The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-20
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN THE soUTH-A
SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY.

POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN THE S0UTH-A
SOUTHERN c0EFEDERACY.
1t is not impossible that the Southern People
will be called upon during the next four years
10 try the question Of Union or Disunion. We
see indications in the South that class of poll
ticisns, bold, active, determined, conspicuous
in the recent election for zeal in support of Mr.
Buchanan, are laboring to shape events towards
dissolution of the Union. The alarm mani
tested by them during the late canvass at the
prospect of the election of Fremont, was by nc
means affected, nor were they insincere in their
threat of Disunion. His election, before the
Southern People could be trained to look upon
Disunion without horror, would have exposed
their weakness and baffied their treason. They
might have attempted some demonstration Of
hostility, but they would have been unsupported
by the masses of the South.
They sustained Buchanan, because his elec-
ton would give them time, and secure to them
through his patronage the means, to work out
their destructive schemes. Kansas would be
brought in as a slave State: Walker would be
efectualy supported in his reinstitution of
Slavery in Central America: and, in the Ian
gusge Of Mr.. Rhett, former member of Con-
gress from South Carolina, an extract from a
late manifesto of whom we publish on our
fourth page,) combinations would be formed,
preparing the way TO Disunion. Already they
control the gubernatorial Offices in most of the
slave States, and Maryland is the single excep-
ton to their ascendency in the South. If the
free States, after the manner of the Journal Of
Commerce, and the leaders of the so-called De-
mocrscy of the North, would submit, these men
would not be anxious for a dissolution of the
Union: they would be proud to WELD the vast
powers of Confederacy of thirty-one States, in
fdrthsrance of the extension and aggrandize-
ment of the Slave Interest-proud to be recog
nised, without protest or murmur, as the rig CHIT
ful rulers of Nation of thirty millions of Peo-
pie. But, they know this is impossible-they
know that the free States, with their rapidly
growing population and increasing intelligence,
will be at last aroused to effectual resistance to
their policy.
Their plan, then, is to consolidate their po-
htical power in the South; to mould public
opinion there to their own purposes; to make
use of Federal patronage to enlist all the young
and ambitious on their side; to constrain the
central Administration to favor the establish
ment of Slavery in Kansas so as to secure
equal Representative Power in the Senate, and
to wink at or aid whatever schemes they may
hatch in relation to Cuba Central America,
and the foreign slave trade. If successful, they
hope that such combination may be formed,
as, should the Republicans obtain the majority
of the electoral votes in 1860 they may be
able at -st-;L. TO- sA-.-~.:~-- --I La
Some of them were desperate enough to
counsel this bold policy during the late canvass,
In the event of the election of Fremont; and
that Governor Wise was particularly active
among these desperate men, his extraordinary
orders for the enrolment and organization of the
militia of Virginia, his infammatory speeches,
and his secret correspondence with the Gov
ernors of the Southern States, clearly show.
We should like to know more of that CORE
spondence. From what we can learn, he ad-
dressed all the Southern Governors, perhaps
with single exception, and they were invited
TO meet at Raleigh, North Carolina. Intima-
tons of the fact abounded in Southern news
papers. The st. Louis Intelligencer said !:
"There is a rumor ahoat that the re-eating,
Locofoco Governors of some of the Southern
States have met or are about to meet in con-
clave a. Raleigh, for some political object not
stated" A Nashville paper said "a South
ern Buchanan Democrat stated in the streets
of this city, few days ago, las we are in
formed that he had just received letter from
Governor Wise, of Virginia, in which the Gov
ernor said that "the South was now safe
that five Southern States had ordered their mi
litia into training; and that Fremont should
never be inaugurated, if elected-or words to
that effect" The n. Orleans Delta announced
that Governor Wise, of Virginia, had solicited
the Governors of the several Southern States
TO meet him in consultation at Raleigh, for the
purpose of deciding upon the course to be pur
sued by the South in the present terrible crisis
and the opinion is expressed that all, except
one, will respond to the summons. The South
Carolina Times mentioned that it had received
similar information from gentleman in Co
lumbia, of that State, and strongly approved Of
the movement.
These and similar intimations of the South
prehensive one, and contemplated combina
ton in the South, headed by the Governors, anC
looking to a dissolution of the Union.
As we have already stated in the Era, the
Convention was held at the appointed time
October l4th) in Raleigh, but the attendanc,
was anything but encouraging Three Govern
ors only-Wise of Virginia, johnson of Geor
gis, and Adams of South Carolina-were pres
ent. Whether letters were received from the
sbsent is not stated, nor have we been able tt
learn the nature Of the proceedings. A veil o
mystery was drawn over the secret conclaye
aud what took place has not been permitted t.
trsnspire. We MAJ presume that, coming Il
the conclusion that no general combination a
present could be formed, in consequence of tn,
prevalent opinion that Buchanan was to b.
elected, the conclave deemed it expedient t.
abstain from any overt act or open recommend
alton, and simply agreed to the policy bold,
announced by Mr.. Rhett in letter published
since the election of Buchanan, and part O
which appears on our fourth page This polio,
As summed up in the following paragraph:
ia my humble judgment, all true states
ndnship an the South consists an forming com
oindtions and shaping ecents, so as to 6rine
noout, as speedily as possible, dissolution Of
me present Union, and a Southern nfede
racy."
Just before the publication of this South
0aroiina manifesto, the Richmond Iva. Engui