness, wondering only 
 What would the result be if he had evaded 
 Tlie summons the People in majesty sent him. 
 
 Look ! There he 's approehmg in lordly deportment, 
 His features decided and furrowed, but pleasant. 
 His locks are all whitened and olacidly hanging 
 Upon his broad shoulders and happily playing 
 In zephyrs tliat softly are creeping and musing 
 About in their mystical fancies and fanning 
 The faces of this multitudinous audience. 
 Beside him his sureties are modestly coming.— 
 The warrior Chieftain who, wearing his laurels 
 So honestly won in a hundred fought battles. 
 Wrings cheer upon cheer from th' assembled 
 
 'battallions 
 Who followed his lead in the days of his glory ; 
 And with him the young man,— the child of the 
 
 people — 
 Whose industry raised him to this liigh position— 
 Keward that is given to labor unceasing— 
 The honest young printer of fair Indiana. 
 
 Tlien Seymour appears in his yeomanlike garments, 
 A modest and truthful example of fairness 
 To those he conceives he has injured ; and with him 
 He brings his impassioned debater and soldier 
 Whose honors, not burdensome though they are 
 
 glaring, 
 Were dextrously won him and proudly he wears 
 
 them. 
 He reads in a voice that the multitude, list'ning. 
 May hear with distinctness each syllable uttered, 
 The long list of charges made th' indictment. 
 
 *' Dissatisfied citizens charge you with Treason 
 Corruption and murder; with burglary, arson, 
 Embezzlement; great usurpation of power 
 Unauthorized clearly by law; and we charge 
 
 YOU 
 
 With wicked malfeasance in office; and furtheb 
 With want of that love which has ever bekk 
 
 common 
 Amonq our people of freedom. What sat you?" 
 
196 MYRIOPvAMA. 
 
 " Not guilty " : Responded the prisoner, bowing 
 To Justice, who answered, *' Proceed with the trip^ ' 
 
 'Ine Counsel, arranged in their various places, 
 Are proud Redlohevals and meek Namecaep, 
 Who urge the conviction of Laredef proudly 
 Now looking around him. And bold Tarcomedraw, 
 And with him Ambition, appeared for the pris'ner. 
 
 The Plea was then entered as Justice directed, 
 And witnesses came and were sworn to speak ^"uly 
 Whatever they'd testify for or against him. 
 First spake a degenerate son of Ambition 
 Whose business it seemed, without further observing, 
 Was public commotion, that by it he'd clamber^ 
 To power for which he was eagerly thirsting. 
 His name, — Ex OfHcio, — does amply determine 
 Between the employment he had and his office. 
 
 But now that we're op'ning this solemn proce ling, 
 We'll change for the better, it is hoped, our measu^'e 
 From constantly rolling, symmetrical cadence 
 To that more expressive of deptli and of reason, 
 Where though may not thought be so pleasantly 
 
 spoken. 
 Yet argument based upon logical reason. 
 Is better expressed in a meter more nearlj^ 
 According in spirit with what it is showing 
 To eye of the careful and critical reader. 
 
 The witness then proceeded thus : 
 
 '• I know 
 The pris'ner here arraigned ; for years have known 
 Him well; and through the bloody war 
 So recently that devastated all the South, 
 I watched his wicked course. When first 
 It came, he promised fair that by the law 
 He'd wage his war without intent 
 To subjugate or make it one of spoil 
 Or conquest. Constitution was his guide. 
 He said ; from that he'd never deviate. 
 Abiding hope this gave the South tliat no 
 Unjust, illegal warfare "gainst them would 
 Be waged ; they set themselves about 
 
MYRIORAMA. lOf 
 
 To place the fight on purely le^al grounds. 
 
 Forgetting airhis sacred promises, 
 
 He called great armies out and slaughtered men 
 
 In wilful malice; he destroyed their homes, 
 
 Set fire to their cities; and for all this work 
 
 Of wickedness, he used the treasure wrung 
 
 From pockets of the people. When the armies of 
 
 The South, on terras by all well understood, 
 
 Surrendered up their arms, their cause, 
 
 And all for which so long they fought, 
 
 He instituted kinds of legislation such 
 
 As ne'er were known in our land before. 
 
 And now, in violation of the written law 
 
 A quarter million of the wisest citizens 
 
 He has deprived of right to vote, while those 
 
 "Who were the slaves of them disfranchised are 
 
 Entrusted with most full and perfect rights. 
 
 A Freedmen's Bureau too, has he set up 
 
 At great expense the negro's interest to guard. 
 
 He has destroyed the governments of ten 
 
 Great States, and in their stead built others up 
 
 On negro votes in part, while many white 
 
 And knowing men were not allowed a voice 
 
 In any State afi'air. Besides he has 
 
 Arrested men, confined them too in jails without 
 
 Authority of law save that which he 
 
 Himself had made; convicted them 
 
 And executed liis decree by force of arms. 
 
 Because the nation's oath-bound President 
 
 With such administration of the law would not 
 
 Ally himself, did Laredef attempt 
 
 By means of quick impeachment, to 
 
 Kemove him from his office. And, 
 
 Lest Courts should interfere in his designs, 
 
 He hedged them round about with rules 
 
 Abridging rights untrammelled heretofore. 
 
 To force submission to his will, he keeps 
 
 His armies in the field, and to retain 
 
 His hold of power does the people grind 
 
 With taxes grievous to be borne." 
 
 Next Freedman, as defendant's witness came ; 
 But Namecaep made objection ; '• For, " 
 Said he; " The color of his skin betrays 
 His blood. Against a white his tale cannot 
 
108 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Be told." 
 
 Said Justice then : '"Tis true his skin, 
 By small degree, is not so white as thine, 
 But still he is a man ; and if he speak 
 The truth, that 's all he' s sworn to tell. 
 Let him but speak that which he knows." 
 
 His testimony thus then Freedman gave : 
 
 "The blood which in my veins does pour 
 
 Its crimson current on is mixed, for that 
 
 Of two distinct ancestral stocks is there: 
 
 My father white, my mother was his slave. 
 
 In this respect one half my people are the same. 
 
 Two centuries and more we've toiled in chains 
 
 Beneath the lash of cruel overseers, and 
 
 The profit of our toil the master reaped, 
 
 Through all that long and dismal gloom 
 
 Of servile bondage, when the hope ot time's 
 
 Approaching crisis that should make us free 
 
 Was faintly glimmering in darkness deep 
 
 As Egypt's liight for ages in the unknown years 
 
 Of future change, no hand of power ever came 
 
 To our relief to give us of ourselves control, 
 
 Save Laredef, now here arraigned. 
 
 No friend to us so good as he. Without 
 
 His aid w^e'd still be slaves. But though he made 
 
 Us free, when war had ceased, and men 
 
 Returned to peaceful life, because of promise oft 
 
 Repeated sacredly he gave tlie rule 
 
 To whites, entrus'ting us and our fiite 
 
 To future keeping of the masters that we served 
 
 In olden time, believing they would do 
 
 Us justice. Most shamefully was he 
 
 Betrayed. Xo sooner was the power placed 
 
 In hands like those, than thick and fast 
 
 Did trouble come upon us; and if Laredef 
 
 Had given no relief, our fortunes had 
 
 Descended low and deep beneath the dark 
 
 Horizon of an awful night. His Bureau led 
 
 Us through the sea, and now we're safe on shore. 
 
 Our people love not bondage well, not yet 
 
 Adore the hand that lield us so. When news 
 
 Of our freedom came, we joined the army of 
 
 Tiie free, and this displeased the Southern men. 
 
MYRIORAMA. 199 
 
 Such laws as they conceived would keep us slaves 
 
 In fact, though free in name, they passed. 
 
