Tommy was little George in two
particulars-he had studied law, and was a great secessionist; and if
George had never practised, it was only from inclination, which he
asserted arose from a humane feeling which he never could
overcome-that he never wished to oppress anybody. But the greatest
contrast that the reader can picture to himself between mental and
physical objects existed between Tommy's aspirations and the
physical man. His mind was big enough, and so was his self-
confidence, to have led the Assyrian and Chaldean army against the
Hebrews. To this end, and to further the formula of his
statesmanship, no sooner was he twenty-one, and the corner just
turned, than he sounded his war-trumpet-secession or death!--mounted
the rostrum and "stump'd it," to sound the goodness and greatness of
South Carolina, and total annihilation to all unbelievers in
nullification. It was like Jonah and the whale, except the
swallowing, which spunky Tommy promised should be his office, if the
Federal Government didn't toe the mark. Yes, Tommy was a candidate
for the legislature, and for the Southern Congress, (which latter
was exclusively chivalrous;) and the reader must not be surprised
when we tell him that he lacked but a few votes of being elected to
the former. Such was the voice of the Charleston district.
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