They looked about them, as though even in this dimly lighted room they felt the presence of that ominous shadow which lay over all the land--the menace of a divided country.
"That is the dread of all of us," went on the leader.

"The war with Mexico showed us where England stands.

She proved herself once more our ancient enemy, showed that her chief desire is to break this republic.

Before that war, and after it, she has cultivated a friendship with the South.

Why?
Now let the abolitionist bring on this outbreak which he covets, let the North and South fly at each other's throats, let the contending powers of Europe cross the seas to quarrel over the spoils of our own destruction--and what then will be left of this republic?
And yet, if this compromise between North and South be broken as all Europe desires, and as all the North threatens, precisely those matters will come hurrying upon us.