University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.

Douglas Trevor reached his father's house just
after the Virginia Legislature had assembled. The
presidential election was just over, and the partisans
of Van Buren, exulting in their success, made their
leader the more hateful to his opponents by the insolence
of their triumph. Though he had lost the vote
of Virginia, it will be remembered that he still commanded
a majority in the Legislature, elected before
the revolution in public sentiment was complete.
The more recent expression of public sentiment
showed that the time was come when power must
be held by means far different from those by which
it had been acquired. Opinion, which at first had
been in their favor, was now against them. Corruption
had for a time supplied the place; but the
fund of corruption was all insufficient to buy off the
important interests which were now roused to defend
themselves. To add to its efficiency by all practicable
means, and to bring to its aid the arm of force,
was all that remained.

To organize measures for this purpose, and to enrich
themselves from the profuse disbursement of

public money, which formed a part of the plan of
operations, were the great objects which engaged the
minds of the majority in the Virginia Legislature.
But these, important as they were, could not entirely
wean them from those indulgences which, for many
years, had made Richmond, during the winter season,
the scene of so much revel and debauchery. To
these, as well as to personal intrigues and the
great interests of the faction, much time was given.
But the necessity of attending especially to the latter
was made daily more apparent by the startling intelligence
which every mail brought from the South
and Southwest. The nearly simultaneous secession
of the States in that quarter, and the measures to be
taken for the formation of a southern confederacy,
were things which had been talked of until they
were no longer dreaded. But causes had gradually
wrought their necessary effects, and the ultimate co-operation
of Virginia, if left to act freely, was now
sure.

I have already spoken of those men, in each of the
southern States, of cool heads, long views, and stout
hearts, who, watching the progress of events, had
clearly seen the point to which they tended. It is
not here that their names and deeds are to be registered.
They are already recorded in history, and
blazoned on the tomb of that hateful tyranny which
they overthrew. They had been discarded from the
service of the people, so long as the popularity of the

President had blinded the multitude to his usurpations.
The oppressions of the northern faction, and
the fierce assaults of rapacity and fanaticism, hounded
on by ambition to the destruction of the South, had
restored them to public favor. They had seen that
secession must come, and that, come when it might,
their influence would be proportioned to their past
disgraces. Presuming on this, they had consulted
much together. Not only had they sketched provisionally
the plan of a southern confederacy, but
they had taken measures to regulate their relations
with foreign powers. One of their number, travelling
abroad, had been instructed to prepare the way for
the negotiation of a commercial treaty with Great
Britain. One of the first acts of the new confederacy
was to invest him publicly with the diplomatic
character, and it was at once understood that commercial
arrangements would be made, the value of
which would secure to the infant League all the advantages
of an alliance with that powerful nation.
The designation of a gentleman, as minister, who
had so long, without any ostensible motive, resided
near the Court of St. James, left no doubt that all
things had been already arranged. The treaty soon
after promulgated, therefore, surprised nobody, except
indeed that some of its details were too obviously
beneficial to both parties to have been expected.
Not only in war, but in peace, do nations seem to
think it less important to do good to themselves than
to do harm to each other. The system of free trade
now established, which has restored to the South the
full benefit of its natural advantages, and made it
once more the most flourishing and prosperous country
on earth; which has multiplied the manufactories
of Great Britain, and increased her revenue by an
increase of consumption and resources, even while
some branches of revenue were cut off; and which,
at the same time, has broken the power of her envious
rival in the North, and put an end for ever to that
artificial prosperity engendered by the oppression and
plunder of the southern States; is such an anomaly
in modern diplomacy, that the rulers at Richmond, or
even at Washington, might well have been surprised
at it. But the bare nomination of the plenipotentiary
was enough to leave no doubt that a treaty was ready
for promulgation, and that its terms must be such
as to secure the co-operation of Great Britain.

But, while the leaders of the ruling faction thought
of these things, and anxiously consulted for the preservation
of their power, there was still found among
the members of the Legislature the ordinary proportion
of men who think of nothing but the enjoyment
of the present moment. Such men are often like
sailors in a storm, who, becoming desperate, break
into the spirit room, and drink the more eagerly because
they drink for the last time. When the devil's
“time is short, he has great wrath;” and this point
in his character he always displays, whether he exhibits

himself in the form of cruelty, rapacity, or debauchery.

