University of Virginia Library

20. CHAPTER XX.

As Mr. Trevor had intimated, the next day was
the day for the election of members to the State
Legislature. The old gentleman, in spite of his
infirmities, determined to be present. He ordered his
barouche, and provided with arms both the servant
who drove him, and one who attended on horseback.
He armed himself also with pistols and a
dirk, and recommended a like precaution to Douglas.
“You must go on horseback, said he. It may enable
you to act with more efficiency on an emergency.
At all events, were you to drive me, I should have
no excuse for taking one whose services I would not
willingly dispense with. Give me the world to
choose from, and old Tom's son Jack is the man I
would wish to have beside me in the hour of danger.
As to you, my son, I think your late master would
not be sorry to get you into a scrape. You should,
therefore, be on your guard. My infirmities will
render your personal aid necessary to help me to the
polls. Keep near me, therefore; but keep cool, and

leave me to fight my own battles. Prudence and
forbearance are necessary for you. As to me, I have
nothing to hazard. The measure of my offences is
full already. I have sinned the unpardonable sin,
and though there is no name for it in the statute book,
I have no doubt if they had me before their new
Court of High Commission at Washington, your
special friend, Judge Baker, would find one.”

“Why do you call him my special friend,” asked
Douglas.

“Because I have means of being advised of what
is doing among our rulers, and know that he was at
the bottom of the whole proceeding against you.
Therefore, I warn you to be prudent to-day. Depend
upon it, if you can be taken in a fault, he will
find means `to feed fat his grudge' against you.”

On reaching the election ground, the stars and
stripes were seen floating above the door of the
court-house, which was still closed. A military
parade was “being enacted” for the amusement
of the boys and cake-women, and the uniform showed
that the men were regulars in the service of the
United States. They were twenty or thirty in number,
all completely armed and equipped. As soon
as Mr. Trevor appeared, they were dismissed from
parade, the door was thrown open, and they rushed
into the house. Presently after, it was proclaimed
that the polls were opened.

As Mr. Trevor approached the door, Douglas observed

that a multitude of persons, who before had
been looking on, in silent observance of what was
passing, advanced to salute him, and, falling behind
him, followed to the court-house. On reaching the
door, they found it effectually blocked up by half a
dozen soldiers, who stood in and about, as if by
accident and inadvertence. But the unaccommodating
stiffness with which each maintained his position, left
no doubt that they were there by design. They
were silent, but their brutish countenances spoke
their purpose and feelings. Mr. Trevor might have
endeavored in vain to force his passage, had not the
weight of the crowd behind pressed him through the
door. In this process he was exposed to some suffering,
but made no complaint. The effect appeared
only in the flush of his cheek, and the twitching of
his features. The blood of Douglas began to boil,
and, for the first time in his life, the uniform he had
so long worn was hateful in his sight.

On entering the house, they were nearly deafened
with the din. It proceeded from quite a small number,
but they made amends for their deficiency in this
respect, by clamorously shouting their hurras for
the President, and his favored candidate. Besides
the soldiery, there were present the sheriff, who conducted
the election, and some twenty or thirty of the
lowest rabble. On the bench were two candidates.
The countenance of one of those was flushed with
insolent triumph. The other looked pale and agitated.

He was placed between his competitor and
a subaltern officer of the United States army. He
seemed to have been saying something, and at the
moment when Mr. Trevor and his party entered, was
about to withdraw.

Meeting him at the foot of the stair leading down
from the bench, that gentleman asked him the meaning
of what he saw; to which he answered that he had
been compelled to withdraw. The meeting of these
two gentlemen had attracted attention, and curiosity
to hear what might pass between them, for a moment
stilled the many-tongued clamor. Mr. Trevor took
advantage of the temporary silence, and said aloud:
“You have been compelled to withdraw. Speak out
distinctly, then, and say that you are no longer a
candidate.”

“Fellow-citizens,” responded the other, in the
loudest tones his tremor enabled him to command,
“I am no longer a candidate.”

“And I am a candidate,” cried Mr. Trevor, in
a voice which rang through the house. I am a candidate
on behalf of Virginia, her Rights, and her
Sovereignty.”

The shout from behind the bar, at this annunciation,
somewhat daunted the blue coats, and Mr.
Trevor was lifted to the bench on the shoulders of
his friends; when the officer was heard to cry out,
“Close the polls.”

