The Greensborough patriot [January 3, 1861]

              lit
BY SHERWOOD & LONG. xL iFamilp Ketospaper—BebqtitJ to literature, Agriculture, JHanufactures, Commerce, ano jmiscellaneous ftra&ing. TERMS-$2.00 IN ADVANCE.
VOL. XXII. GREENSBOEOUGH, 3ST, C, JA.ISTITA.RY 3, 1861. NO. 1119.
I he CrcmsWougrt Patriot.
•emaweon. *nmsa.seas.
SHERWOOD &LONG,
XDITIR8 AND PROPRIETORS.
T,:RWS: tf*.©0 A YEAR, IK ADVANCE.
I RAVES OF ADVERTISING II THE PATRIOT.
< >.IK dollar j.er square for the first week, and twenty-fiv-
cents for every week thereafter. TWELVE LIMES OB
LI.-S making a square. Deductions made in favor of
standing matter as follows:
3 MONTHS. 6 MONTHS. 1 TEAB
One square, $3 50 $5 60 $8 00
Two squares, 700 10 00 1400
Thrte " 10 00 15 00 20 00
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.
LETTER fill MM. JOHN BELL.
Secession no Remedy Jbr South-ern
Wrongs.
BUSINESS CARDS,
JOS. iTLEV, GROCER AND COMMISSION
MERCHANT, Fayetteviile, N. (.'. 100-ly
J». MYERS, C'umnilNNlnn Merchant.
• OLD COCSTY WIIA.Py,
Newbern, W. C,
"•ill givo prompt attention to all business entrusted to
liim. December 16, 1S59. lypd
JSflELLl, Manufacturer of LADIES' FINE
. SHOES. BOOTS AND GAITERS, which he
• His at wholesale and retail, Thomasville, Davidson
county, N. .
Orders i.,r shoes by the quantity promptly attended
tO. 82
Nashville, Dec..lib, 1800.
Dear Sir :—Could I have flattered myself
that any argument I could address to tho
Mass Meeting appointed for the 29th ult., at
Vicksbvrg, would contribute in any important
degree to aid you and your compatriots in
stayin/'ti.e progress oftbe sentiment which
threatens to precipitate your State into apo-litical
vortex, which in my judgment would
would be no less fatal to her own interests
than runious to those o( her neighbors, I
would, at any personal sacrifice, have oboyed l
the summons ot my friends, but feeling no j
such confidence in ray ability to serve them
as you ascribe to me in your letter, I have I
yielded to the force of circumstances which
claimed my attention at home.
So far as my views and opinions have any
weight or influence in determining the course
of any portion ofthe'people of Mississippi in
tho present critical juncture, they may bo
stated on paper, aid 1 suppose would bo as
effective for the purpose intended a9 they"
would be if communicated in a speech
The question of chief importance to be con-sidered,
and answered is, whether the elec-tion
of Mr. Lincoln to tho Presidency, consid-ered
in all its •ignificanee and bearings to-gether
with ali precedent and existing griev-ances,
would justify Mississippi or any other
State or Slate-, n withdrawing from the
Union ? In form, tho election was in strict
accordance with the regulations prescribed
i -„,•,! attention give, to consignments ol b , ConstilulJon alul |aw8. Thu objection
ral Stores, i otton, Hour. Wheat or other country '..... ~ , . ,J
j to it is that ;t was effected by a purely sec-
83—ly tional party,organized upon the principle of
I AMES n. EDISEY, Ml Chamber*-*!, hostility to slavery, and having for its prime
•9 New York, buys every kind if Merchandize on the object the repression of slavery as a perma-terms.
m 1 forwards for "Jl per cent, commission.
Dealer in Pi ines, Parlor Organs, Organ Mclodeons,
Mel. leons, Harps, Guitars, Stools, Covers, Music, etc.,
Wuol. retail. All Instruments warranted.
nl for "Lindsay's Pstenl 1'ump." Garden En-gine,
etc. Circulars of Instruments and Pumps sent
ition. Refers to John A. Gilmer, C. P
Mendenhall. D. L. Swain, and other-. 050
MJ. MOORE, Formerly of Stakes county, N.
• C, with M'FARLAND, TATMAN & CO., Im-porters
and wholesale dealers in FOREIGN and DO-MES'!
IC DRY GOODS. No. -J47 Market Street and 234
Church Alley, between Second and Third Streets
J. B. M'Farland. I PHILADELPHIA. $ II Rerghause/,
J I' Tatman. f jan20-6m jJ.R C.OMham
J Oil Si M. CLARK, Commission Merchant,
Wilmington, N. ('.
Keeps constantly on hand for sale, Fresh Stone
Calcined Plaster, Hydraulic Cement and Has
t i iii)r Hair.
P
> ii v
r Bale »>r shipment.
■†20
NH. >l iltTIV. RRO. & CO., GROCERS
. AND COMMISSION MERCHANTS, No. 139,
'<»'. Petersburg, va.
\. H. MARTU, SOX & CO.,
(' O M M L SS J O N M B RCHANTS,
Richmond, %a.
N. M. MARTIN, SB.,
R. A MARTIN,
w. K MABTIH,
RO. TANNAHILL,
II. L. I'LIM.MI.U, JR.
N. M. MARTIN, JB.
I«ajrStrict persona] attention given to the sale of pro-duce.
Orders for good* promptly filled.~®B 401y
WORTH, N. o. liASIKI,
For past 7 yearrs with T-Late
ol ashsboro', X. C. C. & B. G. Worth.
WORTH & UAMEL, WHOLESALE AND
B.ETAII. GROCERS AND COMMISSION
MERCHANTS, No. 2 Granite Row, Front Street,
Wilmington, N. ('.