 "When by the great commotion, some were thrown 
 
 Without employment on the changing times, 
 
 As '-vagrants" were they classed and forced 
 
 By law to labor when they had no voice 
 
 Whatever in tlie contract. By law 
 
 Compelled some spot named "Home'' to have, 
 
 And yet the right to purchase one denied ; 
 
 To educate our children promises were made. 
 
 But taxes on us levied paid the total cost. 
 
 And if too poor, perchance, to pay the tithe 
 
 Of each required for the public purse 
 
 Our indigent, decrepit, old and young to feed, 
 
 To grind the needed dollar out, the law 
 
 Ari-ested us, our time at public auction sold. 
 
 As "Servants" by this law and "Masters" were 
 
 Employer and employed there known. 
 
 If cruel and abusive masters proved, 
 
 No remedy the servant had but to submit. 
 
 If measure from a harvest labor had 
 
 Produced, as owners would we sell, denied 
 
 This common right of freemen o'er the world 
 
 Except our masters' written permits could 
 
 We show. Although when slaves we learned 
 
 Mechanic arts and practiced them ; as slaves 
 
 Christ's Gospel did declare, in this new dawn 
 
 Of freedom reconstructed,— Liberty redeemed, 
 
 If over anvil or the plane a colored hand 
 
 Its strength would wield, a license must be paid 
 
 Quite equal to the earnings of the trade ; 
 
 Before we dared— (although three quarters white— J 
 
 To call our kin together and proclaim 
 
 The truth in God as best we saw it, law 
 
 Of record taxed us dollars ten per year. 
 
 The truth is stated when I say the form, 
 
 And that alone, of slavery was changed. 
 
 This system of unequal laws to us ^ 
 
 Did work injustice; and without the timely aid 
 
 Of Laredef, we'd still be bound in worse 
 
 Condition, were it possible, than when 
 
 They owned us. Now that we have voice 
 
 In state affairs, our votes protect our rights; 
 
 The ballot gives us safety-valve whereby 
 
 We regulate the public engine and control 
 
200 MYRIOEAMA. 
 
 Its steam. Without the help of l^areclef, 
 
 Large numbers of us might have starved. 
 
 And not the black alone, but wliite as well. 
 
 So long as we are slaves, we've manj^ friends ;- - 
 
 Such friends as owners to their cattle are; 
 
 But when we doff that cheerless garb. 
 
 And robe ourselves in manhood's uniform, 
 
 Their vaunted friendship quickly vanishes, 
 
 Unless we use our freedom for tlieir good, — not ours. 
 
 Although two hundred years we've worked for them, 
 
 And made them what they are in wealth, without 
 
 Attempting once their blood, because we love 
 
 The hand that made us free, and won't forget 
 
 Its name, they think us enemies of them. 
 
 In numbers nearly equal to their own. 
 
 Without a voice in public councils, are 
 
 W^e left, one third and more, the slaves of those 
 
 Who know us not as men but things. 
 
 Four millions now and more we are. and soon, 
 
 If Laredef retains the rule, as men we*ll aid 
 
 Thenation to replace the money spent for us 
 
 In time of our need. In earnest now 
 
 Our people are at work. Our children learn 
 
 To read in schools established by 
 
 Good Lai-edef. No place of learning there 
 
 Was built for us till he assumed control 
 
 And none would e'er have been, if left 
 
 To Southern love of equal rights." 
 
 The Secretary then of Laredef was called, 
 And op'ning out his hundred written books, 
 He said : 
 
 " Correctly these accounts are kept, 
 And not a dollar of' the people's money has 
 Been spent except upon a warrant signed 
 According to the law, and for a purpose named, 
 Which is of record here. The vanquished South 
 Was not disposed to grant a fair estate 
 To those from slavery by war made free, 
 JVor yet to those within their midst who, when 
 The nation needed friends stood firmly by it. 
 Not learned in ways of equal freedom yet; 
 And having once against the legal rule 
 Rebelled and forfeited their ancient rights, 
 'Twas deemed but safe and proper for the state 
 
MYRIORAMA, 201 
 
 To place them under bonds a time, until 
 
 The safety of the whole was amply macle 
 
 Secure. The military arm, for tliis, 
 
 Was stretclied across the land. But now, 
 
 When equal and impartial laws obtain, 
 
 And sure protection is afforded all, 
 
 While posts of honor and of trust are filled 
 
 By those, and those alone, whose history 
 
 Is not besmeared by stain? of loyal i)lood., 
 
 T\\t YilVAtiivy yielus to civil laVv'. Tae way 
 
 For future restoration to their former rights 
 
 Ol those who once betrayed the nation's trust, 
 
 Is open, and their good behaviour will 
 
 In time effect the cure. Though I.aredef 
 
 Has held them thus at bay, 'twas not because 
 
 He'd serve his private ends, but that the rule 
 
 Might hence remain in loyal hands. 
 
 Wlien peace was first proclaimed, he was 
 
 Most generously disposed to grant them rule, 
 
 And amnesty went gladly forth to all ; 
 
 But quickly they betrayed his trust, and turned 
 
 Upon him all the power that he gave. AVitli help 
 
 Of secret agencies, their acts disclosed 
 
 A plan to tliwart the nation's will and hope 
 
 By placing at their liead the men wlio led 
 
 Them in the war. This, he said, was wrong. 
 
 And so believing, changed his generous design, 
 
 He raised another class of voters up 
 
 Who thought rebellion was at least not right. 
 
 And who'd respect the rights of Union's friends. 
 
 Then when he sent his agents out to feed 
 
 And teach the ignorant and poor, 
 
 *Twas done to save the starving refugee, 
 
 And trim the flickering flame of life 
 
 Which cruelty had nearly beaten from the slave. 
 
 His work w\as earnest, not corrupt, 
 
 And done, as he advised, to save the State." 
 
 The testimony here was ended, and the Judge 
 Proclaimed: "The argument will now proceed .^ 
 
 Then Redlohevals, proudly risincj up, 
 Addressed the jury thus, upon the facts 
 Presented : 
 
 " I appear to plead tlie wrongs 
 
202 MYKIORAMA. 
 
 My people suffer at the hands of him 
 
 Who here is charged with gravest cilmes. 
 
 We waged a war as never man had waged, 
 
 Against his usurpations, as we thought they were, 
 
 For four eventful years. Conceiving we 
 
 Were right, his conquest of our arms has made 
 
 No change in our opinions. Overcome 
 
 By force superior to our own, we looked 
 
 A last, long look upon our fallen flag. 
 
 And yielded to our captors' strength. Keturned 
 
 To homes we left, unsullied as our honor was, 
 
 We swore allegiance to the law supreme. 
 
 That oath we've never broken, nor intend 
 
 It ever shall be. Though defeated on the field ; 
 
 Though all for which we waged our war 
 
 Was lost, and fairly lost, because our choice 
 
 Was arms as weapons to decide the cause, 
 
 We claim our manhood still remains 
 
 To us, and all that common love of right 
 
 Descended from our fathers down. We claim 
 
 To be Americans no less because we differed with 
 
 Our countrymen upon an open question, and 
 
 Were willing to abide the sword's decision 
 
 Of the matter in dispute. Against the charge 
 
 That w^e are enemies to liberty, 
 
 Or to the government our fathers made. 
 
 We earnestly protest, and brand it as unfair, 
 
 Uegenerous, unjust. That spirit of 
 
 Rebellion now remains within our hearts, 
 
 Is equally untrue; and that the public v,-eal 
 
 Is not our first only wish, is false. 
 
 "The hidden memories of that awful time 
 When blood was moist'ning all our happy land, 
 Come struggling up for utterance while I speak. 
 Look here ! Look there ! The smouldering embers of 
 Our ruined cities send their curling wreaths 
 Of smoke above to catch the trav'ler's eye; 
 Our w\^sted fields, our homes destroyed, our sons 
 In death's embrace asleep; our slaves set free 
 And turned upon us with unbridled power; — 
 Are these no losses ? IS'othing these to call the tears 
 To strong mens' eyes? Xo causes these for pain 
 And inner wretchedness? Then rich, now poor; 
 Then happy, now disconsolate ; Then free. 
 
MrPJORAMA. 203r 
 
 Now slaves. Oh ! that some g:reat power would 
 Descend and j>:ive ns back our ancient state 
 Without the bondman or his chains, how soon 
 We'd rise again and show the gapino; world 
 There's life still in the noble land we love. 
 We care not for the slave; — we care not for his loss; 
 We're asking now for freedom, and that we mean 
 To have. 
 
 " Our pride 's not conquered yet. Within 
 Our hearts are raised strong citadels of life 
 Where angels guard the parapets, where shafts 
 Of malice, envy and revenge can nevei* reach, 
 And where we're safe at least from hate. 
 The glittering bayonet's a stranger there; 
 The sword has never reached its'" seat; the rods 
 That tyrants use do never scar its flesh ; 
 And there no earthl}^ process sends its summons. 
 Yes, there, at least, we're free ; and though 
 The throng around do scoif and snarl 
 As passing we are seen, oh ! there we're free 
 From all to hold communion with our God, 
 And let the cruel, wicked world go by. 
 
 But now that we have lost our cause, and sworn 
 
 Allegiance to the power we braved for j^ears, 
 
 And pledge our sacred honor for the trust, 
 
 A portion of us are denied the common rights 
 
 Of man in nations free, while those who were 
 
 Our slaves in times departed and not long 
 
 Ago. do hold the reins in part, and rule 
 
 The land which once we owned and now do dwell 
 
 In. This the work of Laredef. Responsible 
 
 Is he for all the wrongs of which we now 
 
 Complain. The loss of war, its causes or 
 
 Results, I'll not discuss. The trouble now 
 
 Is, that we're bound, and owe our bondage to 
 
 The prisoner here arraigned. He holds 
 
 Us in his iron grasp; he spurns us and 
 
 Our prayers ; he turns away from all our cries ; 
 
 He points us back to war, and tells us there 
 
 We sowed the seed we're reaping now. 
 
 He teaches madness to our former slaves, and leads 
 
 Them off" from duty ; he sends liis emissaries out 
 
 To breed dissension, strife and war. and binds 
 
 The freedmen to his plans by secret oaths. 
 
204 MYRIC«EIAMA. 
 
 He sends his troops of war to hold us still 
 While he does tie our hands, destroy our rights, 
 And set the negroes on our necks. He rules 
 By power of his might. He gives us credit for 
 No good ; will trust us none with rule. We pay 
 Him taxes, and we pay his debts ; he calls us still 
 The nation's citizens, and yet he rules us by 
 A brutal race, unlearned, unlettered, lit 
 For nothing but t' obey what others bid. 
 
 " Like swarms of insects do his minions 
 
 Come and spread their damning poison o'er 
 
 The land. They open up afresh the wounds 
 
 That war had made Avhich all would gladly close 
 
 And heal ; they sow the seed of strife and future war; 
 
 Wherein the loser is, and must be, he whose dark, 
 
 Benighted passions now they're using for their good. 
 
 Tliey keep the public feelino; strung to height 
 
 That cannot long remain without a break. 
 
 Each hour is it on the verge of terrible revolt. 
 
 Insulting to us and our former status in 
 
 The land; insulting to our prejudices, and 
 
 Insulting to our manhood's native pride; — 
 
 They fill our offices, and eat our substance up. 
 
 They conjure in their mischief-making brains 
 
 Imaginary evils, and disturb our people's peace 
 
 By dragging innocence to dungeons fit 
 
 For fiends incarnate. They do crj'- for peace, 
 
 But by their mad, infernal arts of vice. 
 
 They goad us on to rashness in our sore 
 
 Oppression, then, the evidences of our pain 
 
 And restive discontent, they use as darts 
 
 For distant enemies to pierce us with, 
 
 And make our bad condition worse. 
 
 Communication close with this their chief, — 
 
 This demon monster Laredef, they keep, 
 
 Who sanctions and opproves their wickedness. 
 
 The countless treasure which the people pay 
 
 For public use, he sends in cargoes out 
 
 To these infatuated myrmidons. 
 
 That they may bleed us in our humble homes, 
 
 Then turn and spew their stolen blood upon 
 
 Our child reus' names. Oh ! the awful flame 
 
 Of hot devouring fire he is feeding; the 
 
 Remorseless liate his tyranny is breeding in 
 
MYRIORAMA. 205 
 
 The hearts of men once free ; the storm of death 
 And dreadful devastation that his want 
 Of all the courtesies of life is fast 
 Creating in the near approaching future, sees 
 He not. His fiendish armor blinds him from 
 The pregnant truth. But when it comes, as come 
 It must, unless he cease his cursed spoil. 
 The overmastering tide of burning heat 
 Wliich shall consume him and his silly dupes, 
 Will rage unceasing and unflagging till 
 The proud old homes we love are free again. 
 We've no relief from his accursed despotism, save 
 In his dethronement and defeat. " 
 
 To this impassioned speech replying, thus 
 Did Tarcomedraw join debate : 
 
 '^The proffered aid of friends, when friends had done 
 
 Him good, he spurned, and scorned, with threat 
 
 And contumely. IS[ow he reaps reward 
 
 Of madness that himself aroused; reward 
 
 Of evil that himself has sown : reward of pride 
 
 He cherished then, and fondled to his heart 
 
 As jewel in a royal diadem. 
 
 All arts of peace and kindly feeling then 
 
 Were brought to bear upon his burning rage ; 
 
 The voice of friends he'd never known to tell 
 
 A heartless tale implored him to return 
 
 To those who loved him well, and not disturb 
 
 The country's peace : the tears of Mercy fell 
 
 Upon his frenzied heart like rain, and she 
 
 Appealed in words of tenderness and love 
 
 To all the manly instincts of his kind 
 
 To cease his wicked crusade ; but he thrust 
 
 Her pra3-ers aside as trash, and listened to 
 
 The foolish tale of Pride. Ambition gave 
 
 Him word of caution ; Wisdom gave advice ; 
 
 And Justice gave him fearful warning; but 
 
 In cruel disregard of every kind 
 
 Entreaty for his welfare and his peace. 
 
 He swore he'd take the sword, and now he reaps 
 
 Its cruel harvests. He brewed the dreadful storm, 
 
 And when its crushing tempest overtakes 
 
 His path and brings destruction on, he weeps^,; - 
 
 And prays for safe deliverance at hands ' 
 
206 MYiUOllAMA. 
 
 Of those whose warning voice he wouhl 
 Not condescend to hear Miien danger might 
 Have been averted. Let him writhe a time 
 In torment brouglit as lit accruing end 
 Of stubborn pride and wicked, wilful self- 
 Deception. Let him feel the penalties 
 Of courted civil war; let him riot now 
 Amid its ruin ; let liim struggle with 
 The wreck he made, until its broken spars 
 Do carry him to shore. Aye, let him learn 
 By sucli experience as this what harm 
 His evil passions did; what dreadful scourge 
 He brouglit upon the land, what burning wounds 
 His daggers made; what tender hearts lie broke; 
 What terrible alarm he gave tlie people; wliat 
 Irretrievable bereavements he has made; 
 How very wrong and wicked lie has been ; and then, 
 Perchance, some safer hopes of his 
 Repentance may arise, some promises 
 Which may be treated with becoming trust. 
 He broke the nation's law ; defied its will ; 
 His sacred honor pledged he broke; his oath 
 Of true allegiance violated, and made war 
 Upon the flag our fathers bore in triumph 
 Over Bunker Hill and Brandywine. Yes, his 
 Was act the first in drama now whose 
 After piece he plays, and frets and worries o'er 
 His part. 
 
