Book: Continental Monthly, Vol. I, No. VI, June, 1862

V >> Various >> Continental Monthly, Vol. I, No. VI, June, 1862




The history of our country reveals two memorable cases where the
question was decided that not the State, but the Federal Government was
to be its own judge of what was constitutional, and act accordingly.
First, the case of New-York; secondly, the course taken by Massachusetts
in relation to the Embargo law of 1807, which was believed to be
unconstitutional generally in New-England. In the case of New-York,
there was, as has been said, the surrender of any right to secede from
the Union at her pleasure; while in the Embargo law of 1807, which was
brought up to the Supreme Court for decision, there was the acquiescence
of New-England upon the simple point, who should be the final arbiter in
the dispute. Massachusetts and all New-England assented to a decision of
the Judiciary, not upon the ground that it was right, but that the
Supreme Court had alone the authority to say what was right.

In this case there was a perfect refutation of the whole theory of
secession; that theory falls back upon the idea that the State
government is to be its own judge of what constitutes a violation of the
Constitution, and act accordingly; but the Embargo law of 1807, when
carried up to the Supreme bench, and the way New-England assented to a
decision that was not believed to be in accordance with the
Constitution, is a signal rebuke of the assumption of State sovereignty
when arrayed against the General Government. The all-important question
was not, Was the decision of the Judiciary right, but simply, Who had
the authority to say what was right? Who should submit to that
authority? No person can fail to see in these two cases, under
circumstances so widely different, and with an end proposed in each
directly the reverse of the other, that the point so important to
establish was clearly made out, that the National Government reserves to
itself alone the right to decide as to what should be the course taken
in questions of dispute that arise between the States and the Federal
authority.

It is mournful to see the finest country on the earth--a land peculiarly
blessed with every element of material wealth, a land that has grown
like a giant, and commanded the respect of the world--now in her central
government made an object of contempt, and crippled in her strength by
those very States who should, upon the principle of gratitude for favors
granted, have been the last to leave the Union. While the Government at
Washington has shown the utmost forbearance, they have manifested the
greatest insolence, as well as disregard of the most sacred rights of
the Union. An Absalom the most willful and impetuous of his father's
family, and yet the most caressed and indulged, requites every debt of
parental kindness by seeking through treachery and the prostitution of
all his privileges to raise an insurrection in the household of David,
and turn away through craft the hearts of the people from their rightful
lord. So like Absalom, South-Carolina first unfurls the banner of
treason and war among the sister States, desperately resolved to secure
her selfish aggrandizement even at the price of the ruin of the country,
but like Absalom, also, she is destined to experience a reverse as
ignominious and as fatal.



_A STORY OF MEXICAN LIFE_

VIII.

'My neighbor gazed at the stranger with bewilderment, and remained
speechless. There was, nevertheless, nothing in his outward mien to give
rise to so much emotion. He was a robust and rather handsome fellow, of
about twenty-five, bold, swaggering, and free and easy in his
deportment--a perfect specimen of the race of half-breeds so common in
Mexico. His skin was swarthy, his features regular, and his beard
luxuriant and soft as silk. His eyes were large and black as sloes, his
teeth small, regular, and white as ivory, and his whole countenance,
when in repose, wore an expression which won confidence rather than
excited distrust. But when conversing, there was an indefinable
craftiness in his smile, and a peculiar cunning in the twinkle of his
eye, that often strikes the traveler in Mexico, as pervading all that
class who are accustomed to making excursions into the interior. His
costume, covered with dust, and torn in many places, led me to infer
that he had only just returned from some long journey.

'After waiting, with great politeness, for some few seconds, to allow
Arthur time to address him, and finding he waited in vain, the Mexican
opened the conversation:

''I fear your excellency will scold me for delaying so long on the road;
but how could I help it? I am more to be pitied than blamed--I lost
three horses--at monte--and if it had not been by good luck that the ace
turned up when I staked my saddle and bridle, I should not be here even
now; but the ace won; I bought a fresh horse--and here I am.'

''What success?' inquired Arthur, with a look of intense anxiety; 'did
you bring any?'

''Certainly,' replied Pepito, handing him very unconcernedly a small
package; 'I brought more than you told me, and, in fact, I might have
brought a mule-load if you had wanted so many.'

''Adele!' cried Mr. Livermore, overcome with delight, as he rushed into
my room, 'Adele, HE HAS FOUND IT!'

