What does he Mean by it?
When a reckless and dangerous man, who has proclaimed that between you and him there is an "irrepressible conflict," "draws a bead" on you with a riffed, it is of course your duty to advance towards him in a polite and deferential manner, and ask him what he means by it!
When a robber aims a slungshot at your head, or a burglar breaks the fastenings of your door, or an incendiary applies the match to the inflammable materials which he has prepared for a conflagration, by all means, before you prepare to defend your life and property, ask him
what he means by it? Ten to one, in each of these cases, he will assure you, as Abe.
Lincoln does his Southern interrogators, that he means no harm whatever, and that his intentions are of the most pacific character.
Three thousand troops and a squadron of war ships sent to the
South, are such evident measure of conciliation and compromise that, but for politeness sake, we can't conceive why
Virginia should inquire of the
Black Republican President what he means by it. His purpose is just as plain as was that of his illustrious prototype,
John Brown, when he proceeded to "occupy and possess" a Southern stronghold.
When
Gov. Wise heard that
Gen. Brown, with pikes and men, had invaded
Virginia, he ought to have sent a deputation and inquired what he meant by it.--
Brown would no doubt have informed him that he meant peace, for he always protested that, if the slaveholders would lie still and be plucked without remonstrance, he wouldn't hurt a hair of their heads.
The legatee of
John Brown who now has possession of
Harper's Ferry and
Old Point, means no more harm than his testator.
He is only adopting means to come into peaceable possession of his estate, and, unless he is resisted as old John was by
Gov. Wise, not a drop of blood will be shed.
Captain Meigs, U. S. Engineer, who goes out from New York with the peace-making deputation of three thousand, was asked what it meant.
He replied, ‘"In about ten days you will know."’ That is about the length of time of the voyage by sea from New York to
Pensacola.
