East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1859-12-15
From the n. Y. Times Dec 7.
The state Of Public Feeling in the south

From the y. Y. Times, Dec T.
The state of Public Feeling in the south.
The following letter, from gentleman
of ability, public position and large ex-
pericnce, was not written for publication;
but we are confident the author will ex-
cuse the liberty we take in laying it be-
fore the public:
WASHINGTON, "Wednesday, Dec. 4, 80.
Your remarks "Thc North and South"
in the Times of yesterday morning, are
very true as to the system of publication
in southern papers upon the state of pub
lie feeling at the North; and there is no
doubt that the people Of the South are
generally of the impression that the whole
North are arraycd against them. The
communications that you say you have
received as to the state of public feeling
at the South, you may rest assured, do
not exaggerate. The cry for dissolution
is sincere and unanimous. 1t is no longer
the ultras and the fire eaters; it now en-
braces all classes. The conservative and
sober-minded, who houted the idea twelve
months since, now cordially join; it in
cludes Judges, lawyers, merchants, traders,
artizans and laborcrs.
In all our previous troubles ! never had
shadow of fear rs to the Union; my
nerves are not easily moved-on the con-
trary, ] am hopeful and always disposed
to look on the favorable side. But now
| acknowledge that my fears amount al.
most to CONNECTION that we shall on the 9th
see the list Congress of the present Union
assemble. No one is or can be more full
ly aware of the madness and folly Of dis
union, and its whitening effects upon ev-
cry section, the South Of course included,
though to the latter less disastrous than
TO the North. The South would have
some redeeming and favorable results
that would mitigate the disaster; to the
North it would be one Of unmixted and
direful evil. To the city of New York
it would be ruin; absolute, unmiXed ruin.
She would no longer be the importing
port for the Union-no longer the centre
of the coasting trade-no longer the grand
eatreport from which the whole country
draw their supplies. Her merchants and
traders would leave her by hundreds, her
citizens by thousands, her capital by tens
of millions. Pennsylvania, if she has any
sense, would 90 with the South. Phila-
delphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, and Charles
ton would fatten on the ruin of New York.
OF these results in case of a dissolution
presume YOU cannot doubt, and the only
question is as to the dissolution itself
| | was recently in our CITY, and found the
idea had taken no hold of thepublic mind.
They seemed to think there was no dan.
ger, or rather they did not seem to think
of it at all; but they will all soon be con
vinced TO the contrary. 1t is not SO
much excitement at the South, as a cool
determination. Heretofore it has been
made rather dependent on the election
of republican President, / doubt if they
will now wait that result. The attempt
of John Brown has had much effect, but
the manner in which that attempt is
received at the North is what has done
the injury The orations, speeches, sym
pathy, approyals, the proposal to toll
bells, close stores, &C., without any pub
lie manifestation to the contrary, have
created state Of feeling at the Soutl
that is not to be described. You and
are aware that half dozen abolition fan
atics will, on such an occasion, make more
noise than 100 or 1000 quiet, sober-min
ded citizens who fully disapprove efsucl
proceedings, as a grasshopper in felC
makes more noise than herd of cattle
feeding; but still think the conservative
community aud the conservative portion
Of the press have greatly failed in thei
duty by not disclaiming once and again
and constantly, all these exhibitions, anC
using every endeavor TO prove to thu
South that the great body Of the Nortl
are sound as to southern rights guaran
teed under the constitution. The peo
pie Of tho South have really got to tina
state Of feeling that reason and argumen
and consequences are no longer regard
ed. They say their slave property AM
their lives are no longer safe under tn
constitution, and, when asked If the RENE
dy of dissolution is not ten times wors'
: than the disease, it produces no effect
When reminded of the large body of tn
community North that openly stand u
for their rights and oppose not only tn
ultra fanatics but the more moderate re
/ publicans-when told that the avowc
f doctrines even Of the latter are non-in
PREVENTION in the slave States, but onl
against its extension into Territories
they refer to the state Of sympathy put
. licly and so generally expressed for ia