"Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side."
"Shall tongues be mute, when deeds are wrought,
Which well might shame extremest hell?
Shall freemen lock the indignant thought?
Shall Pity's bosom cease to swell?
Shall Honor bleed?—Shall Truth succumb?
Shall pen, and press, and soul be dumb?"
Before Walter commenced his professional career as a lawyer, he started on a journey that had been a subject of his thoughts for many years, intending to visit the tomb of Washington, the Capitol of his country, and other places of interest at the South. He was a very enthusiastic politician for one of such precise ideas of morality, much more so than Ernest who took very little interest in political affairs generally. They often discussed the leading topics of the day, upon which the latter kept himself well informed, but he did not care so much to enter into the arena of debate as Walter. He liked argument, liked to probe the depth of every measure to see if it rested on a sure foundation, and was unsparing in his criticisms if it did not. Party spirit then ran high, and a new element was just beginning to tinge the waters of civil commotion, which was soon to sink all other issues in its transcendent inportance. Already Mammon began to tremble, and priestly ar-
