54-40 or Fight

  CHAPTER XIX

  THE GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE

  Women distrust men too much in general, and not enough in particular.--_Philibert Commerson._

  Now all the more was it necessary for me and my friend from Oregon tohasten on to Washington. I say nothing further of the arguments Iemployed with him, and nothing of our journey to Washington, save thatwe made it hastily as possible. It was now well toward the middle ofApril, and, brief as had been my absence, I knew there had been time formany things to happen in Washington as well as in Montreal.

  Rumors abounded, I found as soon as I struck the first cities below theCanadian line. It was in the air now that under Calhoun there would beput before Congress a distinct and definite attempt at the annexation ofTexas. Stories of all sorts were on the streets; rumors of the wrath ofMr. Clay; yet other rumors of interesting possibilities at the comingWhig and Democratic conventions. Everywhere was that strange, ominous,indescribable tension of the atmosphere which exists when a greatpeople is moved deeply. The stern figure of Calhoun, furnishing couragefor a people, even as he had for a president, loomed large in the publicprints.

  Late as it was when I reached Washington, I did not hesitate to repairat once to the residence of Mr. Calhoun; and I took with me as my bestadjutant my strange friend Von Rittenhofen, who, I fancied, might adddetailed information which Mr. Calhoun would find of value. We wereadmitted to Mr. Calhoun, and after the first greetings he signified thathe would hear my report. He sat, his long, thin hands on his chair arm,as I went on with my story, his keen eyes scanning also my old companionas I spoke. I explained what the latter knew regarding Oregon. I saw Mr.Calhoun's eyes kindle. As usual, he did not lack decision.

  "Sir," said he to Von Rittenhofen presently, "we ourselves are young,yet I trust not lacking in a great nation's interest in the arts andsciences. It occurs to me now that in yourself we have opportunity toadd to our store of knowledge in respect to certain biologicalfeatures."

  The old gentleman rose and bowed. "I thank you for the honor of yourflattery, sir," he began; but Calhoun raised a gentle hand.

  "If it would please you, sir, to defer your visit to your own countryfor a time, I can secure for you a situation in our department inbiology, where your services would be of extreme worth to us. The salarywould also allow you to continue your private researches into the lifeof our native tribes."

  Von Rittenhofen positively glowed at this. "Ach, what an honor!" hebegan again.

  "Meantime," resumed Calhoun, "not to mention the value which thatresearch would have for us, we could also find use, at properremuneration, for your private aid in making up a set of maps of thatwestern country which you know so well, and of which even I myself am soignorant. I want to know the distances, the topography, the means oftravel. I want to know the peculiarities of that country of Oregon. Itwould take me a year to send a messenger, for at best it requires sixmonths to make the outbound passage, and in the winter the mountains areimpassable. If you could, then, take service with us now, we should beproud to make you such return as your scientific attainments deserve."

  Few could resist the persuasiveness of Mr. Calhoun's speech, certainlynot Von Rittenhofen, who thus found offered him precisely what he wouldhave desired. I was pleased to see him so happily situated and so soon.Presently we despatched him down to my hotel, where I promised later tomake him more at home. In his elation over the prospect he now sawbefore him, the old man fairly babbled. Germany seemed farthest fromhis mind. After his departure, Calhoun again turned to me.

  "I want you to remain, Nicholas," said he, "because I have anappointment with a gentleman who will soon be present."

  "Rather a late hour, sir," I ventured. "Are you keeping faith withDoctor Ward?"

  "I have no time for hobbies," he exclaimed, half petulantly. "What Imust do is this work. The man we are to meet to-night is Mr. Polk. It isimportant."

  "You would not call Mr. Polk important?" I smiled frankly, and Calhounreplied in icy kind.

  "You can not tell how large a trouble may be started by a smallpolitician," said he. "At least, we will hear what he has to say. 'Twashe that sought the meeting, not myself."

  Perhaps half an hour later, Mr. Calhoun's old negro man ushered in thisawaited guest, and we three found ourselves alone in one of thosemidnight conclaves which went on in Washington even then as they doto-day. Mr. Polk was serious as usual; his indecisive features wearingthe mask of solemnity, which with so many passed as wisdom.

  "I have come, Mr. Calhoun," said he--when the latter had assured himthat my presence would entail no risk to him--"to talk over this Texassituation."

  "Very well," said my chief. "My own intentions regarding Texas are nowof record."

