A good story is told on the later Senator Vance. He was traveling down in North Carolina, when he met an old darky one Sunday morning. He had known the old man for many years, so he took the liberty of inquiring where he was going.
"I am, sah, pedestrianin' my appointed way to de tabernacle of de Lord."
"Are you an Episcopalian?" inquired Vance.
"No, sah, I can't say dat I am an Epispokapillian."
"Maybe you are a Baptist?"
"No, sah, I can't say dat I's ever been buried wid de Lord in de waters of baptism."
"Oh, I see you are a Methodist."
"No, sah, I can't say dat I's one of dose who hold to argyments of de faith of de Medodists."
"What are you, then, uncle?"
"I's a Presbyterian, Marse Zeb, just de same as you is."
"Oh nonsense, uncle, you don't mean to say that you subscribe to all the articles of the Presbyterian faith?"
"'Deed I do sah."
"Do you believe in the doctrine of election to be saved?"
"Yas, sah, I b'lieve in the doctrine of 'lection most firmly and un'quivactin'ly."
"Well then tell me do you believe that I am elected to be saved?"
The old darky hesitated. There was undoubtedly a terrific struggle going on in his mind between his veracity and his desire to be polite to the Senator. Finally he compromised by saying:
"Well, I'll tell you how it is, Marse Zeb. You see I's never heard of anybody bein' 'lected to anything for what they wasn't a candidate. Has you, sah?"