 "Restore to us our honored dead ; 
 Heal up the wounds .you've made in hearts 
 Of women fair and lovely as the morn ; 
 Bring back our fallen braves ; erase the scars 
 Upon one million soldiers living still ; 
 Replace their broken limbs ; give houses to 
 The homeless widows ; feed and clothe the child 
 Left orphan on the mercies of the noble land ; 
 Our empty coflers fill, and clothe the poor 
 You've made ; — then pray in penitence and fear 
 For mercy at the feet of those you scorned 
 When 5'ou were the aggressors and we were 
 The suppliants. 
 
 '* Complaining now you come 
 Of iron rule, of military courts, and jails; 
 Of false arrests, corruption, and deceit. 
 Look back, oh, guilty being, look adowa 
 
MYRIORAMA. 207 
 
 The bloody lane of recent years, and see 
 
 Your danglin*? victims hang: upon your hills; 
 
 Your cursed engines of malignant hate. 
 
 Which sent their thousands into early death, 
 
 And Union-loving men in dread away 
 
 From homes their childhood knew and loved. 
 
 To use the torch and steel, were you the first; 
 
 To till the dungeon cells with men at peace 
 
 And not in soldier's uniform, the first 
 
 Were you ; to send the leaden messenger 
 
 To lieart opposed or so suspected, you. 
 
 And those you led were first ; to take the life 
 
 Of him his cause deserted under arms, 
 
 The first were you. Oh ! say not now 
 
 Your cause was just and such as these were right. 
 
 Restrain your tears ; they come too late to bring 
 
 Us what we lost, and remedy your w^rongs. 
 
 " You told us then to let you go. Alone 
 To live forever Avas your sole demand. 
 Too proud to live as all your fathers did, 
 In peace with those who had a right to rule, 
 You drenched the land with blood ; and now 
 When retribution comes, you cry because 
 Your self inflicted pain is great and sore. 
 When we appealed, you scorned, the scale is now 
 Reversed. Petitioning, you may pray redress; 
 We answer : * Let the faithful steersman hold 
 The wheel until the threatening rocks 
 An safely passed, while those remain below 
 Who once betrayed the ship.' 
 
 " Be patient now, 
 And let returning sense of justice teach 
 You more of pradence and a better life. 
 Obey the law your disobedience has made 
 A necessary rein upon your wounded pride. 
 With what the nation please ty give, content 
 Yourselves. Petition, don't demand, for worse 
 May come. The taste of blood has made 
 Good soldiers of us all. Be quiet, still : 
 And let the people breathe in peace. If thus 
 Yon live, and by your friendly conduct show 
 That you will not again rebel and bring 
 Dishonor on our flag' we'll gladly take 
 
■ 08 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Your proffered hand, and bury all the past. 
 We ask no more than this, but this we'll have. 
 And when you come with prayer, for^- t 
 Your threats, and deal with us as those vvho hold 
 Of ricfht the reins of power. 
 
 •*Laredef 
 Has saved the State ; no more, no less. 
 If that were worthy work and bravely done, 
 He's oruiity of no wrong. If cruelty 
 And Hardship come' 'tis not his fault. 
 Imi)erfect as all human actions are, 
 'Twere most ungenerous in us now 
 To charge the aggregate of all the people's sin 
 On him who led the major part to do 
 A work the law required at his hands. 
 That equal liberty might soon prevail, 
 And peace and quiet reign abroad. 
 He kept his iron lingers tightly clasped 
 About the throat of passion, and has taught 
 Some useful lessons to the South indeed 
 Which nothing less, as years of tr^al p. veil, 
 Would teach. Arresting those creating strife, 
 He punished traitors to the peoples' cause. 
 And this he did of lawftd right. When waste 
 From fire and SAvord prevailed, 'twas dc ..e 
 That on the ruins of a rotten, falling £.-tat" 
 Might rise and grow a healthy plant 
 From freedom's living waters nourlslied. 
 The promise made asto the conduct; of the war. 
 Was spurned ai]d lauohed at l)y the South; 
 And though by Larecef it was observed. 
 No less than conquest did at length prevail; 
 And nothing short of S'Li])jugation did 
 Induce the rebel armies to surrender up 
 Their arms. Capitulating terms we^^ none 
 E'er made save those of ceasing to make war 
 And in the future to obey the law. 
 Their arms were conquered ; subjugated were 
 Their fiohting legions. There the conquest ceasrd, 
 The subiugation there, and that's the end. 
 The instant cleared awa,y the clouds of war. 
 The kindly voice of Mercy came ; and from 
 That verv hour ceased aggressive rule. 
 The famished soldier on his homeward march 
 With gray upon his person wearing, ate the food 
 
]yiYIlIOEAMA. 209 
 
 His Conqueror gave, and carried in his hand 
 
 The safeguard for his home. The Confiscation Act 
 
 Was dead; an Amnesty for all proclaimed. 
 
 And not a rebel tried for treason. O ! 
 
 Were e'er revolted subjects dealt with so 
 
 Before? Was magnanimity e'er met 
 
 With such ungrateful, base return? 
 
 "In doin^ justice to each other now 
 Let all unite in hearty work, that peace. 
 With all her cheer and hope, may bloom 
 Again in this our common land. When this 
 We do, and do it earnestly, the gloom 
 And mist which now environs our hearts 
 Will pass away forever, and a happy state 
 Eemain to bless and heal our wounded i^ast. " 
 
 Ambition following, reasoned thus : 
 
 "■If freedom's right, then also right the means 
 
 By which it is obtained ; and friend is he 
 
 To liberty who aids the struggling captive 
 
 To regain his hope, while enemj- who withholds. 
 
 Upon this proposition rest the claims for right 
 
 We urge upon the judgment of mankind 
 
 In casting off the rule of kings. 
 
 If slavery is wrong, and Laredef lias set 
 
 The bondman free, no wrong has then been done; 
 
 And if his freedom was a farce without 
 
 Continued aid from him, 'twas right 
 
 That he afford it ; and if this required 
 
 Expense, 'twas justly paid. 
 
 " If war against 
 The life of Union was a wicked act, 
 'Twere right to crush the arm which struck the blow; 
 If war is cruel, then the hand which laid 
 The train must bear the burden of defeat; 
 If war 's expensive, he who is at fiiult 
 Should bear the blame and fill the purse again. 
 If evils come of war, then let them rest 
 Where rightfully they do belong. If right 
 It was to free the slave, — if right it is to make 
 His freedom worth the name, and any do 
 Oppose, 'twere well to curb their i)assion5 in 
 Until they can be safely loosed. If tliose 
 Who once defied the people's rule were wrong, 
 14 
 
210 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 'Twere wise to keep the trust in other hanils. 
 
 "If on tlic side of rio:ht tlien. Laretlef 
 
 Has been in all the threat events of past 
 
 Eventfnl years, the part of wisdom it 
 
 Would be. the causes well Ave wei^i^h 
 
 That point to chanj^e of rule. If men of will 
 
 Corrupt and purpose evil in intent. 
 
 Upon the surface of the boiling" flood appear, 
 
 The remedy were better that we let the heat 
 
 Subside by ceasin<^ to produce the flame 
 
 That burns, and they'll descend ag'ain to Avhere 
 
 Their proper level is. So if extremes have come, 
 
 'Twere better far to gently draw the feeders back. 
 
 And not renew the terrors of the past 
 
 By hastily reversing our course, and go 
 
 As suddenly to opposite extremes. 
 
