"I do not know what line that is."
"No. Well, for practical purposes, you may take it as the line between the slave States and the free."
"But how could there be a split?" I asked.
"There is a wedge applied even now, Daisy—the question whether the new States forming out of our Western territories, shall have slavery in them or shall be free States."
I was silent upon this; and we walked and climbed for a little distance, without my remembering our geological or mineralogical, or any other objects in view.
"The North say," Dr. Sandford then went on, "that these States shall be free. The South—or some men at the South—threaten that if they be, the South will split from the North, have nothing to do with us, and set up for themselves."
"Who is to decide it?" I asked.
"The people. This fall the election will be held for the next President; and that will show. If a slavery man be chosen, we shall know that a majority of the nation go with the Southern view."
"If not?"—
"Then there may be trouble, Daisy."