Dealers in ali kinuls of Groceries, Provisions, Fruit,
Liqnors, Wines, Cigars and Tobacco.
Solicit i onsiguments of Floar, Dried Fruit, Feathers.
Wax, Tobacco, and Country Produce generally.
Agents loi Howe's celebrated Scales. 6-1 y
fSOLDS J. II. H11WI.AM1...!•:. S. REYNOLDS.
WI». REYJVOEUS & CO.. Successors to
• Rowland & Reynolds,, GROCERS AND
(. >.MISSION MERCHANTS, Norfolk, Virginia.
lient adinini-liatiivo policy, with a view to its
Ultimate eztinctii n. It cannot be doubted
that an administration of the Government,
based upon this policy; eou'd operate far
more effectually n bringing about the extinc-tion
of slavery in the Sou alb through official
influence and patronage, than by any more
direct mode of attack.
But it is clear that the Federal Govern-ment
was established lor no such purpose or
object ; for, however strongly many of the I
trainers ol the Constitution were opposed to |
slavery, it is notorious that it was owing to
their forbearance to insist upon their objec-tions
to the rlausL- in the intrument, providing
for the rendition of fugitive slaves to their
owners, that we have any Federal Union. It
was upon llii* question that the Convention
was, at onetime, upon the point, of (making
up in confusion. The policy of making tho
Government an instrumentality for the re-pression
or extinction of slavery as is now at-tempted
by the party which is soon to be in j
power, was never contemplated by the fra- ;
mere of the Constitution.
I have often expressed tho opinion that
the success of a purely sectional party, orga-nized
upon any principle, sentiment or policy,
in strong antagonism to tho interests and
sentiments of the opposing and defeated sec-tion
weald deeply imperil the Union ; nordid
1 believe, until the result of the October elec-tions
became known, that a majority of the
ANO Northern people would ever so far disregard
Oaokeeping on hand NO. l PERUVIAN GUAN'O ! the counsels and warnings of Washington as
8-tf
P. Sperry, of \ortb Carolina, with
JX. QRAYDON, McCBEERY & 00, importers and ,:, , ,...,;,,r" ,,'
wliolsale dealers in Foreign and Domestic Dry Goods, ! . , txl', '"" W
Fancy Goods, .\c, No. 41 Barclay -.reel, and 40 Park inU) U"' i erntOTieS,
upon the distinctive principle of opposition to
slavery, as it exists in the Southern States,
and avowing the policy of" its repression and
(will icmi-viiiti July next lo the App'.eton build-it
ga, Broadway,) New York.
' lur stouk »:ll 1-e complete by the 1st February, and
the snpervisi in of our Mr. McCreery (reci ntly
3 i< pherd v McCreery, Charleston, 8. C.) will comprise
..>• sription >>f goods in our line, adapted to the
in and South-Wostem trade.
• prohibiting its extension
) was a bold experiment
upon the temperand forbearance of the Sonth,
and upon the strength of their loyalty to the
Union. This experiment, if not conceived in
a spirit of disunion, was made with a reckless
disregard of consequences. No greater strain
upon the ligaments which bind the two great
Merchants visiting New York are respectfully invi- sections of the country together could bi. de
tedtogiveus^ OL f feb!7-ly (vised, than the attempt to. tablish or inaugu-tlTO
III RER, JEWELLER A \ l> rated permanent government poijcv upon
' WATCH-MAKER, West Market, GRMSSBOBO' such priiiciploa The late Harrison Gray Otis,
N C '•as on hand and is receiving asplendid and wcu j of Boston, one of the most distinguished and;
i Block of fine and fashionable Jewelry of every , able ol New England statesmen, when called ;
S3ISU7 ^ —a,ma«ni- up-, in I, :;;,. LO
Sgiv? t. e weigh, o, hts name
He bas also , stuck of line Gold and Silver Watches. a"d ""juenee n. checking the further progress
ill lone ii the BEST MANNER and «:ir- of a rabid abloiion spirit, th n begmging to i
■ i AUpersons purchasing Jewelry, would do well
"ii i'i". before pui :h sing elsewhere, as he is
- i;"»'i bargains as can he
markt;
•■", i,
C1 -*l. ** t.. I.I \i;s. Manufac urers and dealers
• in UEAV'J UoliBLE-SOLED BROGANs,
SINGLE-SOLED BROGANS, GENTS KIP BRO
t. \.V-. ..i. i OXFORD 1 IKS, at wholesale aud retail,
Thomasville N, ('.
Particular attention paid ti d-mble-soled Brogans, for
negro wear which ate warranted to do good servi at
a LOW PRICE
uiffu.se itself .)vcr Nfasi-aehtsette and other
S :r.-- ..t-1 h -E:is' "id N irth, in •' speeeh de-livered
in h'aneuil all, did not h-siia •• to
i e.\pr. s-li.e j■.ti■ i that tlw pi.in- a.-d de
sij! - i i.,- Abolition ■'it'1 iie>. nr, as 1111 ■ y
Mere tin n culled, Ant>Slavery At-i*o<-iations,
couu ii.pl.i'ed such -in inierfereree wnh the
iii.'iiu—iii- policy and insiitui OIIBO! the S.utli
as would be a violation both ol the spirit mid
letter of the Constitution, and were in fact
levolutiona yin their cuaiat-terand tenden-cy.
