Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-12
ALEXANDRIA:

THURSDAY MORNING, MAY IL, 1859.
A very sensible and manly Letter to his
former Constituents, has been published by
Mr.. REAGAN, Of Texas, a late Member of Con-
gress from that State. He is Democrat,
and, we believe, was faithful and efficient
representative. In this Letter he expresses
his firm reliance on his principles and his
party. and says that his party and it's or
ganizaton, he will adhere to and maintain.
But, he takes occasion to utter sentiments
which show that he thinks he has a country
to serre. as we'll as party to obey; and
that he will not be forced. by sectional posi-.
ton. to uphold doctrines at war with the
stability and preservation of the Constitu'
ton, the Laws, and the Union. We make
AN extract from this excellent Letter.
1.-The individual acts of aggression, the
occasional enticing away OF our slaves by
the Abolitionists, fall not upon Texas, or
Louisiana, or Mississippi, or Alabama, or
Georgia, where we hear 80 much talk of the
revolutionary ideas of disunion, of tllibus-
tering, and the re-opening the slave trade.
But they fall when they do occur on Mary
land, Virginia, Kentucky. and Missouri
As these are the States directly aggrieved,
we NAV reasonably expect them to resist,
when resistance shall become the proper
remedy, and, when they do 80, We shall
unite with them. They are both as cour-
ugeous and sensitive Of their GIFTS as we.
And yet. there. where whatever ground OF
complaint there is, exists, we hear OF no ad-
vocates of these revolutionary doctrines OF
disunion as mere matter of policy, and OF
fillibustering and the re-opening Of the slave
trade. These facts show that it 10 for revo-
luton and conquest, and not merely for the
resistance of Northern aggressions that our
agitators are at work. For myself l will
aid in every movement which looks to the
preservation of our rights. and resistance to
Northern aggression But | will not advo-
cate destruction of our Government as
matter of policy, or these revolutionary mea-
sures, based upon crime. which look to such
a result. 1t is time we should all see where
we are drifting, to what the times are tend
ing, and determine whether we are ready tor
revolution, with all its attendant insecure
ties to life and property, and with its haz-
ards of civil and religious liberty.
The principal ground of complaint with
MS in the extreme South is, that Northern
Legislatures occasionally attempt to over
ride the Constitution and nullify the fugi-
gitive slave law, and that the Abolitionists
Keep up a continual agitation against sla-
very. And it is to these things | refer
mainly, as weakening the bonds of the Union.
So far we have been protected against these
aggressions by the Federal Executive and
by the Federal Judiciary. If the time shall
come when these departments OF the Gov-
eminent shall 60 into the hands OF those
who would disregard and deny US our
rights, and cases Of this kind shall occur,
where legal remedies are denied us by the
Federal Government, then the compact OF
union between the States would be broken
and the Constitution violated. and our rights
40 affected as to require us to fall back on
the reserved rights OF the States and defend
them by all the means necessary to resist
and check an invasion of them. This If the
course and these the remedies would coun-
sci. would not attempt to correct or avert
these or other evils by resort to the law
less and demoralizing doctrines Of tillibus-
tering and the re-Opening of the African
slave trade 1t is never expedient or safe to
30 wrong for any purpose.
do not attribute to all who advocate the
doctrines of fllibustering and the reopen
ing the slave trade, revolutionary purposes;
for many of them are not aware OF the pur-
poses for which these propositions are intro
duced into our politics. and do not realize
the effects of the adoption Of such princl-
ples, and have been induced to think that.
though wrong in themselves, they may work
out good for the South. But | do charge
that the purposes and objects of the leaders
of these movements are revolutionary, and
that they have selected these as the issues
upon which they can most successfully and
most certainly break up the Government
and organize a Southern COnfederacy. 1t
is for YOU to determine whether you prefer
our Government az it is, or desire the ex-
pertinent Of new one, based upon such
principles as those upon which hllibuster-
ing and the slave trade rest.
Mr.. Stands, one Of the candidates for the
Legislature, from Rockingham, in his ad'
dress to the people, advocates the Manassas
Gap Railroad, and says it will be extended
to suit the wants of the people. lie opPo-
SEES the Strasburg connexion. and argues
that Alexandra is as good market as Bal
timore, and that railroads in Virginia ought
not to be made for the benefit Of Baltimore.
During an excursion" from Washington,
on Monday evening, whilst the company
were dancing on the steamboat, some one
threw a quantity of red pepper on the floor.
which produced general sneezing' and a
rush to the doors and windows for fresh air
No accident occurred.
The New York Express says, that 1.-THE
real trouble about the scarcity Of vessels for
IL 4. e. l,Aarad ~