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Part One, Chapter Seven

The Debate

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Courtney walked into the hallway and could hear a debate the men were having.

"We've borne enough insults from the meddling Yankees," Courtney heard her father, Geoff say passionately. "It's time we made them understand we'll keep our slaves with or without their approval. 'Twas the sovereign right of the state of Georgia to secede from the Union!"

"That's right," one man agreed.

"The South must assert herself by force of arms," Geoff continued. "After we've fired on the Yankee rascals at fort Sumter, we've got to fight! There's no other way!"

"Fight!" exclaimed another. "That's right! Fight!"

"Let the Yankees be the ones to ask for peace!" another chimed in.

"The situation is very simple," Geoff went on. "The Yankees can't fight and we can."

Everyone in the room agreed.

"There won't even be a battle, that's what I think," said Scott Tarleton. "They'll just turn and run everytime."

"One Southerner can lick 20 Yankees," someone chimed in.

"We'll finish them off in one fight," Scott continued. "Gentleman can always fight better than rabble."

"Yes," Noah Kennedy agreed. "Gentleman always ight better than rabble."

"And what does the captain of out troop say?" Geoff asked.

"Well, gentleman," Mike started, looking down at his small, empty glass, "if Georgia fights, I go with her. But, like my father, I hope that the Yankees will let us leave the Union in peace."

"But, Mike-" Scott started.

"But, Mike, they've insulted us," Justin said.

"You can't mean you don't want war!" said Noah.

"Most of the miseries in the world are caused by war," said Mike, standing up. "And when the wars were over no one knew what they were about."

"If it wasn't that I knew you-" Scott started before everyone started to surround Mike, trying to talk some sense into him.

But, Geoff stopped everybody.

"Now, gentlemen, Mr. Butler's been up North, I hear," he said. "Don't you agree with us, Mr. Butler?"

Everybody turned to Duncan.

"I think it's hard winning a war with words, gentleman," Duncan said.

"What do you mean, sir?" asked Alejandro Hamilton.

"I mean there's not a cannon factory in the whole South," said Duncan.

"What difference does that make to a gentleman?" Justin asked.

"I'm afraid it'll make a great deal of difference to a great many of gentleman, sir," Duncan said.

"Are you hinting, Mr. Butler, that the Yankees can lick us?" Alejandro asked.

"No, I'm not hinting," said Duncan. "I'm saying very plainly that the Yankees are better equipped than we. They've got factories, shipyards, coal mines, and a fleet to bottle up out harbors and starve us to death. All we've got is cotton and slaves adn arrogance."

"That's Yankee treachery!" some yelled.

Geoff tried to stop them

"Sir, I refuse to listen to any renegade talk!" Alejandro snapped.

"I'm sorry if the truth offends you," said Duncan.

"Apologies aren't enough, sir!" said Alejandro. "I hear you were turned out of West Point, Mr. Duncan Butler and that you aren't recieved by any decent family in Charleston, not even your own!"

Duncan was just smiling.

"I apologize again for all my shortcomings," said Duncan. He turned to Mike. "Mr. Wilkes, perhaps you wont mind if I walk about and look over your place. I seem to be spoiling everybody's brandy and cigars and... dreams of victory."

Duncan left the room. Courtney saw him coming and went to hide behind a curtain.

That's just about what you could expect from somebody like Duncan Butler," said one man.

"You did everything but call him out," said Geoff.

"He refused to fight," said Alejandro.

"Not quite that, Charles," said Mike. "He refused to take advantage of you."

"Take advantage of me?" Alejandro asked incredulously.

"Yes," said Mike, "he's on of the best shots in the country as he's proved a number of times against a steadier hands and cooler heads than yours."

"I'll show him," said Alejandro.

"Don't go tweaking his anymore," said Mike. "You may be needed for far more important fighting, Alejandro. Now, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Butler is our guest. I think I'll just show him around."

With that, Mike left the room.