 '' But one 
 Eemaining cause of discontent we have. 
 And that,- -disfranchisement of those whose sin 
 Has given all our woe. If truth there be 
 In logic of events, this cannot long remain, 
 If they will aid in due enforcement of 
 The laV. ^V"llen they are free again, then all 
 Our disaftection's gone;— the nation's free 
 In fact as well as name. If freedom from 
 The former bondman's grasp, should any one 
 Attempt to tear, we'd have the war to flght again, 
 For equal liberty is our law supreme. 
 If of this should au}'^ danger be, 
 'Twere better then that for the present, rule 
 Remain as now we And it, and await 
 The soothing influence of time. 
 The genius of American success 
 Forb'ids the tliought, that hate of liberty 
 Should any freeman have. 'Tis fiilsc as wrong. 
 And none know better this than those who charge 
 The noble Laredef with poisoning the State, 
 And wasting its emoluments. 'Tis said, 
 And so 'tis proven liere, that numbers large, 
 A quarter million freemen, are denied 
 An equal voice in choosing those who rule, 
 While many who were once degraded slaves, 
 Are given rights which are denied to them. 
 'Tis true, and 'tis a glorious truth, that time 
 
^lYRIORAMA. 211 
 
 Has come in our affairs, when men 
 
 Have equal liberty; for thou<^h a time 
 
 Deprived of privileges two. and only two — 
 
 Official post to hold, and cast a vote — 
 
 It cannot so remain for lonjrer time 
 
 At most than to tlie deatli of those displaced, 
 
 While Laredef has left it to themselves 
 
 HoAV soon again they will enjoy their much 
 
 Esteemed defensive armor. Tliough the time 
 
 To them be long and fraught with some distress, 
 
 The greater good achieved does compensate 
 
 Their tempoj-ary discontent. Tlie end 
 
 For all will much the better ])e. for then. 
 
 The errors of our past are cured, and all 
 
 Are free. 
 
 "Look then upon the future page 
 Of history we'll make, and see us stand 
 United as"" the forest oaks, and strong 
 As AUeglieny's rocks: A band of freemen then, 
 Commandiiig awe from Kings; a family 
 From all dissensions free, witiiout a check 
 Upon our pe-iceful progress through the j^ears. 
 If in the past, with tei-rible disease 
 Fast growing in our vitals, have we grown 
 To such estate, oh ! wliat would be too great. 
 Too vast, to hope for future of a people such 
 As we combined and free from all 
 Impeding cause ? Spread out your country's map, 
 And count its boundless acres;' estimate 
 Its treasures iiidden ; then compute its worth 
 As homes of freeinen toiling for their wealth 
 By hundred millions counted, with 
 A common interest and common end. 
 Then say wlien can we cease our onward course. 
 And when forget what made us free ? 
 We'll then be mistress of the world of men ; 
 Our beacon lights will hang upon the outposts high 
 Where struggling mortals may look up 
 And see their glimmer tlirough the vap'ry mist 
 That lowers o'er their lieads, and we will lead 
 The nations back to peace and hope. 
 Then, free ourselves, we'll send tlie light of life 
 Through all the night around, and wait to see 
 It grow and brighten. Welcome happy future ! 
 Thy pleasant dreams of hope, all welcome,— 
 
212 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Thy flowery pathi?, and purer lanes of life ! 
 
 We're marching on to meet thee in 
 
 The land of peace where purest freedom reigns 
 
 Supreme, and tlie Eternal God uprears 
 
 His holy state where all of mortal kind 
 
 May congregate, and 'neath His starry shield 
 
 Forever sing His glories and His praise." 
 
 The argument concluding, then arose 
 
 The modest JNamecaep filled with wrath. Before 
 
 He spake however, something seemed to say, 
 
 Or intimate, that one superior mind 
 
 Was near, or coming, and a view of that 
 
 Majestic myriorama plainly told 
 
 That half at least were stirred by some 
 
 Unknown, though vigorous and potent cause. 
 
 All ! there we see a grayish mist slow coming In 
 
 Beneath the temple's dome and growing 
 
 Into shape, assuming human form. 
 
 But standing in the air. It is the spirit of 
 
 Old Tarcomed ; and from his month 
 
 A narrow, flowing stream of whitish raj's 
 
 Proceeding down, do enter in the brain 
 
 Of him who stands to speak, and gives 
 
 Him what to say and do. 
 
 Proceeding, then 
 He said : " The record of the wai^is closed. 
 'Twere useless now to harrow up the past, 
 And call up from their graves the sleeping dead. 
 We care not for the hideous years sped by. 
 With all their wretciiedness and trouble left; 
 We care not to discuss their causes or results; 
 They're gone and buried in the general wreck. 
 We're dealing with the present now, and that 
 Alone. We're cramped and tied, and fettered down 
 By usurpations of the prisoner here arraigned 
 At Bar of Justice for his grievous crimes." 
 He has betrayed the country's peace; he has 
 Corrupted every engine of his powei* by 
 Illegal use of treasure fraudulentlj' wrung 
 From honest citizens. He lives upon decay 
 Of liberty, and fattens on its stench; 
 He grows upon dissensions in the State. 
 Antl rides upon the storm his passions raise. 
 He riots in the people's poverty and woe; 
 
MYEIORAMA. 213 
 
 He laughs at their misfortunes, and he grinds 
 Them down to absolute despair. His rule 
 More wicked is than that of Roman beast. 
 More cruel than of Spain's most bloody King. 
 He wastes the people's treasure and their blood; 
 He squanders their estate, and puts upon 
 Their yielding necks despotic voke so strong 
 And chafing that they cannot longer rest 
 Beneath his galling rule; and now we try 
 His countless crimes before the jury of 
 His peers. If justice has not lost its force, 
 No longer than the time the sure decree 
 Kequires for its utterance, will be his reign." 
 
 As this prophetic word rang out upon the air, 
 A shout responsive rose from nearly half 
 Th' assembled populace, which shook and jarred 
 The very earth. Proceeding then, he said ; 
 
 "These bold attacks upon our cherished form 
 
 Of government is not of recent years alone; 
 
 His policy and creed have ever been at war 
 
 With just administration of the law. 
 
 His treason's old, and in the distant time 
 
 Long past, he struck his venomed fangs 
 
 Into our noble system of restricted rule. 
 
 No hope for his repentance now. Grown old 
 
 In crime and bred to it, too far he's gone 
 
 Upon the road to ruin leading, for 
 
 A speedj^ cure of his accursed malady. 
 
 No hope for liberty until we check his reins, i 
 
 Destroy his power, and remove his minions from 
 
 Their purchased seats. He's growing wild with hop<^ « 
 
 Of long continued rule. He'd have eternal reign. 
 
 He'd cut our veins, and laugh to see the flow 
 
 Of blood. He sits upon the nation's breast 
 
 Like fabled bird, and while by gentle 
 
 Winnowing of wings, he'd fan us into sleep, 
 
 His beak is sinking deeper in our vitals, where 
 
 He sucks the life-blood from our hearts. , 
 
 No, no : there's nothing to be gained by hope 
 
 Of his conversion. Too old for this, and hardened 
 
 In his crimes. He reaches now for further hold 
 
 Upon the people's throats. He'd carry us 
 
 To ruin in a day. Let 's drive the despot 
 
214 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 From liis g-oltlen seat ! Away ! Away ! 
 Malicious monster that thou art! away ! 
 Infernal tyrant, from tlie seat thou hast 
 Usurped ! " And bounding forward as 
 The people rose, he rushed toward Laredef ; 
 But then, as he has ever been, at duty's post, 
 Did Grant come in between, and held 
 Th' impassioned orator at bay. 
 
 '' Beware." 
 Said he. " I wear the sword. Let us have peac3.'' 
 
 Quite pale with rage, did Namecaep then 
 Kesume his seat, and those who saw 
 As well. 
 
 The Judg:e then charged the jury on 
 The law and fact presented in the cause. 
 