  "Precisely," said Mr. Polk. "Now, is it wise to make a definite answerin that matter yet? Would it not be better to defer action untillater--until after, I may say--"

  "Until after you know what your own chances will be, Jim?" asked Mr.Calhoun, smiling grimly.

  "Why, that is it, John, precisely, that is it exactly! Now, I don't knowwhat you think of my chances in the convention, but I may say that avery large branch of the western Democracy is favoring me for thenomination." Mr. Polk pursed a short upper lip and looked monstrousgrave. His extreme morality and his extreme dignity made his chief stockin trade. Different from his master, Old Hickory, he was really at heartthe most aristocratic of Democrats, and like many another so-calledleader, most of his love for the people really was love of himself.

  "Yes, I know that some very strange things happen in politics,"commented Calhoun, smiling.

  "But, God bless me! you don't call it out of the way for me to seek thenomination? _Some_ one must be president! Why not myself? Now, I askyour support."

  "My support is worth little, Jim," said my chief. "But have you earnedit? You have never consulted my welfare, nor has Jackson. I had nomajority behind me in the Senate. I doubt even the House now. Of whatuse could I be to you?"

  "At least, you could decline to do anything definite in this Texasmatter."

  "Why should a man ever do anything _in_definite, Jim Polk?" askedCalhoun, bending on him his frosty eyes.

  "But you may set a fire going which you can not stop. The people may getout of hand _before the convention!_"

  "Why should they not? They have interests as well as we. Do they notelect us to subserve those interests?"

  "I yield to no man in my disinterested desire for the welfare of theAmerican people," began Polk pompously, throwing back the hair from hisforehead.

  "Of course not," said Calhoun grimly. "My own idea is that it is well togive the people what is already theirs. They feel that Texas belongs tothem."

  "True," said the Tennesseean, hesitating; "a good strong blast about ourmartial spirit and the men of the Revolution--that is always good beforean election or a convention. Very true. But now in my own case--"

  "Your own case is not under discussion, Jim. It is the case of theUnited States! I hold a brief for them, not for you or any other man!"

  "How do you stand in case war should be declared against Mexico?" askedMr. Polk. "That ought to be a popular measure. The Texans have capturedthe popular imagination. The Alamo rankles in our nation's memory. Whatwould you say to a stiff demand there, with a strong show of militaryforce behind it?"

  "I should say nothing as to a strong _showing_ in any case. I shouldonly say that if war came legitimately--not otherwise--I should back itwith all my might. I feel the same in regard to war with England."

  "With England? What chance would we have with so powerful a nation asthat?"

  "There is a God of Battles," said John Calhoun.

  The chin of James K. Polk of Tennessee sank down into his stock. Hisstaring eyes went half shut. He was studying something in his own mind.At last he spoke, tentatively, as was always his way until he got thedrift of things.

  "Well, now, perhaps in the case of England that is good politics," hebegan. "It is very possible that the people hate
England as much as theydo Mexico. Do you not think so?"

  "I think they fear her more."

  "But I was only thinking of the popular imagination!"

  "Fifty-four Forty or Fight!" exclaimed Polk. Page 203]

  "You are always thinking of the popular imagination, Jim. You havebeen thinking of that for some time in Tennessee. All that outcry aboutthe whole of Oregon is ill-timed to-day."

  "_Fifty-four Forty or Fight_; that sounds well!" exclaimed Polk; "eh?"

  "Trippingly on the tongue, yes!" said John Calhoun. "But how would itsound to the tune of cannon fire? How would it look written in the smokeof musketry?"

  "It might not come to that," said Polk, shifting in his seat "I wasthinking of it only as a rallying cry for the campaign. Dash me--I begpardon--" he looked around to see if there were any Methodistspresent--"but I believe I could go into the convention with that war crybehind me and sweep the boards of all opposition!"

  "And afterwards?"

  "But England may back down," argued Mr. Polk. "A strong showing in theSouthwest and Northwest might do wonders for us."

  "But what would be behind that strong showing, Mr. Polk?" demanded JohnCalhoun. "We would win the combat with Mexico, of course, if thatiniquitous measure should take the form of war. But not Oregon--we mightas well or better fight in Africa than Oregon. It is not yet time. InGod's name, Jim Polk, be careful of what you do! Cease this cry oftaking all of Oregon. You will plunge this country not into one war,but two. Wait! Only wait, and we will own all this continent to theSaskatchewan--or even farther north."

  "Well," said the other, "have you not said there is a God of Battles?"

