The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-25 00:00:00

A SOUTHERN SYMPATHISER SHOT DEAD

IN OHIO.
The Zanesville Courier of the Ist inst. contains the par-

ticulars of the shocking murder of Wm. Wilkins, a, few
days previous, 'at Sewellsville, Belmont county, Ohio.
The murdered man was enraged in a heated discussion of
the national troubles, dining which he earnestly sided
with the South, and, exhibiting a pistol, expressed his
willingness to, fight for her. One of his companions, who
had taken part in the discussion, requested Wilkins to let
him see the pistol, and upon his compliance with the re-
quest, remarked that if those were Wilkins' sentiments it
was as good a time now as any other to make a commence-
ment, and placing th 6 weapon at the breast of the latter,
fired, the ball entering the heart and killing him instantly.
No arrests were made.

UNION SENTIMENTS IN TEXAS.
A correspondent from Austin, Thum, writes that although
secession is rampant inTexas, yet there is a strong, conser-
vative, 'Union-loving sentiment there, which, if properly
nurtured, will exercise considerable influence. The Gover-
nor of Texas is strongly opposed to the immediate seces-
sionists,
and will in no way favour their schemes by advis-
ing precipitate action. Texas has gained too much by joining
the Union to be willing to leave it if any reasonable com-
promise is offered to the South. At the time of its annexa-
tion Texas only contained 50,000 inhabitants. The last
census shows that its inhabitants now number 415,000
whites and 183,000 slaves. The United States expends an-
nually about 2,500,000d1s in defending the frontier against
' Indian incursions; and the experience of last winter shows
that if the federal forces be withdrawn, the rich valley of
the Rio Grande will become the prey of Mexican robbers
and filibusters. No wonder, then, that Texas does not de-
sire to leave the Union if she can honourably remain.

SPEECHES ON THE CRISIS.
House of Representatives, Feb. 8.
The house resumed the consideration of the report of the
Committee of Thirty-three.
Mr. HATTOF (opp.), of Tenn., contended, with regard to
the principal question et issue—namely, slavery in the ter-
ritories—that question has been decided in favour of the '
Sarah, and slavery was entitled to protection in the Terri-
tories. It was complained that these rights were not re-
spected, and upen this ground some of the States say they
will secede, While Others have seceded; but Tennessee would
seek no such remedy for wrongs. She would deem herself
humiliated and disgraced if she abandoned the constitution
of their fathers, and helped to dismember this glorious
Union. He protested against the State being dragged in
the wake of the reckless and selfish leaders of the cotton
states.
Mr. XELLOGG (rep.), of 111., said that if the country was
to be saved parties and platforms must be sunk and buried
in oblivion. He cared for no party and no platform in the
face of the momentous crisis before them, and his principle
of action in this dread emergency would be that the Union
must and shalbbe rreserved. No matter at what abandon-
ment of party. or platform, so long as there would be .no
abandonment of honour and conscience. The questions at
issue were.such as_might easily be adjusted if they were
approached with deliberation and calmness, ) and, with
feelings free from the trammels and prejudices -of
party. Let this be done, and peace and harmony would
once more be restored to our distracted country. Re-
volution, unfortunately, is a fact, and history has re•
corded it that six States, and perhaps seven, of the outer
circle of the States of the confederacy have withdrawn their
Ilight and brightness to set—unless they, return as legal
States—to set in that darkness for ever which disloyalty to
truth and freedom must ever engender. The time has come
when all men, North and South, must combine to save the
Union, sluicing Out of sight for the time at least all abstrac-
tions which had hitherto prevented them front clearly see-
ing the proper course which.lay before them. Let them do
this, and the sun would not rise and set five times until
peace was restored. Harmony would once =ore spread her
wings over this great nation, and still the glorious old stars
and stripes will wave as bright and free as ever—not a star
erased, not a line tarnished on the brave old flag. (Ap-
plause,,) What were the difficulties which prevailed, and
from whence did they spring ? The real diffictilty was not as'
to the returning of fugitives from labour, for in his State,
and in all other'States where the question had been tieste,dv,
every facility had been given to the, executio lies f
that
a Inv
Mr. Lincoln had declared in one of his speec_lw. g"
Smith was entitled to an efficient fugitive star tilo Tt
then, could they establish any
was a mere bagatelle, and had reallyh a r
o
present difficulties which threaten
the
Union, disruption tdi n withof flitth e
-Union, as the ques';ion:wase!isy so lation. The diffieultyhas
°
arisen from a coniEct of opinions b
,el between the people of the
North and the South relate toecsin the institution
slave land of 13avery
some belbelievingthat it was a g tot:
benefit..to, the master, while the other, the, North, were
taught to regard it as a moral and political wrong, and this
conflict of opinion would continue to Oast as long as the
thilb last. Fifty years tago. it was generally
government s
conceded. South as well askNoith, that slavery was wrong;
but since then education and political training had' greatly
changed the current of twills feelings with regard to-this
question,,and now, the ,bpinions of the people cannot be
changed. They, might legislate till the tide ceased tO flow,
and yet the Sottth bblieve that slavery was right ;
they.might legislate till the sun grew tired of his course,
and yet the Northern mind would retain, the belief that
slavery was a moral and political evil. This was e; subjeCt
on which it was useless to legislate,- Now, the propositiein
introduced •several days ,ago was to amend the constitu-
tion as our fathers have before us. How was the questiein
in 1820 'settled ? A remedy was at once applied—a line was
drawn between the free and slave States, saying ,that ,north
igthat line slavery 'should not be, but south of it slavery
might mist. The result was that peace -warrestored tai the
country, an undisturbed peace of 30 years, during which