Has it, then, come to this?
Is it possible that, in order to do my duty to my country, I must be willing to incur the displeasure of my father?
What would you have me do?
Assist in pulling down the old flag, and in breaking up the best government the world over saw?
Why, father, this is downright madness.

I _can not_ "join hands" with you in so unholy a cause.

On the contrary, as long as that flag needs defenders, you will find me among them.
You are deceiving yourself when you say the "cowardly Yankees" will not fight.

They are a people "slow to wrath," but they are not cowards, father; and you will find, to your sorrow, that they will resist, to the death, "any and every attempt to alienate any portion of this _Union_ from the rest." Living in the South, as I have, I have long seen this war brewing, but was unwilling to confess it, even to myself; and I had hoped, that if it did come, my father would not countenance it.

Why will you do it?
You never, never can succeed.