I am not able to discriminate between the
The patrouage ol the Sot en people is respectfully
• ilii- HOME ESTABL1SHMEN I", with the
irance lhai every thipg sold by us shall be ..l a good character, spirit & tendency ol the anti-slavery
i MoDF.u.i IT: f'KPK | principles and theslaveiy represxion policy;
L O»iil*ti «*■'†■ † TI inlOa.val>.4fac Ihas removed. ,h.is „H A._R - "i the Rep•ubi lic.ian party, cuns<i-dderod in con-
O NESS SHOP to ili. rooms recenty occupied b« "ection with the torrent ot inflammatory
K- M. WALKI.H, Esq., two doors North ol LLNDSAT'S publications aid invectives against the do-
I immediately opposite the New Court House, ni.stie institutions and s..cial relations < f the
re he will be pleased to receive calls from his old , South which is daily poured forth by Jicpub- |
tnd ..... public gone-ally, b is his intention lk..lM journiM8 and orators, and the character.
ep constantly on hand a good assortment. , •' , , . . . , . ,. . « •
Harness and other articles in his line, which he will ' '''"dency and designs ol the Abolition Soeie- |
a rest n:ible terms.
w
ties, and the incendiary publications which I
. ...v.. ...... ... find their wav to the i.ublic under their an
t.DO.\AELL'S 1'holographlcGal- sniees The on Iv ssenLiai difference I ...,.
lery is now opened, and Cameotvpes,Melaino- 8P,Ce^' I"ionly sse.llial Uintltmc 1 call
ad VMBROTTPES, which cannot be surpassed P«rcelve between the spirit and tendency ol
for DURABILITY and BEAL'TYare taken in Lockets, -'le doctrines and avowed policy ot the Be-fins
and Cases, to suit the tastes and purses of all.— pnb-ican party and and those or the doctrines
Having permanently located in Green*bor..ugh, they I and avowed policy ol the Abolition Societies
••ontdemlA expect .liberal patronage. ;„ j lhc L.xtl!nl a,^ degree of the mischiefs
f^f Call aud examine Specimens, and learn the! , • . i • , . i ,„ .i o i .
Prices. Rooms forn 9-ly occupied by A Starrett. see- which may bouillicfd upon the houth by one
ondstor; brick building,' Wtst Market Si >>r the other, and the deliberate intention to
(Ireenshorough, N. C. Sept., 196'J. 68 tf ' inflict them by the Abolition Societies, which
M -^ BETTH ll wou'^ ue u»htir ana unjust to impute to
H. Betts will the whole body of tbo Uepablican party.—
But both are obnoxious lo the charge of pur-suing
a policy which in violation ol the spirit,
ii not the letter, ol the Constitution, and rev-
NOTICE.—The frni of PCLL1A3
1 having this day .eased. Wi'.liam
continue in'the NEQR0 AUCTION business, and has
taken into Co-partner.-hip with him E. J. Gregory.—
They will conduct the business under the firm of Betts
& Gregory; at their Sale Room on Franklin Street,
four doors below Wall Street, and about one Square
below the former otfi.-e of Pulliam & Betts, and re-spectfully
solicit a continuance of tne patronage which
was so literally extended to William H. BettB whUe in
the ii: n of l'ulliam & lietts.
They baveobtained the services of Mr. Bushrod W.
Elmore as Clerk, who has an interest in the business.
WM. H. BETTS.
E. J. GREGORY.
!Baj2„ 88_ly
oiutionary in its tendency. The policy of
both tends strongly to stir up internal strife
in the Southern States, to excite dissensions •
aud insurrections among the slaves, to pro- .
ducu alarm and a sense ol insecurity, both as !
to iile and properly, among the white popu-i
lation of every Southern Staie, and finally to
influence the whole South to revolt against
the Govern oient. The degree and extent of I
the nr.schief which the Republican party may
be able to inflict by its antNslavery policy,
for reasons which f need not state, it will be
readily acknowledged, will be ten-fold grea-ter
than any which thu Abolition Societies
have it in their power to inflict.
That I do not unjustly charge the Republi-can
party with having apopted a policy which,
in its character, tendency and practical opera-tion,
is in conflict with the spirit, if not the
letter, of the Constitution, can be made man-ifest
in a very few words : One of tho impor-tant
objects to be accomplished by the adop-tion
of the Constitution, as a declared in the
preamble, was to "insure domestic tranquil-ity;"
and the power was expressly given to
the Federal Government by that instrument
to "suppress insurrections." The simple
announcement to tho public that a great par-ty
at the North, opposed to slavery, has suc-ceeded
in electing its candidate for the Pres-idency,
disguise it as we may, is well calcu-lated
to raise expect tions among the slaves,
and might lead to servile insurrections in the
Southern States. If such an event, which is
more than possible, should really happen, it
might become the duty of Mr. Lincoln to re-store
the tranquility which the policy of the
party had disturbed, and to suppress an in-surrection
which the same policy bad excited.
Instating the exceptions which may be
fairly taken by the South to the election of
Mr. Lincoln, I have purposely presented, in
the strongest light, the dangers to which
Southern rights and interests are exposed,
that it may not be supposed that 1 had not
considered or eompreheuded the full extent
ot the injurious consequences which may re-sult
from the present menacing attitude of
the North upon the slavery question: before
I formed an opinion upon the grave question,
whether ,.he election of Mr. Lincoln, in all
its bearings, together with all the precedent
grievances of which the South has a right to
complain, furnish any sufficient cause lo jus-tify
tre surrender by the Seuthern States ol
their interest in tho rich and glorious heri-tage
of the Union, and to seek safety and the
undisturbed enjoyment of their rights >n a
Southern Confederacy. With this explana-tion,
I am now prepared to say, unhesitating-ly
and unequivocally, that it would not ; and
the confidence I feeel in tho solidity of the
grounds upon which I o-ive this answer will
be justified by the following considerations:
1. Mr Lincoln, it is well known, does not
h Id extreme opinions on the subject of sla-very.
It is certain that he has expressed a
decided opinion that the South has a consti-tutional
right to demand the faithful execu-tton
of the Fugitive Slave Caw, and that un-der
certain circumstances he would feel it his
d ty not to oppose the admission of a new
slave State into the Union. His declaration
on this poin;. is little satisfactory to tho South ;
but neither that declaration, nor the opinion
expressed by him on the subject of the Fugi-tive
Slave Law, is at all satisfactory to the ex-tremist
of his own party.
Upon the whole, if Mr. Lincoln's public
declarations on the subject of slavery are to
be considered the true exponent* of his lu-ture
policy, and if he possesses the moral cour-age
to adhere to them in opposition to the
counsels of tho extreme men of his party (and
it is just and fair to presume that he does pos-sess
that virture, (no serious mischief need
be apprehended during bis administration ex-cept
the usual evils attending the perpetu .1
agitation of the slavery issues.
2. Hut it is assumed by some that Mr.
Lincoln has disguised his true sentiments;
that his true character has not been under-stood;
and that he will be under tho control
of the worst men of his party. I do net think
so 1 have every confidence that his future
policy will be found to bo in strict conformity
with his past declarations. But apart lrom
this, it is now generally known that ho will
be powerless for mischief, except to a very
limited extent, during the first two years of
his administration, unless the Southern Sen-ators
and Representatives elected to the next
Congress should rashly, and, as I think, in-excuseably
resign their seats or retire from
Congress, and thus voluntarily surrender the
control in both Houses to the Republican
party, which surely they will not do. With
both Houses opposed to bim, Mr. Lincoln
cannot appoint his Cabinet ministers or fill
ary offices of high grade without the assent
ot the Senate, or indeed of any interior grade
above that of a clerk or petty deputy post-master.
Ho will l-oul.e to carry no meas-ure
connected with the subject of slavery
which does not commend itselt to the South
and the conservative members from the North.
3. As to any apprehensions that the Re
publican party, encouraged and stimulated
n. further eftWts by th'ir late success, may
be so strengthen d in tne result of the elec-tions
ol Sen tins and Representatives, in the
in an lime, as lo obtain a t..ajority in both
Houses ot the 38ill Congress, that is, during
the I..si two years of Mr. Lincoln's adminis-lratio.
i—while it may be well to regard such
an even* as possible, the s„r.uiges. reasons
exist for the confident belief that no such uu
lortunaie r.-suit will attend the elections in
Hie No. lb, which are to decide the complex-ion
of the 38th Congress.
Of the whole number of votes cast f..r Mr.
Lincoln in the recent election, from my own
personal knowledge, and lrom information
received lrom oilier sources, ol the sentiments
of the South, and especially of those of the
Middle Stales, and the States north of the
'Hi.o. 1 am sure I hazard no.lung in stating
that a large number—at leisi one-third—are
devoted to the Union, and although opposed
to slavery in the abstract, have Out little
sympathy with the Republican parly, and
would be sincerely «lad lo see the slavery
controversy between the two great sections
of the country speedily terminated. They
supported the Republican candidate in the
hue election, mainly mflu.nced by iheir
strong and inveterate feelings of opposition
to the Democratic party— believing that Mr.
Lincoln was the oniy available candidate in
the held to defeat that party.
I am also weii satisfied that not more than
one-third part ol Mr. Lincoln's supporteis
are so extreme in their anti-slavery senti-ments,
and are animated by so intense a ha- j
tied ol the South, as to be either wholly in-1
different to the effect upon the Union of the
policy ot tho Republican parly, or actually
desirous of a separation of the free from the
slave States.
Of the remaining third of Mr. Lincoln's :
supporters, 1 think 1 am warranted in say-ing
thai they are attached to the Union,
though anti-slavery i.i their sentiments.—;
They joined the Republican paity as a rotai ,
iatory measure, adopted in resentimentof the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, which
they regarded as little less sacred and bind-ing
than the Constitution, and in further re-sentment
of the attempt to force the Lecomp-ton
Constitution upon the people of Kansas
But now that they have so signally triumph-ee
in the late election, and in view of the ev-ils
already inflicted upon tho country, and the
still greater evils to be apprehended they
will be content to cease the war upon South-ern
interests and feelings.
For tho foregoing reason I feel confident
that tho 38th Congress will exhibit a falling
in the strength of the Republican party, in-stead
of an increase.
4. All of the existing grievance ol which
the South may justly complain can be re-dressed
in the Union. As to the indignity,
not to say insult, offered to the Soutb, of nom-inating
and electing the candidates for the
two highest offices of the Government by a
sectional party, on principles which practi-cally
exclude the Southern States from a
voice in the election, contrary to established
usage, and in violation of the spirit of the
Constitution—they may be pardoned for the
sake of peace and harmony, and in consider-ation
that the South has not been guiltless of
having contributed, and that in no small de-gree,
tc increase the violence and asperities
of the slavery controversy between the two
sections.
In expressing the opinion that all griev-ances
may be redressed in the Union, I in-tended
to exclude other greater offences which
have been apprehended from Republican
domination, and which are of possible occur-rence.
How they shall be redressed; should
they unhappily occur, will call for new coun-sels,
but "sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof."
