“The poor men have got to stand together now and get their rights.”
“Well if I’ve got to stand with niggers, have ’em hug me and blow their breath in my face, as you fellers are doin’, you can count me out!—and if that’s all you want with me, you’ll find the door open.”
Haley tried his hand.
“Look here, Camp, we ain’t got no hard feelin’s agin you, but there’s agoin’ to be trouble for every rebel in this county who don’t git on our side and do it quick.”
“I’m used to trouble pardner,” replied Tom.
“You’ve got a nice little cabin home and ten acres of land. Fight us, and we will give this house and lot to a nigger.”
“I don’t believe it,” cried Tom.
“Come, come,” said Perkins, “you’re not fool enough to fight us when we’ve got a dead sure thing, a majority fixed before the voting begins, Congress and the whole army back of us?”
“I ain’t er nigger!” said Tom, doggedly.
“What’s the use to be a fool Camp,” cried Haley. “We are just using the nigger to stick the votes in the box. He thinks he’s goin’ to heaven, but we’ll ride him all the way up to the gate and hitch him on the outside. Will you come in with us?”