“They will search for it in this wise,” said Noah; “thus canters the plan: They look to a day far ahead, but it will be with them in time. They have settled on Jefferson's birthday to make a test of the President and discover what he would do should South Carolina, with Calhoun, abrogate a tariff and defy government in the port of Charleston. The occasion will be in honor of the Man of Monticello. Jefferson's memory and its graceful illustration will serve as the cause, ostensible, of that banquet; really, the affair is to be twisted for Nullification. There will come a score of toasts; and each to exalt the state at the cost of the nation, and argue treason holy. The speeches will follow of a piece with the toasts. Calhoun and his cohorts will crowd the tables; applause will be extant for every sentiment of disunion; in short, they devise a States Rights gathering where Nullification and the rebellious spawn of it shall gain a broad endorsement.” “And where does the General come into their machinations?” “The President will be invited to attend. Should he come, he will be given the Chair's right hand. The Calhoun folk will read his face while their toasts of treason are flaunted. They will ask him for a sentiment. They believe that his courses to come, as he designs them, can not fail to find disclosure. They hope to gain the measure of his apprehensions. When they once have the pattern of the President's hopes and fears, and learn his timid limits, they think those boundaries of safety beyond which Nullification must not push will be determined.” “Now, if these schemers,” I cried, “own no capital save the General's timidity, they are indeed in bankrupt case.” “They build on sand,” said Noah. “But that fact of sand is precisely what they do not know. However, the President may teach then? with what light he sees fit. Should he decide to prolong their night of doubt, he has but to stay away.” “And how would our black gentry construe his absence?” “Assuredly they would incline to believe he was afraid.” “Why, then,” cried I, “it might be difficult to say that the General will or will not attend a gathering of treason scheduled more than three months away. There is this to be recalled, however; the General has done few things because he was afraid.” “But it is well,” returned Noah, “to have the President aware of what is in store. He will own the larger space for preparation. The gathering will continue a sort of secret for six weeks to come; nor is the traitor color thereof to be shown until a glass-and-bottle stage. When courage is high and caution fled, rebellion will be unpacked. You observe how surprise is arranged for. There will be hawks' eyes to catch the trend of presidential thought concerning it. There lies open the whole plot for you.”