I invite him there, and will tell him, beforehand, in
all honesty, that he could not go ten miles into the
interior before he would grace one of the tallest trees
in the forest, with a rope around his neck, with the
approbation of every virtuous and patriotic citizen; and
that, if necessary, I should myself assist in the
operation!"

Mr. Hale's reply was equally characteristic:

"The honorable Senator invites me to visit the State of
Mississippi, and kindly informs me that he would be one
of those who would act the assassin, and put an end to
my career. He would aid in bringing me to public
execution,--no, death by a mob! Well, in return for his
hospitable invitation, I can only express the desire
that he would penetrate into some of the dark corners of
New Hampshire; and, if he do, I am much mistaken if he
would not find that the people in that benighted region
would be very happy to listen to his arguments, and
engage in an intellectual conflict with him, in which
the truth might be elicited. I think, however, that the
announcement which the honorable Senator has made on
this floor of the fate which awaits so humble an
individual as myself in the State of Mississippi must
convince every one of the propriety of the high eulogium
which he pronounced upon her, the other day, when he
spoke of the high position which she occupied among the
states of this confederacy.--But enough of this personal
matter."[A]