 *' When first the seed was sown w^hich grew 
 
 At length to what we see around us here, 
 
 A root of evil genius grew as well, and many 
 
 Years the full development of right defeated 
 
 By its latent and destroying strength. 
 
 Beside, another vicious weed grew up 
 
 As well, and spread its overhanging vines 
 
 Across the land until, beneath their leafy shade 
 
 The people basked and lulled themselves to sleep. 
 
 Outside of these, the law had perfect play. 
 
 The good and evil plants grew side by side 
 
 For many ages on, until their strong 
 
 Aroma met wliere lowering clouds prevailed, 
 
 Through whose revolving "currents passed 
 
 Electric sparks, when these ignited all 
 
 Tlie mingling mists discordant, and the storm 
 
 Ensuing shook tlie nation in its seat. 
 
 Its terrors past, the gloomy vapors gone, 
 
 "VVe look and see— not ruin, as 'tis urged. 
 
 But well nigh full fruition of the early seed. 
 
 The wreck of war 'tis true, was great 
 
 And sorely felt, but 'twas the purifying blast 
 
 Of God's progressive storm. It came because 
 
 Impurities in our life had slowly crept. 
 
 And overpowered our resisting stren^t-i. 
 
 No less than this had saved our precious plant. 
 
 The law is now supreme. The poison weeds 
 
 Are being rooted out of soil they've harmed ; 
 
MYRIORAMA. 215 
 
 And tliougli a lingering: fibro here and there 
 Kemain, you've seen their vitiating growth, 
 And know full well tlie remedy. No harm 
 From them if you but execute the law. 
 Secession had its day, and slavery 
 As well. If remnant lives, destroy it, for 
 Their virus poisoned you. Remember that. 
 
 If in their destruction Laredef 
 
 Did aid, he did a proper work, and law 
 
 Is none offended. If, when war had ceased, 
 
 He then assumed to batter down 
 
 The ramparts of the people's liberties, 
 
 Then that were wrong, and should destroy 
 
 His rule, but if the fact be otherwise, the law 
 
 Directs no penalty. If citizens be now 
 
 Deprived of suffrage, look you to the cause; 
 
 And if it be a necessary regulation for 
 
 The better order of the State, or for 
 
 The preservation and the nurture of 
 
 The claim to liberty of those who recently 
 
 Were slaves, 'tis right; if not, 'tis wrong. 
 
 If he, for all the gold he used, do render true 
 
 Account, then look you to the thing on which 
 
 It was expended ; if proper that, he's done 
 
 No wrong. The law is right. What's done 
 
 In its behalf deserves the praise of men. 
 
 The charges and defence you've heard ; the proof, 
 And argument as well; If these his guilt 
 Have clearly shown, your duty's plain : convict. 
 But if a lingering doubt within your mind 
 Kemain to trouble and perplex, then stay 
 Your hand and let the prisoner go his way. 
 Consider well the charges and the proof; 
 See what behind them lies in shadow of 
 The thing ambitious men may hold in front, 
 For view of fickle-minded citizens. 
 The obiect and design for which is brought 
 The suit, do probe and see if they be good, 
 The manner of the witness, too, — see that; 
 His statement analyze, and it compare 
 With what defence has shown, that truth 
 And only truth, appear to turn the scale. 
 Each fact and circumstance as they present 
 
216 31YKI0RAMA. 
 
 Themselves, their bearino: on the charges and 
 Defence, deliberatel)' weigh ; and ponder well 
 The nature of tlie whole proceeding with 
 Unprejudiced determination right to do 
 Regardless of the consequences, that 
 Your verdict b}^ the law be well sustained. 
 Be calm. Let not the rabble sway, 
 Nor tumult overawe your judgment of 
 The right. A healthy opposition gives 
 Belief to States; but when it is diseased 
 And runs to blood, the passions of the whole 
 Become aroused, and changes radical 
 Kesult. Beware of rashness then ; you're in 
 The climax of your freedom now. and woe 
 Unto the haiid'that forges other chains. 
 
 In what you .do remember this ; That freedom, 
 And what is fessential to maintain it, is 
 Our law. In changes that you make 
 If any, don't restrict, but still enlarge 
 The area of liberty ; instead of lessening, 
 Increase the number of her votaries. 
 Let not a prejudice of caste, or race. 
 Or color lead you from your duty to the law. 
 
 The substance of the law is this : That God 
 
 Bules over all; directs the whole for purpose of 
 
 His own; that when to His eternal rule 
 
 Do men their works conform, progression grows 
 
 Unceasing on in channels pleasant and 
 
 Without a jar to shake the plan ; but 
 
 Whether and without compulsion come or not 
 
 From men, to Him no cause is this 
 
 For pausing or delay. The end is certain of 
 
 Approach. Ifmanbefree to jield 
 
 A cheerful hand, without a shock 
 
 The change does come. — for progress works 
 
 A change,— and progress is the primal law. 
 
 Kefusal of his aid a time defers 
 
 The final end ; but come it will, as God 
 
 Hath said ; and stubborn passions of 
 
 Deluded men as instruments are used 
 
 In buildinfr up the work to which they had 
 
 Denied their voluntary aid. 
 
 "You have 
 
MYRIORAMA. 217 
 
 Within your power now the prisoner and his fate. 
 
 In cause so i^reat do with him as is meet. 
 
 That God may look approvingly 
 
 Upon your work, be merciful; that Ke 
 
 May not undo it all, be just; remembering 
 
 That liberty to proper bounds by law 
 
 Kestrained,' is heaven's own decree. 
 
 Unto that conform your reason; leave 
 
 The rest to God. As justice points. 
 
 And wisdom does dictate, your passions yield; 
 
 And may no cloud in after time arise 
 
 To cast its, darkening shadows o'er 
 
 Your verdict now. " 
 
 The'tTiidge hns concluded his charofe to the Jury^ 
 "Who rise in their seats now and join all their voices 
 In one simultaneous, thundering chorus 
 Whose deep sounding echoes go ofi' to the mountains 
 And over the distant clear watery valleys 
 Then dipping its tremulous tones in the river. 
 Till every American answers the echo : 
 " We'll render oub Verdict on the ides of 
 November* " 
 
 The prisoner 's retired in keeping of sureties 
 
 Who pledge his return when the People demand him* 
 
 The myriads of people now slowly descending 
 From places they occupied during the trial 
 Through passages same as which they had entered 
 Commingling again in the pleasantest humor, 
 Without the confusion and striving commotion 
 Of those unaccustomed to usage of freemen, 
 Began their departure in every direction 
 With great animation discussing the merits 
 And probable sequel, in all their bearings. 
 Of Laredef 's trial, and which were the better ^ 
 For peace and for safety and health of the nation, 
 To thrust him from power and place there another 
 Of policy different and fresh from the people, 
 Or let him continue and prove if he can that 
 He's honest and faithful and ought to be trusted. 
 They're moving in streams of unlimited number. 
 Diverging as fartlier they go toward the homes Avhere 
 Their children are anxiously waiting to greet them, 
 
218 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Until the great mass is completely divitletl, 
 And scattered about in diminutive parcels 
 All over the country wherever their homes are. 
 
 Ifow np on the Temple of Liberty look we, 
 And see with amazement the ftiiry mechanics, 
 Whose numberless lingers are busil}^ lifting. 
 The various parts of this grandest of structures 
 From that upon which they had formerly rested, 
 And placing them gently in beautiful caskets, 
 Securely protecting the jewels from danger 
 Until they are put in their natural casements — 
 The hearts of the people — for future rebuilding 
 When four years have passed their attentive inspection. 
 
 And thus in the time that a moment's passing, 
 The temple had rapidly vanished, but every 
 Minute and material portion was safely 
 In keeping where none but the people united 
 Can ever have access; — the forum remaining 
 As first we observed it, where Union is standing, 
 Unequalled in grandeur, in charge of his keepers, 
 Fair Virtue, with Liberty, and Independence. 
 
