But after Tom had disgraced his office for two years, a State election took place and the other party were successful. Among the first laws which they passed after the convening of the Legislature, was one declaring that from that date imprisonment for debt should not be permitted in the State of Pennsylvania for any sum less than ten dollars. This enactment, of course, knocked away the chief prop which sustained the Alderman, and when the news of its passage reached Philadelphia, Tom was the most indignant man that had been seen there for some years. Standing in front of his office the next morning, surrounded by several of his political chums, Tom exclaimed: "Do you see what them infernal tories have done down there at Harrisburg? They have been and passed an outrageous, oppressive, barbarous, and unconstitutional law! A pretty idea, indeed, if a man can't put a debtor in jail for a less sum than ten dollars! How am I going to support my family, I should like to know, if this law is allowed to stand? I tell you, gentlemen, this law is unconstitutional, and you will see blood running in our streets, if them tory scoundrels try to carry it out!" His friends laughed, for they saw that Tom was reasoning from his pocket instead of his head; and, as he almost foamed at the mouth in his impotent wrath they could not suppress a smile. "Oh, you may laugh, gentlemen--you may laugh; but you will see it. Our party will never disgrace itself a permitting the tories to rob them of their rights by passing unconstitutional laws; and I say, the sooner we come to blood, the better!" At this moment, a gentleman stepped up, and addressing the Alderman, said: "Alderman, I want to bring a case of book debt before you this morning." "How much is your claim?" asked Tom. "Four dollars," replied the rumseller--for such he proved to be--and his debt was for drinks chalked up against one of his "customers." "You can't have your four dollars, Sir," replied the excited Alderman. "You are robbed of your four dollars, Sir. Them legislative tories at Harrisburg, Sir, have cheated you out of your four dollars, Sir. I undertake to say, Sir, that fifty thousand honest men in Philadelphia have been robbed of their four dollars by these bloody tories and their cursed unconstitutional law! Ah, gentlemen, you will see blood running in our streets before you are a month older. (A laugh.) Oh, you may laugh; but you will see it--see if you don't!" A newsboy was just passing by. "Here, boy, give me the Morning Ledger," said the Alderman, at the same time taking the paper and handing the boy a penny. "Let us see what them blasted cowboys are doing down at Harrisburg now. Ah!--what is this?" (Reading:) "'Blood, blood, blood!' Aha! laugh, will you, gentlemen? Here it is." Reads: