He's alludin' to Repudiation now!
'What an extraordinary people you are!' cried Martin. 'Are Mr Chollop and the class he represents, an Institution here? Are pistols with revolving barrels, sword-sticks, bowie-knives, and such things, Institutions on which you pride yourselves! Why, I shall hear next that Dishonour and Fraud are among the Institutions of the great republic!'
Martin Chuzzlewit ch. 34