MYRIORAMA. 219 
 
 CONCLUSIOX. 
 
 REMARKS. 
 Gen. Grant's election ; short review ; a look ahead. 
 
 As to ambitions yonth arrives the time 
 Which tests the merits of lon^ j^ears of toil 
 And anxious labor of the brainli so dawned 
 That pregnant day wherein the potent voice 
 Of millions to the'listening world should speak 
 The verdict of Columbia's sons; and as 
 The gathering freemen, like their habit is. 
 About their voting places cluster round to cast 
 Their votes — the shield of liberty and right — 
 As best to them it seemed, throughout the day, 
 Like winter's snow-flakes falling silently 
 To earth, so dropped the people's ballots in 
 Ten thousand caskets framed for them. 
 
 The night had scarce her shadows spread 
 Across the fevered land, while anxious hearts 
 Responded to their inward prophecies, 
 As each unto itself foretold the choice 
 America had made, when every where athwart 
 The active nation, from the East, and West, 
 And North and South, as though the heavens' quick 
 Machinery had lent its subtle agencies 
 Toman for sudden transit of his thoughts. 
 Along unnumbered wire threads there flashed 
 The news, as from the counted votes was seen, 
 ** Not Guilty ! . Laredef has been sustained. " 
 
 Across the ocean ran the rapid current on, 
 And distant nations read the glaring news 
 Which set the world at rest; for now 
 The problem 's solved, "Are Ireemen fit to hold 
 
220 MYEIORAMA. 
 
 The reins of government within their own 
 Weak arms ; and is the sword of power safe 
 When each of thousands multiplied of men 
 His grasp upon its hilt does hold ? " 
 
 Before 
 Another morning on the land had shed 
 Its peaceful glow, th' enlightened world had learned 
 The verdict rendered in our court : that he. 
 Of all most highly charged with wrong and crime, 
 Was duly tried, and by the judgment of his peers 
 Acquitted. Grant, the humble citizen, 
 The lowly, modest, incorruptible 
 Civilian ; he whose priceless worth the people knew, 
 Was chosen President, and to that choice 
 This moving mass of freemen bowed assent. 
 By lessons our experience taught, we'd learned 
 That when through lawful forms their will 
 The people speak, that will must be obeyed ; 
 And though in passion had we long discussed 
 The merits of the cause decided now 
 In those immortal words our chieftain spoke 
 We prayed as with a common voice : '* Let us 
 Have peace." 
 
 Thus ended that great struggle which, 
 For eight long years had strung the nation's nerves 
 Unto their utmost tension, and for half 
 That time had threatened all the world of man 
 With evils at whose very mention turned 
 Pisgustfully away his better instincts of 
 The right. The latter half— the half of peace- 
 Defensive and deceptive as it was, 
 Was big with danger and combustion, for, 
 Deep underneath the surface of our life 
 A deadly current of dissension ran 
 That, but for timely action of the people's will, 
 Had ruined all our'hopes, and misapplied 
 The fruits upon a thousand hard-fought fields 
 Upon victory won. The contest of the field 
 By ponderous armies waged, had ceased 
 Its dreadful havoc and its burning waste. 
 While liberty fresh garlands wore; but then, 
 When to the watching world we seemed at i)eace 
 And basking in the sunshine of a sweet 
 Repose, another, fiercer, nobler struggle raged 
 Of thought : how best to heal the wounds of strife; 
 
MYRIORAMA. 221 
 
 Secure the State and save the fruits of war ; 
 
 To guarantj'- to every man his lawful right 
 
 Without debating whetlier he were bond 
 
 Or free in other times ; to bur}^ deep our past 
 
 Distressing feuds, and to destroy the seed 
 
 So long within our vitals breeding discontent; 
 
 To best restore the beaten foes of just 
 
 And lawful rule to equals in the land ; 
 
 To reconstruct their fallen states, and rear 
 
 Upon their rotten ruins freedom's walls ; 
 
 To wash away their ramparts of deluded pride; 
 
 To open up their veins and let new blood 
 
 Flow in ; to teach them how to elevate the slave 
 
 And educate the poor; to show them fresh 
 
 Example of the law of equal liberty ; 
 
 To turn the stream of clannish prejudice 
 
 In channnels of a higher life ; to chase away 
 
 The darkness of their past and send 
 
 The happy light of freedom through their homes; 
 
 To strengthen loyal hands and cultivate 
 
 Their growth;— the subjects these this war of brains 
 
 Was fought about, and it has ended too. 
 
 We've lopped short off the cumbrous cankers of 
 
 Our younger life, and in a vesture new 
 
 Of buoyant manhood stand we forth to-day. 
 
 We've struck the shackles from four millions slaves 
 
 And clothed them with the rights of men; 
 
 We've conquered valliant armies on the field 
 
 And proved their error in debate; suppressed 
 
 Rebellion in its strongest holds ; our life 
 
 We saved, and then our enemies forgave. 
 
 Nor tried a man for treason. 
 
 We've set a nation free ; have smotliered deep 
 
 In death Secession's hurtful heresies ; 
 
 And thus, in these two master strokes of right, 
 
 Have rid ourselves of every cause which brought 
 
 Resistance and its blood within our doors. 
 
 We've linked Francisco's Golden Gate to Maine ; 
 
 We bring the juice of Calafornia's vines 
 
 To cheer the rigors of New England's cold 
 
 Through that great artery of Trade whose arms 
 
 Of iron reach across the continent; 
 
 And to the eastern world, by cords submerged 
 
322 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Beneatli Atlantic's tide, we've bound ourselves. 
 
 Besides, though war, as never war before. 
 
 Had drained our substance long, through all 
 
 That tier of noble States wliose'sons came tbrtii, 
 
 Two millions and a half in armor clad. 
 
 To battle for the rigiit, our thriving people grew 
 
 More prosperous and great; and there — (it is 
 
 A pregnant truth — ) no traces of the war 
 
 Are seen, l^o lields are there thrown out to grow 
 
 With weeds and briers up; deserted farms 
 
 N"one there, nor factories, nor shops, nor towns. 
 
 'Tis only at the South tliese sad reminders of 
 
 The awful conllict stare upon our path 
 
 As through the land we go. 'Tis here we look 
 
 With sadjiess on the wreck of war, and see 
 
 The smouldering embers of that dreadful tire lie; 
 
 3Iementoes of our pride, our wickedness, 
 
 Our sin. 
 
 But though tlie conquest of our arms 
 Released the bondman and relieved the State; 
 _Althoug]i our victory in argument was great 
 And of a lasting good ; although tlie bold. 
 Defiant stand our gallant Congress took 
 Against the rising tide of madness fresh 
 Returning with augmented strength and hate, 
 Is demonstrated just, and wise, and right; 
 Altliough for self-defense we've placed a sword 
 In hands before that never swung a blade; 
 Although one shining mile-mark in our road 
 We've passed, and all obstructions to our line 
 Of mai'ch displaced; yet, though so much achieved, 
 Of all disease and guilt, we may not quite 
 Be free. Has xVvarice left no seeds of death 
 Deep lurking in our blood ? No bane has Pride 
 Left lying on our banquet boards, whose taste 
 Slow poison in our vitals may infuse? 
 Ah, yes! ^Vhile young, and weak, and poor, we felt 
 And'knew but iftfle of the sin of Pride; 
 For poverty against her arts is shield. 
 But now, that prospering unparallelled 
 Has filled our colters up^ and in our downy laps 
 Laid Inxuiy and ease, the question's fitly asked : 
 Is she not holding still too high a place " 
 Within our peole's hearts ? And then. 
 That other subtler spirit who destroyed 
 
]SIYRIORAMA. 223 
 
 Great Rome's estate when all the gaping world 
 Paid homage to her name; that lisping imp 
 Who taught the Tilgrims how to steal, ... ^. 
 
