Choice Specimens of American Literature, and Literary Reader · Chapter 221=291.= a Disappointed Politician
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"Things are getting worse and worse," replied the other. "I can see how it's going. Here, the first thing General Jackson did, when he came in, he wanted to have the president elected for six years; and, by and by, they will want him for ten; and now they want to cut up our orchards and meadows, whether or no. That's just the way Bonaparte went on. What's the use of states, if they are all to be cut up with canals, and railroads, and tariffs? No, no, gentlemen; you may depend Old Virginny's not going to let Congress carry on in her day."
"How can they help it?" asked Sandy.
"We haven't fout and bled," rejoined the other, taking out of his pocket a large piece of tobacco, and cutting off a quid, as he spoke in a somewhat subdued tone,—"we haven't fout and bled for our liberties to have our posterity and their land circumcised after this rate, to suit the figaries of Congress. So let them try it when they will."
"Mr. Ned Hazard, what do you call state rights?" demanded Sandy.
"It's a sort of a law," said the other speaker, taking the answer to himself, "against cotton and wool."
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From his "Life of William Wirt."