" Nancy, Nancy, listen to this young Scotch devil.
He says they will be hanging men like me in less than
six weeks."

Strange things happened in those days. A short time
after, that same Mr. Stokes was applying to me in
Washington to help him to a major's commission in the
volunteer forces. I was then in the Secretary of War's
office, helping to manage the military railroads and
telegraphs for the Government. This appointment he
secured and ever after was Major Stokes, so that the
man who doubted the right of the North to fight for the
Union had himself drawn sword in the good cause. Men
at first argued and theorized about Constitutional
rights. It made all the difference in the world when the
flag was fired upon. In a moment everything was
ablaze -- paper constitutions included. The Union and
Old Glory! That was all the people cared for, but that
was enough. The Constitution was intended to insure
one flag, and as Colonel Ingersoll proclaimed: "There
was not air enough on the American continent to float
two."

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