The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-17 00:00:00

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not in all cases voluntary, but I have seen no rea
son yet to suppose that they are correct. There
would hardly seem to be a necessity for resorting
to a forced loan for so small a sum. The Governor
of Alabama proposes to take the specie in the vaults
of the banks for the use of the State, and that the
banks shall suspend in advance to enable him to do
sa. I enclose the circular letter to the banks on
this subject.
" Executive Departmec. 4e, nt, Montgomery,
D 186 Q.
" To the President and Directors of the Central
Bank of Alabama, Montgomery, Alabama.
Gentlemen,—The peculiar and extraordinary
state of public affairs, and the interest of the State,
make it a matter of State necessity to retain in the
vaults of the banks all the gold and silver coin in
their possession.
" From present prospects there can scarcely be a
doubt that Alabama will secede from the Union
before the 4th day of March next. Should that
contiagency occur, it will be necessary. for the
State to raise not less than 1,000,000 dols. in specie
or its equivalent. Under the circumstances which
surround us we could not sell State bonds, either in
the North or in Europe, except at a ruinous dis-
count ; and it would be inexpedient to tax the
people immediately for that purpose. How, then,
can the State secure the money that may be neces-
sary in her emergency ?
"But one practicable plan now presents itself to
my mind, and that is to call upon the banks of the
State to come up to her aid. The course of events,
and the suspension of the South Carolina and
Georgia banks, will create more or less uneasiness
in the minds of bill holders, and will induce many
of them to draw the specie from the banks to the
extent of the notes they may hold, and thus render
the banks unable to aid the State, as they other-
wise could do.
I am strongly urged from various parts of the
State to convene the Legislature for the purpose of
authorising the banks to suspend specie payments,
and thus enable them to retain their specie for the
purpose suggested.
" I have reflected much and anxiously upon the
subject. lam satisfied, were Ito convene the Le-
gislature for the purpose stated, that it would pro-
duce a run upon the banks, and in a great measure
exhaust their specie and defeat the object I have in
view.
" With the view, then, of enabling the banks to
retain their specie for the purpose aforesaid, I deem
it my duty, under the circumstances, to advise and
request them to suspend—all at the same time.
" The high and pathetic motives which would
induce the act would sustain the banks and me.
There can be no doubt that the Convention and
Legislature will sustain and legalise the act. I will
sanction it, and will institute no proceedings against
them ; and in my message to the Legislature and
Convention will urge them to sanction the act,
which I am sure they will do.
" If need be, after the suspension I will write an
address to the people of the State, stating the facts
and circumstances under which the step was taken.
I am satisfied that the banks are in a sound condi-
tion and can maintain it through the present crisis,
but it will render them unable to give the State
that aid she will need.
" I have written similar letters to all the banks.
The contents of this communication are respectfully
submitted to your consideration.—l am, &c.,
, " A. B. MOORE."
There is, throughout the Southern States, an un-
settled, feverish, suspicious feeling, that sets at de-
fiaree all the ordinary rules of calculation, as well
as the ordinary rules of law. It has become un-
safe for a Northern gentleman to travel there even
with his mouth shut. Some prying petty vigilance
committee will catch him and insist upon his
speaking. The proprietors of the Herald sent a
gentleman of their staff into the interior of South
Carolina to gather information as to the state of
feeling there. He was seized while in the discharge
of his duties by one of these self-created commit-
tees and detained a day while they subjected him to
a searching cross-examination, and read every
scrap of paper in his portmanteau. This is but
one case of many that have come to my knowledge,
the arrests in some cases being accompanied by
acts of brutal violence and ferocity.
The army officers are for preserving the Union.
Gen. Scott, I understand, told the President that
Major Anderson must be sustained. A private let-
ter from Gen. Wool, who commands the Eastern
division of the army, to Gen. Cass, has also been
published. It was written when Mr. Cass was a
member of the Cabinet. It is as follows :
" (Private.)
" Troy, Dec. 6, 1860.
" My dear General,—Old associations and former
friendship induce me to venture to address to you a
few words on the state of the country. My letter is
headed private, because I am not authorised to ad-
dress yon officially.
" I have read with pleasure the President's Mes-
sage. South Carolina says she intends to leave the
Union. Her representatives in Congress say she has
already left the Union. It would seem that she is
neither to be conciliated nor comforted. I command
the eastern department, which includes South Ca-
rolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.
You know me well. I have ever been a firm, de-
cided, faithful, and devoted friend of my country.
If I can aid the President to preserve the Union, I
hope he will command my services. It will never do
for him or you to leave Washington without every
star in this Union is in its place. Therefore no time
should be lost in adopting measures to defeat those
who are conspiring against the Union. Hesitancy
or delay may be no less fatal to the Union than the
President, or your own high standing as a states-
man.
" It seems to me that troops should be sent to
Charleston to man the forte in that harbour. You
have eight companies at Fort Monroe, Virginia.
Three or four of these companies should be sent
without a moment's delay to Fort Moultrie. It will
save the Union and the President much trouble it
is said that to send at this time troops to that har-
bour would produce great excitement among the
people. That is nonsense, when the people are as
much excited as they can be, and the leaders are
determined to execute their long-meditated purpose
of separating the State from the Union. So long as
you command the entrance to the city of Charles-
ton, South Carolina cannot 'separate herself from the
Union. Do not leave the forts in the harbour in a
condition to induce an attempt to take possession of
them. It might easily be done at this time. If South
Carolina should take them, it might, as she antici-
pates, induce other States to join her.
"Permit me to entreat you to urge the President
to send at once three or four companies of Artillery
to Fort Moultrie. The' Union can be preserved, but
it requires firm, decided, prompt, and energetic mea-
sures on the part of the President: He has only to
exer t the power conferred on him by the Constitution
and laws of Congress, and all will be safe, and he
will prevent a civil war, which never fails to call
forth all the baser passions of the human heart. If
a separation should take place, you may rest assured
blood would flow in torrents,
followed by pestilence,
famine, and desolation, and Senator Seward's irre-
pressible conflict will be brougrlit to a OOTlOlusion
much sooner than he could possibly have aotici-
pated. Let me conjure you to save the Union, and
thereby avoid the bloody and desolating exampleof
the States of Mexico. A separation of the States
will bring with it the desolation of the cotton States,
which are unprepared for war. Their weakness
will be found in the number of their slaves, with but
few of the essentials to carry on war, while the
Free States have all the elements and materials for
war, and to a greater extent than any other people
on the face of the globe.
" Think of these things, my dear General, and
b Aye the country, and save the prosperous South
al/2
•om pestilence, famine, and desolation. Peaceable
Tession is net to be thought of. Even if it should
to ke place in three months we would have a bloody
weir on our hands.—Very truly your friend,
" JOHN E. Wool,.
" Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of State,
Washington, D.C."
!enclose the declaration of South Carolina to the