Pepito followed Arthur with his sharp eye, and on beholding Adele, asked
me, in a low tone:

''Who is that lady, Caballero?'

''I can not say; I myself never saw her until to-day,' said I; and
noticing his gaze riveted on her in apparent admiration, I added:

''Do you think her pretty?'

''Pretty! Holy Virgin! she is lovely enough to make a man risk his
salvation to win her.'

'Feeling that my presence might be one of those superfluities with which
they would gratefully dispense, I was on the point of leaving, when
there was a knock at the door. Again Adele sought refuge in my room, and
again Arthur advanced to the door:

''Open, it is I,' said a voice from the outside; 'I have come to inquire
after my friend Pepito.'

''Senor,' exclaimed Pepito, 'that must be my compadre, Pedro.'

'On the door being opened, they flew to one another's arms, and gave a
true Mexican embrace.

'The entrance of Pedro, which evidently annoyed Mr. Livermore, awakened
in my mind strange suspicions. I resolved at the earliest opportunity I
had of a private interview with him, to allude to what I had overheard
on the Alameda. In the mean time I would keep an eye on these two
cronies.

''Stand back, Pedro, and let me have a good look at you.'

''_There!_ well, how do you think I look?'

''My dear fellow, you are growing decidedly coarse and fat.'

''Bah! but how do you like my new rig?'

''I can not admire the cut; but, of course, you bought them
ready-made--one could see that with half an eye.'

''Well, Pepito, now that you are once more back in the city, I lack
nothing to make me perfectly happy. You will spend the rest of the day
with me?'

''Of course, my dear fellow.'

''Well, it is about dinner-time; let us be off.'

''Wait till I have first bid adieu to his excellency,' replied Pepito,
turning toward Mr. Livermore. Then advancing a few steps, he whispered a
few words to him, at the same time bowing very low. Arthur unlocked the
drawer of his table and took out a roll of dollars, which he handed to
the Mexican.

''Must you absolutely leave me so soon?' said he.

''Well, Caballero, after so long a journey, a man requires relaxation,
and enjoys a social glass; so, with your permission, I will see you
again to-morrow.'

'This answer was any thing but pleasing to Mr. Livermore, who turned to
me, and addressing me in English, said:

''My dear sir, once more I must trespass on your good-nature. It is
essential to the success of my plans, that these two men should not be
left together. Will you, _can_ you, tack yourself on to them, and keep
close to Pepito until they separate?'

''Your request is as strange as it is difficult of execution; but I will
do my best.'

''Gentlemen,' said I, to the two Mexicans, as we all three were going
down the stairs, 'you were speaking of dining--now I want to visit a
real Mexican _fonda_; I am tired of these French cafes; will you favor
me by taking me to a first-rate house, for I am not acquainted with this
city.'

''If you will accompany us to the Fonda Genovesa, Caballero,' said
Pedro, 'I will warrant you will have no cause to repent it.'

''I am infinitely indebted to you, and shall gladly accept your
guidance.'

'The Fonda Genovesa was certainly one of the vilest establishments I
ever visited, and the dinner was, of course, detestably bad. However, I
treated my two worthies to a couple of bottles of wine, which being to
them a rare luxury, they declared they had fared sumptuously.

''But, look here, Pepito,' said Pedro, 'you have not yet alluded to your
journey. Where have you been all this time?'

''Where have I been? Oh! well, that is a secret.'

''A secret! what, from me, from your compadre Pedro?'

''Even so, my dear Pedro, even so; I have sworn not to mention the
object of my journey nor my destination.'

''Oh! I dare say; but look here, what did you swear by--the holy Virgin
of Guadalupe? No? Well, was it the cross?'

''No, neither by the one nor the other.'

''What is there binding, then? nothing else ought to keep you silent
when _I_ am in question?'

''I pledged my sacred honor.'

''Your sacred honor! Give me your hand, you always were a wag, but you
humbugged me this time, I confess; well, that _is_ a good one--the best
joke I have heard for an age--excellent! well, go on, I am all
attention, all ears.'

''Well, you won't hear much, for I am a man of honor, and bound not to
speak; besides, I received a hundred dollars to keep mum.'

'Pedro for a moment appeared to be in a brown study; at last, gazing
hard at his friend, he said:

''Would two hundred tempt you to speak?'

''If such a proposition were to come from a stranger, I might,
perchance, accept it; but seeing it comes from you--never.'

''Why?'

