Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-11-04
ARE THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE
DISTINGUISHES

DISTINGUISHES
We present below an extract from the letter
of Hon. Kenneth Rayncr, of North Garelina,
addressed to friend in Philadelphia, which we
find going the rounds Of our exchanges. In
speaking of the probability of dissolution of
the Union in certain contingency. Mr.. R. says:
The masses of the Southern people, whether
Wings, Americans or Democrats, are devoted to
the Bnion; and they will maintain and defend 1t
at the hazard of their lives, and the expenditure
of their hearts best blood. The Democratic
leaders at the South, with but few exceptions,
are talking of disunion, and are trying to famil-
arize the public mind with the idea OF disunion,
in case Fremont should be elected And true
to their vocation, they are denouneing rs slaves
and submissioists, all who refuse to unite with
them in their mad career. But, even of those
who take this ground, but few are in serious
earnest
There is a small faction in the Southern States,
who are bona .tide disunionists-who have been
for years maturing their plans-and who would
be clad to see Fremont elected, if they thought
it would bring about disunion. This faction is
inconsiderable in numbers, and bears about the
same relation, numerically, to the people of
the South, that the band of crazy fanatics
at the North, who denounce the Constitu-
ton and the Union as "a league with hell, " bear
to the people of the Northern States. But the
great majority of the Democratic leaders in the
South, who are mouthing and gasconading about
disunion, do so for party effect Their object IS
to frighten the timid and wayering. Their pur-
pose is to drive others to the support of Buchan-
an, through their fears. 1t is care for the in
stitntion Of slayery-it is no concern for the
rights of the South that stimulates their bellig
erent propensities 1t is because they are alar-
med at the prospect of their loss of political
power, at the chances of their being deprived of
nf aff ha hare n haIOor ha
national treasury-that like hungry wolves over
taken at their prey, they raise this howl of dis
union. They are not in earnest, and If they
Were, it would be all the same.
Fortunately for US, and thanks to the nature
of our Institutions, this Union can't be dissoly
ed, except by resorting to the source of all pow
er-the people at the ballot box. And when
that first appeal is made, the mass of all parties
will be found true to the Union. They will not
agree to overthrow this government, because a
man, no matter how odious or obnoxious to them
he may be, has been elected President-provi-
ded he has been fairly elected, in strict accor-
dance with all the forms of the Constitution and
the laws You may rely on 1T that the masses
of the Democratic party will desert their leaders,
whenever they attempt to commit them to dis
union, because they have been beaten in an cleo
ton It is reproach and an insult to the South
ern people, to say that they would destroy
this Union for any such cause; and, as a South
ern man, hurl back the charge as SANDER and
a wrong upon the conservative masses of the
South. The people ofthe South know too well
what this Union cost-they know too well what
its blessings are-they can too plainly forsee
the horrible consequences and dread disasters
which must ensue upon its disruption.
| am not to be understood as intilnating that
the Southern people would submit to any palpa-
BILE invasion of their Constitutional rights, rath-
er than run the hazards of disunion. They re-
Il,
their rights and their liberties, and if it were
perverted to their destruction, instead of their
preservation, of course they would resist. And
if it should so turn out that Fremont is elected
fairly elected-constitutional electeG-if
know anything of the character of the Southern
people, they would wait till he disclosed his poll
icy. If he was to attempt any invasion of our
Constitutional rights, and he should be sustain
ed by the other departments of the government
then take it for granted lie would be resisted,
without reckoning the cost. But in case lie at
tempted no such invasion of our rights, hazard
nothing in saying the Southern people would
prove true to the past history of the Anglo Sax
on race-whosc peculiar national trait has ever
been obedience to law, as longas no vital surren-
der of civil liberty was involved. Being no par
tisan of Fremont of course have no advice to
give, or suggestion to make to his friends But
to every friend of Fillmore would say-be not
alarmed or induced to support Buchanan, by
these threats ofdisunion on the part of the Dem
ocratic leaders of the South. They are all vain
and idle, and are so regarded here. And even
if they were not the most effective aid you can
render to the cause of the Union, is in trying
to overthrow the Democratic party, whose con-
tinued agitation of the question of slavery, WILL
if not arrested and rebuked, sow the seeds of
disaffection throughout the land, from which
posterity must ultimately reap the harvest of
disunion.