which is turned off, and which flew with him over mountains, through valleys and forests, and across rivers, pursued by wolves, shouts back to his tyrant and persecutor, that some day he would return to repay him. 'Some day I will return,' said Mazeppa, 'to thank you, Count, for this uncourteous ride.' Gentlemen, I have had the ride for the last two or three years, but I have also, Mazeppa-like, come back to settle with the respectable and venerable gentleman at the other end of the avenue for that ride. I am returned to pay him my respects. I

have returned to settle accounts with him. If he is now sitting in his easy chair at home to-night he must hear your loud and hearty cheers, and they will remind him that his old friend Forney has come back to settle the old debt with him."

However much we may esteem the motives which prompted John Brown in his attempted raising of the Slaves in Virginia, it is impossible to defend his action upon any grounds whatever. John Brown was not a citizen of Virginia, and, in invading that State, he broke every law, human and divine. In our admiration for his courage and disinterestedness, coupled with our detestation of Slavery, we have overlooked the fact that the "peculiar institution" of the South is guaranteed from outside interference by the Federal Constitution, and that it can only be abrogated by the action of the State in which it

exists. Brown was an honest but misguided fanatic, and should receive no more consideration from Englishmen, than we accorded to Smith O'Brien and his fellow conspirators, whilst his success would have led to infinitely more disastrous consequences. Brown's true arena was in acting with the Republicans, who propose to stay the further spread of Slavery, and by constitutional and righteous means to finally destroy it.

It is a new phase in American politics that such sentiments as those of Mr. Forney can be declared openly at Washington. The Senate House itself did not formerly protect a man who bearded the Slave interest; and it is comparatively fresh in the recollection of all how the Hon. Charles Sumner came near losing his life for daring to use certainly not stronger language. But the times and public opinion have changed since then, and Mr. Forney is too influential a personage to meddle with. He is the most skilful organizer in the Democracy, knowing better than any else how to work the electors; and, in losing him, the Democracy have lost the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, representing thirty-four votes in the Electoral College.

As these two States, so have Indiana and Illinois declared for freedom, and when it is considered that

the elections of any State preceding the Presidential contest foretell for which party the State will then vote, the hopes of the Democracy may well be crushed. At the present hour the Republicans are not merely the majority of the North, but the North itself; and we can appreciate the rage which the Slave power must feel in the reins of government being torn from its hands. In the days of the old Whig party the spirit of rivalry carried Federalists and Democrats to no greater lengths than in English elections of the olden time; for whichever might be successful, there was little fear of "the peculiar institution" suffering, Now, however, resort is had to personal violence, and threats of civil war and separation from the Free States are made not merely by private individuals, but by Governors and Senators of the South. One of the foremost of these "fireeaters," as they are well termed in American political phraseology, is the late Governor of Virginia, Mr. Wise, a gentleman who is regarded in the light of a representative Southerner. In a speech delivered by him at a public meeting a few weeks back he thus expresses himself:

"I am assailed, because I am too much of a Union man so much so that I am for 'fighting in the Union.' I believe I never used that expression before, but I will adopt

it now. And I ask, who will not fight in the Union, and out of the Union, both, if necessary, rather than be deprived of his essential rights, and be dishonoured, degraded, and oppressed? The man, I say, who will not first fight ' in the Union, will never fight out of it. I went to fight John Brown and his aiders and abettors in the Union, and would have marched through the Union to Canada, to overtake and subdue any lawless men, invaders of the Constitution and the Union or any soil of the Union."

"And when compelled to fight, whether they (the Republicans) or I will be guilty of treason, will depend upon the right and the law of the case, and the success of the conflict will be and shall be determined by arms. If they assail me, and I conquer them in the fight, and I have the Constitution and the law on my side, I will hang them as we did John Brown, and Cooke and Coppic."

One would suppose that ex-Governor Wise and his section of the country were preparing to defend themselves from the assaults of some powerful oppressor. But all this gasconade means nothing more than that the Southern States are resolved to maintain their asserted right to breed and carry Slaves where they choose. He therefore explains the objects of himself and party :—

"As for me,. I will have the Union and the negroes both! That is my position. And if I cannot maintain it

otherwise, I will have revolution; and the end of that revolution shall be to defend the Constitution and restore the Union.

"If the last extremity must come-if separation must take place I am for preparing first to take the de facto and de jure powers of the Confederacy into our own hands, and not for leaving them in the hands of enemies who would endeavour to hang me for treason."

Mr. Wise proposes, in the event of the Northern States electing the next President, to march upon Washington, and seize the reins of government before the new President has time to take his seat. He is well aware that this would lead to an open rupture with the North, but declares his conviction that war will prevent a dissolution of the Union. He says,

“The truth is—and the sooner it is realized and admitted the better-you cannot separate the States of this Union without conflict, without a civil war over the division which may be claimed. Whenever either party resolves upon a separation, that party must be prepared for intestine war.

“And, sirs, I tell you, that if, as brave and faithful men, we show ourselves indeed ready and earnest in the intent to strike the actual blow of armed resistance against aggression, the aggression itself will be withdrawn and atoned for before the blow can possibly be stricken. Once