  "The Lord God of Hosts, yes!" half screamed old John Calhoun; "yes, theGod of Battles for _nations_, for _principles_--but _not_ for _parties_!For the _principle_ of democracy, Jim Polk, yes, yes; but for theDemocratic _party_, or the Whig _party_, or for any demagogue who triesto lead either, no, no!"

  The florid face of Polk went livid. "Sir," said he, reaching for hishat, "at least I have learned what I came to learn. I know how you willappear on the floor of the convention, Sir, you will divide this partyhopelessly. You are a traitor to the Democratic party! I charge it toyour face, here and now. I came to ask of you your support, and find youonly, talking of principles! Sir, tell me, what have _principles_ to dowith _elections_?"

  John Calhoun looked at him for one long instant. He looked down then athis own thin, bloodless hands, his wasted limbs. Then he turned slowlyand rested his arms on the table, his face resting in his hands. "MyGod!" I heard him groan.

  To see my chief abused was a thing not in my nature to endure. I forgotmyself. I committed an act whose results pursued me for many a year.

  "Mr. Polk, sir," said I, rising and facing him, "damn you, sir, you arenot fit to untie Mr. Calhoun's shoe! I will not see you offer him oneword of insult. Quarrel with me if you like! You will gain no votes herenow in any case, that is sure!"

  Utterly horrified at this, Mr. Polk fumbled with his hat and cane, and,very red in the face, bowed himself out, still mumbling, Mr. Calhounrising and bowing his adieux.

  My chief dropped into his chair again. For a moment he looked at medirectly. "Nick," said he at length slowly, "you have divided theDemocratic party. You split that party, right then and there."

  "Never!" I protested; "but if I did, 'twas ready enough for thedivision. Let it split, then, or any party like it, if that is what musthold it together! I will not stay in this work, Mr. Calhoun, and hearyou vilified. Platforms!"

  "Platforms!" echoed my chief. His white hand dropped on the table as hestill sat looking at me. "But he will get you some time, Nicholas!" hesmiled. "Jim Polk will not forget."

  "Let him come at me as he likes!" I fumed.

  At last, seeing me so wrought up, Mr. Calhoun rose, and, smiling, shookme heartily by the hand.

  "Of course, this had to come one time or another," said he. "The splitwas in the wood of their proposed platform of bluff and insincerity.`What do the people say?' asks Jim Polk. 'What do they _think_?' asksJohn Calhoun. And being now, in God's providence; chosen to do somethinking for them, I have thought."

  He turned to the table and took up a long, folded document, which I sawwas done in his cramped hand and with many interlineations. "Copy thisout fair for me to-night, Nicholas," said he. "This is our answer to theAberdeen note. You have already learned its tenor, the time we met Mr.Pakenham with Mr. Tyler at the White House."

  I grinned. "Shall we not take it across direct to Mr. Blair forpublication in his _Globe_?"

  Mr. Calhoun smiled rather bitterly at this jest. The hostility of Blairto the Tyler administration was a fact rather more than well known.

  "'Twill all get into Mr. Polk's newspaper fast enough," commented he atlast. "He gets all the news of the Mexican ministry!"

  "Ah, you think he cultivates the Dona Lucrezia, rather than adores her!"

  "I know it! One-third of Jim Polk may be human, but the other two-thirdsis politician. He will flatter that lady into confidences. She is wellnigh distracted at best, these days, what with the fickleness of herhusband and the yet harder abandonment by her old admirer Pakenham; soPolk will cajole her into disclosures, never fear. In return, when thetime comes, he will send an army of occupation into her country! Andall the while, on the one side and the other, he will appear to thepublic as a moral and lofty-minded man."

  "On whom neither man nor woman could depend!"

  "Neither the one nor the other."

  The exasperation of his tone amused me, as did this chance importance ofwhat seemed to me at the time merely a petticoat situation.

  "Silk! Mr. Calhoun," I grinned. "Still silk and dimity, my faith! Andyou!"

  He seemed a trifle nettled at this. "I must take men and women andcircumstances as I find them," he rejoined; "and must use such agenciesas are left me."

  "If we temporarily lack the Baroness von Ritz to add zest to our game,"I hazarded, "we still have the Dona Lucrezia and her little jealousies."

  Calhoun turned quickly upon me with a sharp glance, as though seized bysome sudden thought. "By the Lord Harry! boy, you give me an idea. Wait,now, for a moment. Do you go on with your copying there, and excuse mefor a time."

  An instant later he passed from the room, his tall figure bent, hishands clasped behind his back, and his face wrinkled in a frown, as washis wont when occupied with some problem.