A consummation devoutly to be wished.
It is for the whole South he would battle. It is the glorious half
of the greatest land on the globe. For HER great rights, under HER
banner, for State sovereignty he would die. On some worthy field,
he would lead the dauntless riflemen of Louisiana into the crater
of death.
THERE, would be the patriot's pride and the soldier's guerdon of
valor. He would be in the van of such an uprising. He scorns to be
a petty buccaneer, a butcher of half-armed natives, a rover and
a robber. In every scene, through the days of 1859, Valois bears
himself as a cavalier. Personal feud was not his object.
In the prominence of his high position, Valois travels the State.
He confers with the secret councils at San Francisco. He is ready
to lead in his regions when needed. The dark cabal of Secession
sends out trusty secret agents, even as Gillespie and Larkin called
forth the puppets of Polk, Buchanan and Marcy to action. Valois
hopes his friends can seize California for the South. Fenced off
from Oregon and the East by the Sierras, there is the open connection
with the South by Arizona.
A few regiments of Texan horse can hold this great gold-field for
the South. Valois deems it impossible for California to be recaptured
if once won.
Pages:
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238