''Because, when you offer me two hundred dollars for any thing, it must
be worth far more than you offer.'

''Well, now, admit, just as a supposition, that I am interested in this
matter, what harm will it do you, if we both turn an honest penny?'

''That is just the point; but I don't want you to turn ten pennies to my
one.'

''Your scruples, my dear Pepito, display a cautious temperament, and
evince deep acquaintance with human nature; you see through my little
veil of mystery, and I own your sagacity; now I will be honest with
you--with a man like you, lying is mere folly. It is true, I am to have
four hundred dollars if I can find out where you have been. I swear to
you by the holy Virgin of Guadalupe, I am making a clean breast of it.
Now, will you take that amount? Say the word, and I will go and fetch it
right away.'

'This proposition seemed to embarrass the scrupulous Pepito extremely,
and he remained some time lost in thought.

''But, if you only receive four hundred, and give me four hundred, what
the deuce will you make out of such an operation?'

''Trust entirely to your generosity.'

''What! leave me to do what I like! I take you up--by Jupiter! Pedro,
that is a noble trait in your character--I take you up.'

''Then it is a bargain. Will you wait here for me, or would you prefer
to meet me at our usual Monte in the Calle de los Meradores?'

''I prefer the Monte.'

''You will swear on the cross, to relate fully and truly every
particular relating to your journey?'

''Of course--every thing.'

''I will be there in a couple of hours.'

'After his friend's departure, Pepito sat silent; his brow was knit, and
yet a mocking sneer played around his lips; he seemed to be pursuing two
trains of thought at once; suspicion and merriment were clearly working
in his mind.

''This is a droll affair, Caballero; I can't clearly see the bottom of
it'

''There is nothing very unusual in it that I see,' I replied, 'for every
day men sacrifice honor for gold.'

''True, nothing more common, and yet this proposition beats all I ever
met with.'

''In what respect?'

''Why, the interest that these folks who employ Pedro, take in this
journey that I undertook for your friend, Senor Pride.'

''But, if this journey has some valuable secret object in view?'

''Valuable secret!' repeated Pepito, bursting into a fit of laughter;
'Yes, a valuable secret indeed! Oh! the joke of offering four hundred
dollars for what, 'twixt you and me, is not worth a cent. But who can it
be that is behind Pedro, in this matter? He must be some rival doctor,
or else a naturalist, on the same scent.'

''Is Senor Pride,' I inquired, 'a doctor--are you sure of that?'

''Yes--he must be--but I don't know,' exclaimed Pepito; 'I am at my
wits' end. If he is not, I have been working in the dark, and he has
deceived me with a false pretext; I am at a loss--dead beat. But one
thing is plain--I can make four hundred dollars, if I like.'

''And will you betray your employer?' said I indignantly.

''Time enough--never decide rashly, Caballero; I shall
deliberate--nothing like sleeping on important affairs; to-morrow--who
knows what to-morrow may bring forth?'

'So saying, Pepito arose, took his traveling sword under his arm, placed
his hat jauntily on his head, cast an admiring eye at the looking-glass,
and then brushed off some of the dust that still clung to his left
sleeve.

''The smile of Heaven abide with you, Senor,' said he, with a most
graceful bow. 'As for your friend's secret, do not be uneasy about it; I
am not going to meet Pedro to-night. I shall take advantage of his
absence to make a call on my lady-love. Pedro is a good fellow, but
shockingly self-conceited; he fancies himself far smarter than
I--perhaps he is--but somehow I fancy, this time he must be early if he
catches me asleep.'

'On his departure, I paid the bill, which both my friends had
overlooked, then walked out and seated myself on the Alameda, which at
that hour was thronged with promenaders. Isolated, buried in thought, in
the midst of that teeming throng, the various episodes in the drama of
which my mysterious neighbor was the principal character, passed before
my mind. I again and again reviewed the strange events which, by some
freak of fortune, I had been a witness to. What was the basis on which
my friend, with two sets of names, founded his dream of inexhaustible
wealth, this mission he had intrusted to Pepito? What the mission which
the agent laughed at, and which to gain a clue to, others were tempting
him with glittering bribes? And again, why the deceit practiced on
Pepito, by assuming the guise of a doctor? Each of these facts was a
text on which I piled a mountain of speculation.

'Vexed and annoyed at finding myself becoming entangled in this web of
mystery, as well as piqued at my failure to unravel it, I determined to
avoid all further connection with any of the actors; and full of this
resolve, I wended my way homeward, to have a final and decisive
interview with Mr. Livermore.

