Sustained honor Part 26

"But, sir, we must look to the welfare of our country. What are the lives of a few sailors--common fellows--compared to the rich commerce we enjoy with England? The wealthy men of New England would surely be ruined by war."

"Ye blackguard! do ye set up the riches of New England against the life of men because they are poor?"

"Certainly," answered Mr. Crane, taking a cigar from his case, lighting it and proceeding to smoke. "What do Drake and Smoot, whom I represent, care for sailors like yourself? Why, if England wants such wretches, let her have them. We would sell them by the hundred, if we had our way.

Caleb Strong, William Palmer and Roger Griswold, three of New England's leaders, will never allow a soldier to march from their states to fight the English--oh, no!"

Terrence was now almost beside himself with rage. He vividly recalled the tyranny of Snipes, and remembered that many of his friends were still slaves aboard the man-of-war. His cheek flamed, and his eye flashed. Slowly rising, he said:

"Do yez set up yer riches aginst the poor lads, better than yerself, who are dyin' by the hundreds in British slavery? Do ye? Why, ye spalpeen, ye have no more heart than a stone!"

"I don't believe your stories in the first place, sir, and I don't care if they are true in the second. What is the life or happiness of such a low creature as yourself to the prosperity of Strong, Palmer or Griswold? I think that impudence has mounted its topmost round, when you dare enter these headquarters."

"So yer for peace?" cried Terrence, his eyes dancing.

"Yes."

"Well, I'm for war!" and with this he struck Mr. Crane a blow between his eyes which smashed his gla.s.ses, lifted him from the chair and sent him head first into a waste basket. When Mr. Crane recovered, he was at a loss for awhile to tell whether the house had fallen upon him, or he had been struck with a six pounder. Terrence disappeared from the Continental House, and on the next day applied at the white house to see the president.

"The president's engaged," said the servant. Next day, the next, and the next, he applied for admission and was always met with the same story that the president was engaged, until Terrence began to believe that the door of the administration was closed to him, while he saw members of congress constantly admitted to the inaccessible man.

At last, a gentleman who had witnessed his frequent calls, suggested that he send his card. The Irishman wrote:

"Terrence Malone, Irish American, late impressed seaman on H.B.M. s.h.i.+p _Macedonian_."

President Madison read the card and appointed a meeting with Terrence, and at the hour appointed the Irishman was at the white house. A servant told him he would have to wait a few moments until Mr. Clay and Mr.

Calhoun had finished a discussion with the president. Madison finally decided to have these young members of the house hear the Irishman's story, and he was sent for. Terrence found himself in the presence of two of America's greatest statesmen, Clay and Calhoun.

"Are you the prisident?" he asked of Mr. Madison.

"Yes, sir; these are our friends, Mr. Henry Clay, speaker of the house, and Mr. John C. Calhoun."

"Are you for war or peace?" asked Terrence.

Mr. Madison, smiling, a.s.sured him they would much prefer peace, if it could be obtained honorably, but that Great Britain would have to make amends for some of the wrongs she had committed. He urged Terrence to give a detailed account of his impressment and captivity. He did so, omitting nothing from the time he was captured on the schooner bound to Baltimore to his escape. He was summoned a day or two later before a committee of investigation, and narrated the story in all its horrid details.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HENRY CLAY.]

The indignation against the Peace Party, who, in the face of all the evidence, would protest against war, was scarcely less than the indignation against Great Britain. The governor of Ma.s.sachusetts (Caleb Strong), of New Hamps.h.i.+re (William Plumer) and of Connecticut (Roger Griswold), refused to allow the militia of their respective States to march to the northern frontier on the requisition of the president of the United States. They justified their course with the plea that such a requisition was unconst.i.tutional, and that the war was unnecessary.

Terrence had frequent interviews with the president. His audacity and his intense zeal won the admiration of President Madison and his cabinet, as well as many congressmen. One day, while waiting in the anteroom, he noticed a man whose features were evidently Hibernian.

"Do yez want to see the prisident?" asked Terrence.

"To be sure; but I've waited long," he answered, with just the least brogue in his speech.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JOHN C. CALHOUN.]

"Are ye fer war or peace?" asked Terrence, leading the stranger into a far corner. The stranger looked the young Hibernian in the face for a moment and answered:

"I am not an American; but if President Madison knew what I have to say, he'd give me an attentive ear."

Terrence was shrewd enough to read the face of the stranger, and he knew he had something of great importance to communicate.

"Do yez want to see the prisident, really?" asked young Malone.

"Certainly, I do."

"Lave it all to me," the Irishman answered. Then he explained that he was on the best of terms with President Madison and could get the ear of the president, when an audience would be denied everybody else. He urged the stranger to give him an intimation of his business with Mr. Madison.

One Irishman will nearly always trust another, so the two Hibernians repaired to a hotel and, in a close room, the stranger told Terrence that his name was John Henry, and that he had lived for several years in Canada. He told Terrence a story of the perfidy and treason of New Englanders; which produced many uncomplimentary e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns from the young Irishman.

Terrence at once sent a note to President Madison, in which he hinted that he had new and strange developments to make. Madison again admitted Terrence, and they arranged for a meeting between the president and Mr.

John Henry, who had a letter from Mr. Elbridge Gerry of Ma.s.sachusetts.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "IT ALL TO ME."]

Late on a stormy night in February, 1812, Terrence conducted Henry to the mansion of President Madison. But little was done at this first meeting. Henry said he had some secrets to divulge which were of very great importance to the people of the United States. An interview was arranged for the next evening. Again Terrence conducted Henry to the president's mansion.

On the way he said:

"Say what you say for war. I want to meet Captain Snipes on say or sh.o.r.e."

When they were closeted in the president's private office, Mr. Madison asked:

"Now, sir, who are you, and what is your business?"

"I'm John Henry, an Irishman, sir," said Henry. "And I want to tell you that for two years efforts have been in progress on the part of British authorities in Canada, sanctioned by the home government, to effect a separation of the eastern States from the Union, and attach them to Great Britain."

"Can that be possible?" cried the president. It was no news to him; for he had heard the rumor before; yet he had always regarded it as groundless;--at least he had doubted the disloyalty of his opponents in the East.

"It is every word true, Mr. President, and I have the very best proof in the world of it."

"What proofs have you?"

"Can I speak freely?"

"Certainly."

"Without danger of arrest or imprisonment?"

"You can."

With this a.s.surance, Henry said:

"I was in the employ of Sir James Craig, governor-general of Canada, in 1809, as a British spy to visit Boston and ascertain the temper of the people of New England."

"You did so?"

"Yes, sir."