His turgid oratory was admired in the backwoods, and he was much helped by his skill in the baser kinds of political management.

He speedily showed all the familiar traits of the demagogue--he was lavish in his hospitality, and treated young and old, rich and poor, with jovial good-fellowship; so that all the men of loose habits, the idle men who were ready for any venture, and the men of weak character and fickle temper, swore by him, and followed his lead; while not a few straightforward, honest citizens were blinded by his showy ability and professions of disinterestedness.

[Footnote: Marshall, I., 245.] It is impossible to say exactly how far his different allies among the separatist leaders knew his real designs or sympathized with them.

Their loosely knit party was at the moment united for one ostensible purpose--that of separation from Virginia.

The measures they championed were in effect revolutionary, as they wished to pay no regard to the action either of Virginia herself, or of the Federal Government.