“Place me near that officer,” said Mr. Trevor, in

a quiet tone. The sheriff, a worthy but timid man,
looked at him imploringly. He was set down by the
side of the officer, and, leaning on the shoulder of
Douglas, thus addressed him—

“I shall say nothing, sir,” said he “to the sheriff
about his duty. He is the judge of that, and he
knows that, without my consent, he has no right to
close the polls before sunset. Unless compelled by
force, he will not do it. He shall not be compelled
by force; and, if force is used, I shall know whence
it comes. Now mark me, sir; I am determined that
this election shall go on, and that peaceably. If
force is used, it must be used first on me. Now, sir,
my friends are numerous and brave, and well armed,
and I warn you that my fall will be the signal of your
doom. Not one of your bayonetted crew would
leave this house alive. As to you, sir, I keep my
eye upon you. You stir not from my side, till the
polls are closed. I hold you as a hostage for the
safety of the sheriff. If an attack is made on him,
I shall know you for the instigator. And, more than
that, sir, I know he is disposed to do his duty, and
will not think of closing the polls prematurely. A
menace addressed to him may escape my ear. If he
offers to do it, if he does but open his mouth to declare
that the polls are closed, I blow your brains out
on the spot.”

Suiting the action to the word, he, at the same
moment, showed a pistol, the finish of which gave

assurance that it would not miss fire. The officer
started back in evident alarm, and made a movement
to withdraw; but he found himself hedged in by
brawny countrymen, who closed around him, while
every hand was seen to gripe the handle of some concealed
weapon.

“Be patient, sir,” said Mr. Trevor, “you had no
business here; but, being here, you shall remain. No
harm shall be done you. I will ensure you against
every thing but the consequences of your own violence.
Offer none. For if you do but lift your hand,
or touch your weapons, or utter one word to your
myrmidons, you die.”

These words were uttered in a tone in which,
though loud enough to be heard by all, there was as
much of mildness as of firmness. Indeed his last
fearful expression was actually spoken as in kindness.
The officer seemed to take it so, and quietly seated
himself.

Not so the rival candidate. He rose, with a great
parade of indignation, saying: “Let me pass, at least.
This is no place for me.”

“Do you mean to leave us, sir,” said Mr. Trevor,
with great courtesy.

“I do,” said the other. “To what purpose should
I remain?”

“Do you then decline? Are you no longer a candidate?”

“I am; but I will not remain here beset by armed
violence.”

“Will you leave no one to represent you?”

“No; I leave you to work your will. I have no
farther part in the matter. I shall do nothing, and
consent to nothing. When the law closes the poll,
it will be closed.”

Saying this, he withdrew, and Mr. Trevor observed
that, as he went out, he spoke aside to the sergeant
of the company, who followed him from the
house. Soon after, the men, one by one, dropped
off, and all at length disappeared.

The election now went on peaceably, and nearly
every vote was cast for Mr. Trevor. But it did not
escape his observation that there were persons present
whom he knew to be hostile to him, and
devoted to the rulers at Washington, who yet did
not vote. He saw the motive of this conduct, but
determined to make it manifest to others as well as
himself, and to expose the disingenuous and unmanly
artifice which he saw his enemies were using
against him. Catching the eye of a well dressed
man he said, “You have not voted, I think, Mr. A—?”

“I have not,” was the answer, “and I don't
mean to vote.”

“I beg that you will, sir,” said Mr. Trevor. “I
know you to be my enemy, personal as well as political;
but I sincerely wish the name of every voter
in the county to appear on the poll book, though my
defeat should be the consequence.”

“It may be so, sir,” replied the other; “but I
shall not vote at an election, controlled by force, and
where those commissioned by the Government to
keep order, are either driven off or detained in
durance.”

“I do not understand you, sir,” said Mr. Trevor.
“Am I to infer that the presence of the military here
is under the avowed orders of their master?”

“I dare say,” replied the other, “that Lieutenant
Johnson will show you his orders, if you will condescend
to look at them.”

“I will do so, with great pleasure,” said Mr.
Trevor, “and promise myself great edification from
the perusal.”