 And whose devouring maw infects the purest blood. 
 Then spews the stinking mass around the world. 
 'Ti^ he we now must grapple with, and i rule. 
 The love of gold ; the love of ease. Beware ; 
 Americans, beware ! Their snares are set. 
 
 And yet another thought. Our foemen,— are 
 
 They conquered finally and well .«' Have war 
 
 And victorv had their full fruition yet? 
 
 Ha^ all for which rebellion straggled been 
 
 Surrendered, and to time in death interred .'' 
 
 Bv souls unseen do bodies move; a,nd }^^^o\y ^ 
 
 That while to all the world was told the trutli 
 
 The State was poisoned by the slave-pen's stench, 
 
 Yet still Avas slavery but the body ; and 
 
 Within, beneath, above, around —all through 
 
 It ran a spirit living, active, vital, brave. 
 
 The body slaughtered, is the spirit dead ^ 
 
 Altliough the serpent's hissing head ^«/*i'i\*l^<;^i' , 
 
 His mangled, rotten form be stinking in the earth, 
 
 Unnoticed and forgotten in their depth 
 
 His fangs may still be lying 'mid the wreck; 
 
 And in some balmy time to come, when wealth 
 
 Her u-olden pinions plumes and fans us into sleep 
 
 Ao-aili. the nation may be seen to weep 
 
 Because the poison of this buried tooth 
 
 Has reached her heart a second time. / 
 
 As the unthinking horse the cactus shuns, 
 
 Let us by careful watch avoid the thorns 
 
 Left lying all about the land, whose sting 
 
 Breeds death and national decay. ^ 
 
 If freedom 'snot a farce and liberty 
 
 A dream.-then where our banner floats let all 
 
 15e fi-ee;-the hand, the thought, the tongue, the pen, 
 
 None fearing danger from his fellow man— 
 
 The midnight raider's devilish mask, 
 
 His liendish threat or his avenging steel; 
 
 Xor vet the shafts of malice born of hate 
 
 Long nurtured, nor the odium of public scorn 
 
 Pile^ mountain high to stand where bayonets tailed, 
 
 As barriers aoainA the march of mind : When such 
 
 A stSe existsfthen, in the footprints of the dead 
 
-224 MYRIORAMA. 
 
 Who died the heroes of a wicked cause. 
 We'll write an epitaph upon the past. 
 Forgiving all its wron^\ its crime, its blood. 
 And sing with truth We're free ;— ALL free. 
 
 That much we've done. What now remains to do ? 
 
 The moral world is full of work. Across 
 
 The growing nation cast your eye and see 
 
 The wretchedness and want, privation and 
 
 Distress in countless phases shown. The poor 
 
 On every hand need help; reach out your hand 
 
 To struggling poverty. The fallen, and the low, 
 
 Go down to them ; go, help them all to rise ; 
 
 Go, ease the aching world of pain, and on 
 
 The ruins of a wicked past raise up. 
 
 By good you do to humble, needy man, 
 
 A monument for Virtue's eye to scan. 
 
 And Woman, — noblest, best of all. — she pleads 
 
 For help; she begs a saving friendship now 
 
 That's strong and deep within tlie heart 
 
 Of man to help the best, to save the worst 
 
 Her sex presents. Go, learn lier every want. 
 
 And with unsparing hand supply thom all. 
 
 With this just labor of the heart, the head 
 
 And hand must needs keep pace. The boundless fields 
 
 Upon our west where foot of man has barely trod, 
 
 Miist come beneath the culture of the times 
 
 And bloom with wheat and corn. As now 
 
 Across the snowy regions of the IS'orth, so too, 
 
 From Mempliis to the western Sea, we soon 
 
 Must see the line of travel take its course 
 
 Upon the iron way. Ail tlirough the hills 
 
 And valleys of that vacant wild, amid 
 
 The sound of cascades and the moan of trees 
 
 Must soon be heard the rattle and the roar 
 
 Of wheels and engines on the rail as rolls 
 
 The car of progress on and ti::esofmen 
 
 Move west. Wherever little streamlet leaps 
 
 From rock to rock in nature's pastime free. 
 
 Let La1)or build liimself a shop and turn 
 
 The precious drops to use. Where forests sing 
 
 Their ancient hymns let songs of honest toil 
 
 Be heard ; and where tlie buffalo and elk 
 
J^^ow graze «pon the native verdure of the plains 
 Let reapers ring as quick their thornv sickles strike 
 1 he golden wheat ; and where the savage council meet« 
 Ihe click of the printing press be heard. 
 
 And stop not here. The seat of Government 
 
 Potomac's placid banks must bid adieu. 
 
 That marble pile within whose walls were heard 
 
 The wisdom of a Madison, a Webster's sense ; 
 
 An Adams' strength, a Claj^'s bold eloquence : 
 
 The threats of a Calhoun, a Jackson's rin"- • 
 
 A Randolph's pungent wit, a Butler's sting; 
 
 A Hayne's menace, a Brooks's burning hate; 
 
 A Cass's honor, and a Douglas' strong debate ; 
 
 A Benton's energy, a Sumner's lore ; 
 
 A Seward's prophecy, a Stephens' war, 
 
 To-day is left behind this moving age 
 
 Which westward hies and still goes'\vest. 
 
 Yes, from the Statue emblem on its dome 
 
 To deep foundation stone, each part 
 
 Must be removed, and westward of 
 
 The parent stream be built anew. 
 
 If this may not be done, in peace then let 
 
 It rest,— a monument of freemen's work; 
 
 And where the nation's heart so long has beat; 
 
 n here name of Washington the world has learned 
 
 in reverence and admiration to repeat. 
 
 There let great Xational Schools arise wherein 
 
 Columbia's youth may learn the art 
 
 Of all important most,— the art of government. 
 
 •' Go west ? Go west ? " you ask ; " tiien where ? " 
 
 Lpon tne soil of fair young Kansas was 
 
 The lirst great battle for the right fouglit out: 
 
 And tit commemoration of that noble work 
 
 "Would be give her the N'ation's Capital. 
 
 She 's central and she's safe ; she 's true. 
 
 Jn this new era of our country's dawn, 
 As now we launch anew our noble ship 
 Into the opening sea of future life, we look 
 Ahead upon the waste before to catch a glimpsa 
 Of what in time may come, while Fancy\veaves 
 Her webs of prophecy and hope. We stand 
 Upon the outposts of a fast receding age 
 
220 MYIUORAMA. 
 
 And strain our vision o'er the great expanso 
 Beyond, and there within the bosom of 
 That eomin<^ time we see the busy worhl 
 At work in all the pleasant arts of peace, 
 And hear the happy songs of millions in 
 Their toil where labor re^ps its just reward 
 And all mankind are free. 
 
 As first 
 With Washington iji life we started out, 
 So now witli Grant to steer the State, we leave 
 The wreck and carnage of the past, and go 
 Upon our voyage fresh to reach another point 
 Tiie Father has in stor<?. When that we gain 
 Anotiior lesson we'll have learned how best 
 Tv) shield ourselves Irom sin and guard 
 Against th'eicvils of our past. The priceless art 
 Of government we'll better iinderstand ; 
 \\'e'll better know necessities of man. 
 T!>en mny we not devoutly pray that there. 
 ^Vhcn by the tidal wave of time we're drifted to 
 The nation's holiday, in looking out upon 
 Our progress made, we'll see the world at peace* 
 Tiie lowly^raised, the ignorant taught, 
 And plenty in the collers'of the poor'? 
 
MAY A 1903 
 
; < u •■''■ 
 
 LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS 
 
 002 363 349 8 #