Daily national Democrat., 1860-12-09
DalIg gational Democrat
Manifesto against Secession irom Scna-
tor DOuglas,

them the following letter. 1t was brought
by Pony Express to the Union
GENTLEMEN Your request to address tn,
citizens ot New Orleans ION the present con.
dition of the affairs OF our country" has been
placed in my hands. An invitation so nu-
merously signed 10y the most eminent busi-
ness men of the city implies compliment
which duly appreciate and am exceedingly
reluctant to decline.
These are not the times for patriotic men
TO affect indifference, or to degenerate into
dependency, or to rush madly into violent
or extreme measures Just il proportion ms
our common country is environed with peril.
it becomes the imperative duty of every pa
trlot in the land to increase his efforts and
exert his utmost pow er and energies to rescue
the Republic from the disasters which threat,
en- lis integrity
No man in America regrets the election of
MIR. Lincoln more than do none made more
strenuous eXertions to defeat him: none diff
fer with him more radically and irreconcila-
bly upon all the great issues involved in the
contest No man living is more prepared to
resist by all the legitimate means sanctioned
by the Constitution and laws Of our country,
the aggressive policy which he and his party
are understood to represent. But while
say this am found as a good citizen and
law-abiding man, to declare my conscientious
conviction that the mere election of any man
~ the Presidency, 10y the American people,
in accordance with the Constitution and laws.
does not of itself furnish any Just cause or
reasonable ground for dissolying the Federal
Union.
1t is not pretended, as fu as am inform
ed, that any provision of the Constitution
has been violated in the recent election. No
act has been done which impars or DESTROYS
the constitutional rights of any State or cti-
zen. Nothing has yet occurred to release
any citizen from his oath of fidelity to the
Constitutions of the United States, which is
the supreme tar of every State and of every
citizen. But while it is conceded that no act
has yet been done which impairs the rights
or endangers the peace and safety of any
portion OF country, it is dpprehended that the
election OF Lincoln carries with il assurance
that the policy and principles of the party
by which he was elected will prevail and be
carried into ractical effect in every DEPART
ment of the Federal Government, and there
10y will endanger the peace and safety Of the
slaveholding States. Is this apprehension
well founded? Do the results of the recent
elections justify the apprehension? The
President can do nothing except what the
law authorizes If he fails to perform this
duty he will soon find himself prisoner be-
fole the High Court of impeachment. For
tunately that tribunal is 50 constituted as to
command the confidence of the people of the
entire South as well as the conservative men
of the North. We have this security that
the existing laws will be faithfully executed.
have yet to learn that the people of the
South complain of the Acts of Congress now
on the statute book upon the subject of sla-
very, as applicable to the States or Terrific
ries, or to the District of Columbia. These
laws were enacted, mainly, il not entirely,
BY the jrintsaotion of the conservative mem
bers OF the North and South in opposition
10 the Freesoilers and Abolitionsjs, and
lave been acquiesced in 10y the Southern
people as well as by their Senators and Rep
resentativcs under the present and preceding
Administrations OF the Federal Government.
Consequently, it is fair to presume that the
South, so far from demanding the repeal of
the existing laws upon the subject of slavery
as essential to her safety and equity in the
Union, will insist on their beng retained
upon the statute book, and faithfully execu-
ted. Nor are we permitted to infer that the
Southern people require any additional legs
lation 10y Congress on this subject, for the
reason that the Southern Senators and Rep
resentatives have not introduced and advoca
ted any changes in the existing legislation
upon the slavery question under the present
Administration, and that Of Pierce, when the
Ab"Jitonists and Freesoilcrs were in the mi
nority in both houses of Congress.
Assuming, therefore that the Southern neo.
IAlp q n l.ate -
deem their rights and Institutions entirely
sufe under the Constitution and laws as they
now stand, and only desire 10 be let alone.
without any interference by Congress with
Their domestic concerns, the question arises
whether Lincoln and his party will have the
power, even if they have the disposition to
disturb or impair the rights and institutions
of the South, either in the States or Terrific
ries, or in the District of Columbia E? They
certainly cannot do it under the existing
laws. Will they have the power to repeal
or change these laws, or to enact others? 1t
is well known that they will be in a minori-
ty in both houses of Congress, with the Su-
preme Court against them. In the Northern
States there have been elected already a
sufficient number of Democratic member OF
Congress bold and true national men, pledg-
ed to the Cincinnati platform and the doc
trines of on-ntervention by Congress with
the question of slavery in the States and
Territories, and the District of Columbia,
who, added to the Southern Representatives,
will give at least twenty majority against
Lincoln and his party on these questions. In
the Senate there is also a decided reliable
majority. Hence no bril- can pass either
House of Congress impairing or disturbing
the rights or institutions Of the Southern
people in any manner whatever, unless IA
portion ofthe southern Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes absent themselves so us to give an
Abolition minority in consequence Of their
absence.
In a minority in both Houses of Congress,
with the Supreme Court to expound the
laws and restrain all illegal and unconstitu-
tional acts, the President will be utterly
pOweress for evil, if he should have the dis
position to do wrong. Even in the distribu-
tion of his patronage, he would be depend
ent upon the Senate for the confirmation of
his nominees to office, 80 that he cannot ap-
point bad man to office without the consent
of those in whom the South confdes. A
partisan President, thus tied hand and foot,
powerless tog good or evil, without the con-
sent and support Of his political opponents,
should the object of pity and commiseration,
rather than of fear and apprehension, by a
brave and ehivalrous people. What good or
harm can he do to anybody, except to hum
bic the pride and wound the sensi ilities of
q large portion of the American people by
occupying the chair once filed by Washing,
son, Jefferson, Madison and jackson ? Docs
this fact furnish sufficient cause for destroying
the best Government Of which the history
Of the world gives an example? Four years
will soon pass away, when the Oallot box will
furnish peaceful legal and constitutional
remedy for all the evils and grievances with
Nv hich the cnnnfr,. nnnu be nfiintnd