“D'Marse Major aint so mighty bad,” observed Jim, with the face of one who considers deeply. “Course he has his spells. Thar's times when he's sort o' amiable, d'Marse Major is; an' then Jim nacherally takes to him like a honeysuckle to a front porch. Then thar's other days when Jim quits him an' goes streakin' it for d'tall grass. Them's d'times when d'Marse Major takes to t'arin' about loose, an' carryin' all befo' him like a b'ar in a hawg-pen.” Having disposed of the letter which had given the loquacious Jim that delay required for these important disclosures, I put an end to them by carrying Noah away to the General's room. He would expostulate and hold back; but I made him come with me on the plea of how the General had asked to talk with him of that coming Nullification banquet to be held at the Indian Queen. “True, he has heard it from me,” said I, “but what then? You know how folk are. He would hear it from you first-hand.” While I was running over the General's mails from Tennessee, that eminent person and Noah waded forth into deep and animated converse. “I am rather glad than otherwise,” said the General, lighting the while the usual friendly pipe, “for that treason dinner our Calhoun clique would plan. I shall go; should they ask it, I'll even give them a toast. I will light a torch for them; I would be the last to have it said I let folk go blundering to a gibbet in the dark.” “You recall,” remarked Noah, “how zealous were certain influences for that Florida post, and how they would have it go to one Westfall?” “The man Westfall,” retorted the General, “was an utter weakling. He never would have done for such a place. The Florida governorship is of consequence; its duties call for one of force. I have thought on a man for it, but the time has not come. The present incumbent does fairly well for an Adams selection.” “That weakness of Westfall to which you refer,” said Noah, “was, I take it, no slight merit in the minds of those who stood by the elbow of his hope. It was a part of the Nullification scheme, the putting forward of Westfall.” “In what sort?” asked the General. “I know how Calhoun desired him, for Duff Green told us so much when we were not a week in town.” “Westfall's success for the place would have linked to the Vice-President the richest, strongest elements in Pennsylvania. Then there is Florida itself--two-thirds Spanish and by no means in love with the balance of this country. With a weak governor in St. Augustine, and one who owed his crown to our Vice-President, what should be simpler, in the event of secession in South Carolina, than to count on Floridian men and money for the venture?”