The existing grievances are the obstruc-tions
interposed by some of Uie non-slave-holding
States to the prompt and faithful ex-ecution
of the Fugitive Slave Law, by what
are called Personal Liberty Laws, and the
refusal of the Governors of several of those
States to surrender fugitives from justice from
the siaveholding States, in those cases in
which the crime imputed to the fugitive is
the abduction or stealing of slaves. Some
further legislation by Congress may be re-quired
to secure the surrender of such fugi-tives,
but the due enforcement of the Fugi-tive
Slave Law is all that is required to re-dress
the grievances arising from the escape
and abduction of saves from iheSoulhe-n
States. The Pres:dent is anted with suffi
cient power and means to enforce this law in
defiance of all obstructions which may be
thrown in tho way to defeat it If he neglects
or fails to see it executed, he is liable to im-peachment.
The next subject which 1 purpose to myself
to notice briefly, is the doctrine or theory of
secession, which, as I understand it, is the
right claimed to exist under and by the Con-stitution,
in tho exercise of which a State
may withdraw from tho Union, whenever a
majority of the citizens may decide to do so,
for any cause whatever. For it is quite im-material
whether any grievance or wro.ig
sustained at the hands of the co-States, or by
the action of the Federal Government, is set
up t> justify the exercise of this right or not,
inasmuch as tho people of the seceding State,
under this theory, claim to bo the sole tribu-nal
or judges to decide whether any such
grievance or wrong has been inflicted and
upon the extent and sufficiency of the wrong.
In fact, the theory of secssion implies the
right of a State to dissolve its connection with
tho Union at discretion; and the whole ques
lion resoves itself into this: whether the
Federal Union, as it now exists and as it was
intended to be by its framers, is anything
more than a voluntary association of Suites,
for common defence and other objects of vi- ;
tal importance to their interests and prosper- j
ity, carrying with it no binding obligation
upon any of the States to yield obedience to
the Federal Government any longer than
such State should considci it expedient. 1
propose o enter into no elaborate argument
to demonstrate the unsoundness of this theo-ry,
and to show that no such right was re-served
by tho Constitution either to the State
or to the people. This has often been done
by abler } ens. I must be permitted, howev-er,
to say that when its nature is p.operly de-fined
and its logical and necessary constt-quences
are candidly stated, its absurdity
must strike the commonest understanding.—
Its reasonableness and folly, aside from its
absurdity, will be illustrated by a single ex
ample:
The possession and control of the mouth
ef the Mississippi was held to be of such
vital importance to the interests of" tbo peo-plo
inhabiting the valley of the Mississippi,
in being the great outlet to market of the
rich products of their soil, as to make its
acquisition, either by purchase or conquest,
a great poliiicia necessity. Tbo purchase
was made by the United States for that rea-son,
at a cost of fifteen million of dollars.—
It was stipulated in the treaty of cessi. D
that the territory thereby acquired should
be admitted into the Union as a Slate, or
States, with all the rights and privileges of
the other States of the Union But, can it
be supposed mat Mr. Jefferson and the
other great statesmen ol thai day, if they in-terpreted
the Constitution as the advocates
ol ihe theory of secession now do, would have
been so ineffably st upid and blind lo conse
quei.ees as to have assented lo such a stipu-lation
? Far wiser .-.nil better wou.d it have
been to have pat.I five times the price, and to
have neld the country a-a subject pro\iuee,
having first amended the Coi sliiuiion so a>
to autl.o.ize such a ho .ling And shou.d
Louisiana now secede from th- Union and set
iipaninilepeuderitgovernine.it, in the ex. r
cise of lbs right of secession, even supposing
he riglu to exisi.can there be any doubt thai
the same commercial and political necessity j
which led to its original acquisition, would ;
to its subjugation by the government of the j
United States, or by the States interested in
l e navigation of the Mississippi river and i
its tributaries ?
Auer duo consideration of the subject, w th
becoming deference to the opinions «d others.
I am forced lo the conclusion that secession
is but auoter name for an organized resis-tance
by a Sta e to the laws and constituted
authorities of the Un on or which is the same
thing, for revolution. The'beor} appears to
.Tie to have been conceived and propagated
in a spirit of disaffection to the U.n a-.d
can serve no other purpose than t > I. ad me
unsuspecting and credulous into the support
ol tbo scheme ol disunion, under the delusive
expectation that they would only be thereby
exercising a right reserved to them under
tho Constitution, and that they would be in
no danger ofincurring the penalties of trea-son,
or of exposing themselves and their
country totheca'amitics of civil war.
In tho proceeding pages of this letter, I
have attempted to show that the friends of
the Union in the Sonth should not despair
of obtaining redress from the North, of all
existing grievances, and that the prospects
of being able to avert the greater ones, of
which there may be some apprehenson in
future, are so encouraging, that it would be
the extreme of rashness and foily to tb:nk of
resorting to any means of redress, not war-ranted
by the Constitution. What gives me
the greatest concern at present, is the pain-ful
conviction that the movement in favor
of secession, in Mississippi and other States
of the South, is led, for the most part, by men
of distinguished ability and influence, with
whom the expediency of secession is a fore-gone
conclusion and a settled conviction, men
who can be reached by no argument of re-monstrance—
men who do not want to be
convinced of the insufficiency of existing grie-vances
to justify a disruption of the Union—
men whose imaginations have been taken po-ssession
of, and their judgements led ciptive,
by tho dazzling, but, as I think .delussive vis-ion
of a new, great, and glorious Republican
empire, stretching far into the Soulh. The
scheme of disunion, as I have reason to believe,
has been long cherished by soraa of these lea-ders,
and they have only waited a pretext
more plaus.blo than any heretofore presented,
to attempt the accomplishment of it.