“I will read them, sir,” said the officer, taking a
paper from his pocket, which he read accordingly in
the following words:

“As there is reason to believe that evil disposed
persons design to overawe or disturb the election of
members to the Legislature from the county of —,
Lieutenant Johnson will attend at the day and place
of election with the troops under his command, for
the purpose of preserving order. Should his authority
be opposed, he is, if permitted to do so, to make
known that he acts by the command of the President,
to the end that all who may be disposed to
resist him, may be duly warned that in so doing
they resist the authority of the United States, and
take heed lest they incur the penalties of the law.”

“Why, this is well,” said Mr. Trevor. “And it
is to give color and countenance to a charge of resistance
to the authority of the United States, that
you, Mr. A—, refuse to vote.”

“No, sir,” replied A—; “it is because I never
will vote at an election controlled by force.”

“Be it so, sir,” said Mr. Trevor. “I perceive
your drift. Go, then, and tell your master that the
means used to vindicate the freedom of election
were used to control it. Go, sir, and show that you
are as much an enemy to truth and honor as to me.”

To this A— made no reply, and soon after withdrew.
Indeed, hardly any person remained but the
friends of Mr. Trevor, and it was obvious that the
result of the election was not to be changed by any
votes which could be given. The necessity of keeping
open the poll till sunset was, nevertheless, imperious.
But the scene became dull and irksome.
Douglas, therefore, proposed that his uncle should
return home.

“By no means,” said he. “You don't understand
this game. Should we disband, the sheriff
would be required, at the peril of his life, to make a
false return. But he shall have his will. Mr. Sheriff,
shall I withdraw also?”

“No! no! For God's sake, stay, sir!” exclaimed
the alarmed sheriff; “and either see me
home, or take me home with you. I have not the
influence which makes you safe in the midst of enemies,

and am not ashamed to say that I fear my
life.”

“I will protect you, then, sir,” said Mr. Trevor,
“until you have made out your return, and given
your certificate. When these are done, I hope you
will be safe.”

The scene again subsided into its former dullness.
The enemy had disappeared, with the exception of
the captive officer, who looked on ruefully, while an
occasional vote was given at long intervals. At
length, Mr. Trevor observed that some of the voters
were about to withdraw. He therefore rose, and
begged them to remain.

“This business is not over,” said he. “It is not
for nothing that the polls are to be kept open until
sunset, when all who have not voted have withdrawn.
An attack on the sheriff or myself is certainly
intended. Perhaps on both. I beseech you, therefore,
not to disperse, but to see us both safe to my
house. When once among my own people, I will
take care of him and myself. I am sorry, sir,” continued
he, addressing the officer, “that the movements
of your friends make it necessary to detain
you longer than I had intended. You must be a
hostage for us all, until this day's work is over.
But assure yourself of being treated with all courtesy
and kindness. Should I even find it necessary to
compel your company to my own house, doubt not
that you will receive every attention due to an honored

guest. I beg you to observe that I do not even
disarm you. The warning you have received is my
only security that you will attempt no violence.”

This speech was heard in sullen silence by him to
whom it was addressed. But some conversation
with others ensued, in which Mr. Trevor took pains
to enlighten the minds of his hearers in regard to
public affairs. The day wore away somewhat less
wearily; the sun went down, and Bernard Trevor
was proclaimed to be duly elected.

Our party now took up the line of march. The
sheriff and officer were placed in Mr. Trevor's barouche;
the former by his side—the latter in front
of him, by the side of the driver. A numerous company
on horseback surrounded them.

They were scarcely in motion, before the drum
was heard, and the regulars were seen advancing to
meet them in military array. Mr. Trevor immediately
commanded the driver to stop, and draw his
pistol. Then calling to the servant on horseback,
he made him station himself, pistol in hand, close to
the officer. Having made this arrangement, he addressed
him:

“You see your situation, sir. Those fellows
would not scruple to shoot your master himself at
my bidding; and my orders to you both, boys, are,
that if we are attacked, you are both to shoot this
gentleman upon the spot. I shall do the same thing,
sir; so that between us you cannot escape. Now,

sir, stand up and show yourself to your men, and
speak distinctly the words of command that I shall
dictate.”

The officer did as he was directed. The advancing
platoon was halted, and wheeled backward to
the side of the road; the arms were ordered, and
the barouche passed on. After passing, a momentary
stop was made, while the sergeant was
ordered to march the men back to their quarters.
This was done, and as soon as the two parties were
at safe distance asunder, Lieutenant Johnson was
released, and courteously dismissed. Mr. Trevor
and his friends reached home in safety, and without
interruption, and thus ended the election day.