"Now, my dear sir, you greatly interest me; may I inquire your rank in the Confederate army?" "I was a Colonel of cavalry, sir." "Were you at Gettysburg, sir?" "Yes, and was wounded as we were falling back to the Potomac." "Gettysburg! Ah, yes!" the stranger observed reflectively; "this battle was quite disastrous to the South, I believe, and was claimed by the North as a great victory." "And what upon the face of the earth have they not claimed?" excitedly replied the veteran. "Ah yes, they are a boastful people," said Mr. Jamieson. "I doubt not they claimed victories they never won. You of course are still of the opinion that the South was right?" "No opinion about it. I know she was right. We never resorted to hostilities until our institutions were assailed." "I am sure your statement is correct, sir," said the Englishman. "While our government, then in the control of a radical ministry, was officiously unfriendly to the South, your government had a great army of sympathizers in England who deplored its downfall; indeed, the president of our society was an active sympathizer with your country, and the bank in which he was a director, upon his private account emitted bills of credit that were used by the agents of the Confederate government in the purchase of materials of war. I presume, sir," continued the Englishman, "you would have no hesitation in going to war again if the same casus-belli existed?" "No indeed, sir." "And you are of opinion that it would not be treasonable to oppose the policy of the government in respect to its acts of reconstruction?" "If armed with adequate power, I should not hesitate in respect to my duty in the premises," replied the veteran with a show of temper. "I am very glad, sir, that you have been entirely frank with me," said the stranger, "and I fully appreciate your feelings. I suspect that you do not think that a strongly centralized government in any contingency is the least oppressive form of government?" "Assuredly not, sir. Nature has established a diversity of climates, interests and habits in the extensive territories embraced by the Federal government. We cannot assimilate these differences by legislation. We cannot conquer nature. Other differences have been introduced by human laws and adventitious circumstances, very difficult, if not impossible to be adjusted by Federal legislation, hence the necessity of local legislatures with adequate powers, and a general government with its appropriate powers." "I presume, sir," said the stranger, "that you cannot conscientiously support the reconstruction measures of Congress and the president?"