Whut between the inflammatory appeals
and highly colored and exaggerated story of
wrong and oppression already endured, and
the still more intolerable oppression to be
anticipated from tho fanatic spirit of the
North, on the one hand, and the glowing
pictures and seductive representations of the
grandeur, power and prosperity of the new
Republic, on the other hand.it is not surpris-ing
that a body of highly gifted men. strong-ly
excited and carried along by their own
fanacies, have been able to mislead many
housandsofa peculiarly excitable and im-;
pressible population, against the dictates of j
their sober judgements. Audit is a sad re-flection
that upou fhe speedy return of this
class of Southern citizens to wiser and more
temperate counsels may depend the fate of!
the Union. May no hope be indulged that
a little time for calm thought will suffice for
the change of what seems to be their present
purpose and determination ?—a little time for
reflection upon the nature and amount of
evils which are certain to attend a revolution-ary
movement, and also upon other and more
appalling contingent e ils. which may and
probably will arise between its beginning and
consummation.
I do not forget that 1 am addressing,
through you, brave men who are ready to
die in vindication of their honor or in defence
of what they believe to be theier rights, I do
not appeal to their fears.
Rut whatever may be tho final decision
of tin.• people of Mississippi upon the gravest
question ever presented to their consideration
and which deeply affect the relations existing
betweeu them and the people of Tennessee,
and of every t ther State of the South, 1 can-i
not bring myself to the conclusion, all the ex- |
isting evidences to the contrary, that Missis-sippi
will take upon hcisell the responsibilli- j
ty of doing an act that would oxpose the i
peace and security of her sister States of tho j
South to direct and eminent danger, and per- i
hapc decide their destinies far wea or for woe
forever without previous consultation with
them, and first exhausting every peaceable
mode of redress for the grievances of which I
s'te complains. In a community of indepen-dent
Sti.tes or sovereignties, it any one of!
them should pursue a course which would
put in eminent peril the peace and security of;
the other States, without first exhausting,
every means of peaceable redress for any .
gricvames of which she might, complain,]
they would be justified by the law ol nations |
in making common cause aga nst her, and in
preventing her by force, if necessary, from,
pursuing, such course. Such being, the
responsibility, attaching,'to the action of
on. of'a community of separate and indepen- j
dent States, how niu.-b greater would be the i
responsibility incurred by one of the Southern i
Slates ot Ibis Union in adopting the des jer- •
ate measures of breaking up the Union and
thereby pulling in jeopardy the highest and |
dearest interest ofthem all without first taking
solemn counsel together. These interests are j
common to them all, and the grievances com-plained
of are common to all. Could the evil;
consequences certain to ensue be confined to j
the State ad< pting the rash measure ot seces- I
sum, the otbe. States might not feel called:
upon tu protest against it. Bta that cannol
be The consequences—and who can fonwe
their extent '!—must be fell by all.
Viewing the subject in every light in which
it can be presented. I am constrained to say
tiiat by no puhln- law, by no code of morals,
by no law ot E rth or Heaven, would .Missis-sippi
or any other State be justified under ex- '
isting circumstances, in withdrawing from
the Union I confidently beleive that the hap- j
piest consequences would result from a con-1
letei.ee ofall the Southern States, las con-,
hdenlly believe tbata majority of the people j
oi t'»e North H.e this da. prepared to agree
to any lair and reasonable plan ofadjustment i
«Inch sin h a conference ol the Southern
St-<tes would purpose I purposely abstain :
lrom snggestii'g what in my opinion, should ,
be the basi~ ol st.eh pian ol adjustment.
Alter what I have written on the preceding
pages ol ItllH letter, II is scarcely u cessary to
say 1 adhere to the Union I will not say that
in no possible coi.fin</ency would I consent to a '
separation ol the S ;it.-s IJui I would ex-!
haust every constitutional means lor the n--
dresso. our grit-vane, s before I would think
ol dissolving the Union 1 am not willing
lhat one Stale should be wit hdi awn from the
Union—that one stursho.ll I be sin ken Iron.
the bright cluster which wow etnbtuSona the
national flag.
I have long forseetl the pi obubie occur. i-n<-e
of a crisis like the presnt and shrunk from
the poss ble issue, ol it, and 1 eouhi never eon
template the destruction of the Union with
out sensations noi unlike those which I imag-ine
would overwhelm ine on beholding the
last gi.ii g down ol the sun—never LO rise
a_ain forever.
VVitb iliehighestc .nsideralion and esteem,
1 alll v ill- I'ellOW-eiiizeO,
JOHN BELL.
To A. BtKwbLL. E-q., Vtvkaburg, Miss
Fighting In the t'nlon - -Position
«»o* . Wise.
We find in the papers the following letter
from Gov. Wise. Heving been written to by
a gentleman of Columbus, Georgia, to define
what he meant by "fighting in the Uniot.,"
he replies as follows :
Rolliiton, near Norfolk. Va.' >
December 1, I860. j
DEAR SIR : Yours of the -2d ult., was late
coming to hand. 1 now thank you for it.—
As to my doctrine of fighting in the Union,"
it is one of true policy.
1st. It a sovereign State is judge of the in-fraction
as well as of the mode and measure
of redress, she may remain in the Union to
resent, or resist wrongs as well as do so out
of tho Union.
2d. If other States have infracted the Un-ion,
not she, the State wronged is bound to
defend the Constitution and the Union against
those who have infracted tho one and threat-ened
the other. Logically the Union belongs
to those who have kept, not those who have
broken its covenants
Sd. Tho Union is not an abstraction: it is
a real substantial thing, embracing many es-sential
and vital political rights and proper-ties.