'The worthy Donna Teresa Lopez confronted me as I entered the inner
door:

''Plenty of news, is there not?' she asked; 'I heard a good deal of
squabbling, last night; that man in the cloak was noisy.'

''Yes; they had an interesting discussion.'

''You can not make me believe that was all. _Discussion_, indeed! When
there is a pretty woman in the case, and two men talk as loudly as they
did, it generally ends in a serious kind of discussion. 'When love stirs
the fire, anger makes the blood boil.' Tell me, now, will they fight
here, in the Senor Pride's room?'

'This question, which Donna Teresa put in the most matter-of-fact sort
of way, staggered me considerably, and confirmed me in the resolution to
avoid the whole business.

''I sincerely trust, Senora, that such an event is not probable. On what
do you base your supposition?'

''There is nothing so very astounding in rivals fighting; but it is all
the same to me. I only asked that I might take precautions.'

''Precautions! what, inform the police?'

''No, no! I thought it might be as well to take down the new
curtains--the blood might spoil them.'

'Need I say I terminated my interview with my hostess, more impressed
with admiration of her business qualities than of her sympathetic
virtues? But let me do the poor woman justice; life is held so cheap,
and the knife acts so large a part in Mexico, that violence and sudden
death produce a mere transient effect.


IX.

'Instead of going to my own apartments, I went direct to Mr.
Livermore's, intending thus to show him that I wished no longer to be
looked upon as the man in the next room.

''We were dying with anxiety to see you,' he said, as I entered; 'walk
into the other room, you will find Adele there.'

''Well, Mr. Rideau,' said she, with intense anxiety visible on her
countenance, 'what passed between those two men?'

''Little of importance. Pedro offered Pepito four hundred dollars if he
would divulge the particulars of his journey; to which offer Pepito has
acceded. That is about all.'

'I was far from anticipating the effect my answer would produce on my
hearers. They were overwhelmed--thunderstruck. Adele was the first to
recover.

''Fool! fool that I was,' she exclaimed, 'why did I select in such an
enterprise a man worn down by sickness and disease?'

'The look she cast on Arthur, rapid as it was, was so full of menace
and reproach, that it startled me.

''Well, Arthur,' she said, laying her hand on his arm; 'do you feel ill
again?'

'Roused by the sound of her voice, Arthur placed his hand on his heart,
and mutely plead excuse for the silence which his sufferings imposed on
him.

'As for me, I spoke no word, but mentally consigned my mysterious
neighbors to a distant port, whence consignments never return.

''My dear sir,' I replied at length, 'Pepito's treachery, which appears
so deeply to affect you, is not yet carried into execution, it is only
contemplated. I will give you word for word what transpired.'

'When I had concluded my narrative, to which they listened with
breathless attention, Adele exclaimed:

''Our hopes are not yet crushed, the case is not utterly desperate; but
alas! it is evident our secret is suspected, if not known. Arthur,' she
continued, 'now is the time to display all our energy. We have some
enemy to dread, as I have long suspected. If we do not at once steal a
march on him, then farewell forever to all our dreams of happiness, of
wealth, or even of subsistence.'

''Sir,' said she, again addressing me; 'your honor alone has kept you in
ignorance of our secret. You could easily have tempted and corrupted
Pepito. We prefer you should learn it from us rather than from an
accidental source. We merely request your word of honor that you will
not use it to your own advantage, without our joint consent, nor in any
way thwart our plans.'

''I am deeply sensible, madame, of the confidence you repose in me; but
I must beg you will allow me to remain in ignorance.'

''You refuse, then, to give us the promise?' exclaimed Adele, 'I see it
all! you will thwart us; you would preserve your liberty of action
without forfeiting your word.'

'If you had known me longer, such a suspicion would not have crossed
your mind. However, as I have no other means of proving it unjust, I
will give the pledge you desire, I am now ready to hear whatever you
have to communicate.'

'Mr. Livermore resumed the conversation:

''The secret which Adele imparted to me will, I dare say, appear at
first very extravagant, but before you laugh at it, give me time to
explain. It is the existence of a marvelous opal mine in the interior;
the precise location of which is known to no one save Adele and myself.'

'In spite of the greatest effort, I could not suppress a smile of
incredulity, at this announcement. Mexico is so full of strange stories
of fabulous mines, that this wondrous tale of opals looked to me like
some new confidence game, and I felt sure my neighbors were duped or
else trying to dupe me.