The amusements, therefore, of the legislators assembled
at Richmond suffered little interruption, and the
dinner and the galas, the ball and the theatre, and
the gaming-table, with revel, dissipation, and extravagance,
consumed the time of the servants of the
country, and swallowed up the wasted plunder of the
treasury.

Respected by all, beloved by individuals of both
parties, and courted by that to which he was supposed
to belong, Mr. Hugh Trevor was an object of
the most flattering attention. His house was the
favorite resort of such as enjoyed the envied privilege
of the entreé. His gallant and accomplished son was
the glass before which aspirants for court favor
dressed themselves. The budding youth of his daughter
had, for years, been watched with impatient anticipation
of the time when her hand might be seized as
the passport to present wealth and future honor.

Her cousin Delia was not recommended to notice
by all these considerations; but the most prevailing
of the whole was one that made her claims to
attention fully equal to those of Virginia. Her father,
though in comparatively humble circumstances,
could give with his daughter a handsomer dowry
than the elder and wealthier brother could afford with
his. He was notorious for generosity, and his infirmities
made it probable that he was not long for this

world. Delia was therefore universally regarded as
an heiress. Add to this, that in the affection of her
uncle she seemed hardly to be postponed to his own
daughter, and it was obvious to anticipate that the
same influence which had procured office and emolument
for himself and his sons, would be readily exerted
in favor of her future husband.

It followed, that, whatever were the amusements of
the day, whether ball or theatre, or party of pleasure
by land or by water, the presence of Delia and Virginia
was eagerly sought. The latter, simple and
artless, saw in all who approached her the friends
of her father. If she thought at all of political differences,
it was only to recognize in most of them the
adherents of the man to whose fortunes he had so long
attached himself, and in whose fortunes he had flourished.
To all, her welcome was alike cordial and
her smile always bright.

With Delia, the case was far different. Much
more conversant than her cousin with the politics of
the day, she was aware that her father was obnoxious
to many that she met. On some of those who sought
her favor, she knew that he looked with detestation
and scorn. To such she was as cold and repulsive
as a real lady can ever permit herself to be to one
who approaches her as a gentleman in genteel society.
The height of the modern mode would, indeed, have
countenanced in such cases that sort of negative insolence,
the practice of which is regarded as the most

decisive indication of high breeding. But she had
been trained in a different school. She had been
taught that, in society, self-respect is the first duty
of woman; and that the only inviolable safe-guard
for that, is a care never to offend the self-respect of
others.

Thus, while a part of those who approached her,
were made to feel that their attentions were not acceptable,
she never afforded them occasion to complain
of any want of courtesy on her part. Without
being rebuffed, they felt themselves constrained to
stand aloof. There was nothing of which they could
complain; no pretext for resentment—no opening for
sarcasm—no material for scandal.

But in proportion to the impotence of malice, so is
the malignity of its hoarded venom. All were aware
of the political opinions and connexions of Mr. Bernard
Trevor; and it was easy to make remarks in
the presence of his daughter, not only offensive, but
painful to her feelings. To this purpose, no allusion
to him was necessary. It was enough to speak injuriously
of those whom she knew to be his friends,
and whose public characters made them legitimate
subjects of applause or censure. By this, and other
means of the like character, she was always open to
annoyance; and to such means the dastard insolence
of those whom her coldness had repelled, habitually
resorted for revenge. On such occasions she frequently
found that her cousin Douglas came to her

aid. Unrestrained by the considerations that imposed
silence on her, he was always ready to speak on behalf
of the party attacked. If he could not directly
vindicate, he would palliate or excuse. If even
this were inconsistent with his own opinions, he
would take occasion to speak approvingly of the
talents or private worth of those who were assailed.
Whether she regarded this as a proof of good breeding,
or of kindness to herself, or of an incipient change
in his opinions, such conduct always commanded her
gratitude and approbation.