It has nationality, lands, treasury, organ-ization
of army, navy, ships, dock-yards, arse-nals,
&c, &c, &c. Sball we renounce these
rights and possessions because wrong doers
attempt to deprive us of other rights .' Is it
not cowardly to renounce one right to save
another? Arc these rights not as precious
as »he mere right of property in negroes. But,
4th. If you 6ecede, you not only renounce
the Union ar.d its possessions, but you fail to
unite your own people, because you do re-nounce
tbese rights. Wake a man up to de-stroy
the Union and Constitution, and he
will stare at you and turn away. But tell
him that the Constitution is infracted and tho
Union threatened by Black Republicans, and
call on him to aid you in defending both, and
he will act heartily with you.
5th. Then how" ii this to be done ? Tho
3rd clause of tholOtb section of the 1st art.
of the Constitution of the United StateB per-mits
a State to keep troops and ships of war
in time of peace, and to engage in war, when
actually invaded, or when in such imminent
danger as will not admit of delay Now, are
we not actually invaded ? Is our danger not
imminent? Does i* admit of delay? May
not a sovereign Sta-.e decide ?
6th. And what is the difference ? Will it
not be revolution and war in either event?
I say, then, stick to all your rights, re-nounce
none, light for all, and savo all!
Yours, truly. &c,
HENRY A. WISE.
•I" we and they,in the event of any dlMmber-ment
of the Union, will suffer more ban all
other combined, I am now in correspondence
with the Governors of those States,*and I
await with solicitude for tbe indications of
the course to be pursued by them. When
t^is it made known to me I shall be ready to
take such stops as our duty and interest shall
demand, and 1 do not doubt the people ot Ma-ryland
are ready to go with the people of
those States, for weal or woe.
I fully agree with all that you havj said as
to the necessity for protection to tho rights
of the So it it; and my sympaiies are entirely
with the ,-ailant people of Mississippi, who
stand re ly to resent any infringement of
'ts. But I earnestly hope they will
udence as well rs with courage—
v moderations as well aa firmness;
villi"g to resort to extreme ineas-
■ecessity, shall leave, us no
Mississippi and Maryland.
The following is the letter of Governor
Hicks, of Maryland, partially reported in our
Telegraphic news of Saturday. It sufficient-ly
explains the purport of the letter of Judge
Handy, the Commissioner from the Stale of
Mississippi, to which it replies:
STATE OF MARYLAND.
Executive Chamber. Annapolis. Dec. 9 18i0.
Sir : Your letter of the 18'h instant informs
me that you have been appointed by the Gov-ernor
of Mississippi, in pursuance of a reso-lution
of her Legislature, a commissioner to
the State of Maryland, and that the occasion
ofyour mission is "the present crisis in the
national affairs of this country, and the dan-ger
which impends the safety and rights of
the Southern States by reason of tho election
ol a sectional candidate to the office of Presi
dent of the United States, and upon a plat
form of principles destructive of our consti-tuiional
rights,and which, in the opinion of
the Slate of Mississippi, calls for prompt
and decisive action, for the purpose of our
protection and futule security."
Yon also inform me that Mississippi desires
the co-operation of her sister States of fhe
South in measures necessary to defend our
rights, and to this end you desire to know
whether I will convince the Legislature of
Maryland for tbe purpose of counselling with
the constituted authorities of tbe State of Mis
sissippi. and at what time it may bo expected
our General Assembly will be called for that
purpose.
In the conversation I had with you this
morning you were good enough to explain
more fully the views and intentions ol Missis-sippi
in tuis matter—her desire that our Leg-islature
should also appoint Com miss oners
to meet those of olhern States, and lhat ac-tion
at once be had b*> all the Southern .Mates
for the formation of a new government among
themselves.
The position of Maryland, as a small South-ern
Border Stato. render the exerciae of any
power I may possess. 1" r the purposes in lj.
cated by you, a mailer of very grave imp '
tance Our St;itc is unquestionably idc.ii
lied with the Southern Suttee in f.-el n(j .itid
by the in.slitut ions and habits which pie. HI;
among us. But she is also conservative, and
above ail things devoted to the union if these
Slates under the Constitution. Her people
will use all honorble means to preserve and
perpetuate tbese. 1 think I know the senti-ents
of her citizen ! in the matter, and that
I am not msiak.ii when 1 sa\ ilia*, almost
tu aniinously, they intt nd to uphold tl at Un-ion
and lo maintain their rights under it; tha
they beKeve these last will yet be admit'ed
and secured ; and lhat until ii is certain tbut
they will be respected no 'onger, not wntil
those ri
act with
Lotus s
and he I
ures u
choice.
1 am .
islature
for unti
a stop 1
hension -
call at
able to inform you when be Leg-
' this State will be called og-thor;
can perceive tne necessity for such
m not willing to awake tl e appre-ad
excite tho alarm whic i aucb a
ie present time could i ot fail to
create.
I hav tho honor to be, vith grca . respect,
your obidiant servant,
THOS. H. 1 ICKS.
Hon. A. II. HANDY, Commission. - of Mis-sissippi.
From the Washington ronstitution. Da* M.
The Abstraction of Bonds iron Ihe
Interior Department.
The public are already aware that on the
volunteer confession of Godard-Bailey, the
Indian appeal clerk of the Interior Depart-ment,
and who was charged with 'he custo-dy
of tbe bonds and other socuritios held in
trust for the Indian tribes, it was diec-jvered
late on Saturdry night that som > o: these
bonds to the enormous amount of IS70.000
had been fraudulently extracted by Bailey
and given by him to Williari H. Russell, of
the firm of Russell, Mt-jors & Wendell.