''Oh! I see you think we are deceived?'

''I admit,' I replied, 'it strikes me as possible that you have been the
victims of some crafty scheme. Did you hear of this mine before or since
your arrival in Mexico?'

''Before we left New-Orleans.'

''And yet it is not known to the natives?'

''It was from a Mexican we had our information.'

''Why did not this Mexican himself take advantage of it?'

''He could not, for he was banished. He is now dead. But what do you
think of these specimens?'

'He took from a drawer ten or twelve opals of rare size and brilliancy.
I examined them with care; they were, beyond all doubt, of very
considerable value. My incredulity gradually gave way to amazement.

''Are you certain these opals really came from the mine of which you
speak?'

''Nothing can be more certain; you saw Pepito hand me a package; you
heard his remark that he could have brought a mule-load; these are a
few of what he did bring.'

''This mine then really exists?' I said, my incredulity giving way to
the most ardent curiosity.

''Really exists! yes, my friend; if you listen, I will dispel all doubt
of that.'


X.

''On arriving in this country, my first step was to procure a guide and
the necessary equipage for reaching the opal mine. Although I felt sure
of its existence, I could not dispel the fear that the story of its
marvelous richness would prove false. Without loss of time, I started;
for to me it was a question of life and death. I had, however, barely
accomplished a third of the journey, when I was prostrated by fever. The
fatigue of traveling in the interior of this magnificent but wretched
country, combined with excitement and anxiety, preyed upon my mind, and
brought on an illness, from which at one time I gave up all hope of
recovering. I was compelled to return to Vera Cruz. The doctors were all
of the opinion that several months of perfect repose would be necessary
before I could undertake another such journey. Several months--oh! how
those words fell on my ears; they sounded like the knell of all my
hopes. A thousand expedients floated through my brain, and in adopting
the course I eventually did, time alone will prove whether I followed
the promptings of a good or evil genius. One evening, I explained to my
attendant that I was a medical man, deeply interested in botanical and
mineralogical discoveries; that my object in undertaking my recent
journey was to collect certain rare herbs and a singular description of
shell. I laid peculiar stress on the herbs, and added in relation to the
shells, that I merely wanted a few specimens, as they were rare in my
country. My attendant at once proffered his services, to go in search of
them. I appeared at first to attach but little importance to his offer;
but as he renewed it whenever the subject was alluded to, I at last
employed him. The mine is situated on the margin of a little brook. One
day's work of an active man will turn the stream into a fresh channel,
and a few inches beneath its bed will be found, mixed with the damp sand
and loam, the shells, which, when polished, form the opal. I gave my
servant the needful information as to localities and landmarks, and
promised him a gratuity of a hundred dollars over and above his wages,
in case he succeeded. Having given him instructions, I retained his
services until I reached this city, where I determined to await his
return, it being more healthy than Vera Cruz. Having selected my
lodgings and given him the pass-word by which alone a stranger could
obtain admittance to me, with an anxious heart I dispatched him on the
mission.

''For three months I had no tidings of him; night and day, I was the
prey of doubt and fear. No words can portray the agony of suspense that
I endured; the hours seemed days, the days months, and the bitterness of
years was crowded into that short interval. At last, thanks be to
heaven, my messenger returned.'

''Do you mean Pepito?' I exclaimed.

''The very man,' replied Arthur; 'his journey was successful. You have
seen the specimens he brought. I was intoxicated with delight; but Adele
did not share my joy. Nature has given woman a faculty of intuition
denied to man. Alas! Adele's presentiment has been verified; your
account of the interview between Pepito and his friend proves her fears
were well-grounded.'

''In what way?'

''In _this_ way; it shows we have an enemy who has an inkling of our
secret, and is striving to snatch the prize from us. What course to take
I am at a loss to know. Adele advises to make sure of Pepito, at any
price.'

''And that strikes me as being your surest if not your only course.'

''Yes, the surest; but how to make _sure_ of him?'

''By outbidding your competitors, and proving to him that in adhering to
you he is best serving his own interests.'

''But he is base enough to take bribes from both sides, and betray
each.'

''Oh! that I were a man!' exclaimed Adele, 'this fellow is the only one
who knows our secret. One man ought not to stand in fear of another.
Only _one_ man crosses your path, Arthur.'

''Unless I murder him, how can he be silenced?'

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