Immediately on tbe receipt of Bailey's let-ter
disclosing the above fraud, the Secretary
of the Interior made a close exar- inat-on ot
the securities. The examination ;«sted sove-ral
hours, and resulted in disclosii. • that out
of tbe 83,396,241 72, (the gross amount of
the Indian Trust Fund,) but S2,G26,341 82
WON forthcoming, and that 8870,000 were
missing. Immediate steps were taken for
the arrest of the perpetrators ot thi* fraud.—
The Department iB in possession of ample
means of identifying the bondr., wherever
ttiey nay be, and proceedings ha.e been ta-ken
for their recovery.
Yes ;rday morning Secretary ,'hompson
sent a ctter to the Speaker of tho House of
Repre- intatives, (of which we subjoin a
copy,; icquainting him ol tho fraui, and ask-ing
fo a full investigation of tho entire mat-ter
wkfa a view to the exposure and punish-ment
i f all tho guilty parties. In -ompliance
wi'.h I * request a committee of fj.e was ap»
po nl. , the members of which i imediately
waitec on the Secretary at the Interior Do-partm
-nl, to announce their appointment and
their purpose to commence the investigation
at an arfy day.
The following is Secretary Thompson's let-ter
to „be Speaker ot the House of Represen-tative!
:
Department ef the Interior, Dec. 24, IrtSO
SIR On Saturday night last I was inform-ed,
by tho voluntary bonfession of an officer
of thii Department, that State bonds, held in
trust by the United States Government lor
certain Indian tribes, to tbo amount of night
hundred and seventy thousand dollars, had
been abstracted from its custody and convert-ed
to prit ate use.
Tbo en 'rmitj- of this fraud demands a full
investigi on by a committee of Congress in-
: .els and circumstance*, which have
. i perpetratl -n.
cato my honor and integrity, and
be guilty and the derelict. I desire
•.hrough you, to the House ol Rep-s
over which \ on preside, for the
nt of a committee of that body,
i.ver to send for persons and pa-eport
upon the subject,
ihis investigation in order that full
justice i y be done in the premises.
I am, itb much respect,
vour obedient servant,
J. THOMPSON.
Secretary of the Interior.
to all the
attendee
To vi:
to ex pot-to
upper
resentai
a( point.
with ful
pers, an
I ask
The In.ll.iu Boiidn Rofcbery.
(>th' er A R Allen, one of those sent on to
N. m York to arrest Mr, Wm. H Russet , in
ban.I- Uoddard Bailey placed the
I o i- illegally abstiacted fa-.m the
• . he Interior IVpaitmcnt, re-
' . i .•• >l ■ i. on ' ( hr.-.mus day with
his prisoner. BnssrU wm arroied at lbs
California Puny Express Office in New York,
and, having been taken belore Justice Betts
in that city, was duly delivered up to officer
Allen. On arriving here Russell was taken
to the residence of Capt. Goddard, Chief of
Police, and committed to jail; and subse
quently another hearing was held at tho Jail
before tiie Chief of Police. The District At-torney
appeared for tho Government, and
Messrs Davidge, t'hilton, and Humphrey
Marshall, of Kentucky, for tbo accused. Tbe
every honorable constitutional and lawful ef-. bail demanded by Justice Goddard was 8500,-
fort to scenje them is exhausted, will they I 000, whicn not being forthcoming, Mr. Hus-coiwnt
lo any effort for its dissolution. I *ell was committed for trial al Court in the
The people of Maryland are anxious tha' ; usual foitn. It was oxpected yesterday that
lime be given an-i an opportunity afforded ; an effort would be made to bring him before
for a fair and honorable adjustment of the . Judge (. rawf.rd, with » vi-*w to tho reduction
difficulties and grievances of whieh they ; of tne fail; bnt it was not done.
On Yoiidiy evenirg Goddard Bailey was
release) lrom jail on t»«-o securities in th#
stun of 83,000, but yesterday the sct-urilim
surrendered him, and he was returned u> jail,
w ere Ml M ll prenent.
Man' ruin >is are afloat in ref-rencc to
trifiso ions pr or lo the larceny ol the Itidien
i . N. an! for w hi. h that larceny we*, in-tended
is a remedy; bnt, as the a boir afluir
early thai ih. re will si lergw an official laveatigetiea, u will
i. and am convin- be b. not to at.:.cipate.—S'ational Jntelli-ced
that the puwe ol ihe K. derai Govei ii.n-.nt genctt Dtc.'H.
is to be perverted to ihe destruction, instead i
ol being u-e.l for the prniHi tion, of our rights
more than the people of any other Southern
Staie. have a right to complain ; and, in my
opinion, if the people 1.1'.he Union really de-sire
its continuance and perpi tutty su h ail
jiisiment in .y be affected I hope and be-lieve
it wib be riecied. and promptly. And
until the effirt is loci d to be in vain I ca- tn-t
coos' ni, bs any precipitate or rmolutioiiary
Ui lo , lo aid ti if.'- di- meiiihcritn-.it of this
Union. When I slab m e C
is no hope ol ~ei I. adj.is me.
then, and ool till tl c-n, can 1 consent so n»
exercise an}- power with ahieft lam inve-le.1
as lo afi'-id even ihe opportunity tor such a
p.. cee.fi..g.
What i c>-pt.wrs I may have I --ball use
Ot.lj alt.-, i u ■ I • ou-uluti -on. i.u.i >n liali.i.u1
concert w.tti the ••thci Bodei S... >«M, since
fit -si lite is not very long. A few more
smiles a few more tears, some plea*.ire,
inu -h ain, sunshine and song, cloud- and
dar-cn -s, ha-ty ifrooting*, abrupt farewells
— ' ur little play will close, and '!.«• in-j.
n-r i d injured will pass away ! Is it worth
wl. Ie i bat.o each other (