The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-10-23
MR.. YANCEY IN NEW YORK.

Hon. VIM. L. Yancey of Alabama, spoke at the
Cooper Institute, New York, Wednesday night,
to an OVERLOOKING audience. The anxiety among
the people seemed to be quite as great 20 see the
| peaker as to hear him, and after the conclusion
of his address, it with difficulty he could force
his way out of the hall. file concluded his speech
with answering some questions which had been
put to him. as follows:
He had b. on asked to answer few questions,
and he thought that he mi ht we'll do it at this
time. The first was, whether he would consider
the election of Lincoln sufficient for the
cession Of the South; and second, whether he, in
case Lincoln was elected, and the South attempted
TO secede, would support the government in sup
pressing the attempt, and aid to maintain the in-
tegrity of the Union? The first question a
mere speculation, and a political speculation at
that He was now endeavoring to avert the
very thing here spoken of-the awful catastrophe
of the election Of Lincoln. He was showing his
allegiance to the Constitution by abandoning his
own private business, and going to all parts OF the
country to endeavor to prevent that election, and
if others would labor faithfully he has for this
end, Lincoln would never be President Ap-
plause. What was propounded in the question
was matter to after the decision of the bal
lot box ICries of "Question.'1 Don't be impa-
tent, gentlemen, and above all keep your tempers.
This is not the time to fight now, certain. Laugh
ter. 1t was the time to vote. Another Interrupt
ton, and cries of 'Put him out You're impa-
tient, my friends, said Mr. Yancey. If gentlemen,
he continued, were so anxious to know his opinion
they should abide by them when he gave them.
Applause.]
This question was mere speculation. 1t was
asking whether something would occur if another
should happen. He candidate for the
Presidency, and his views had nothing to do with
the contest. IN the first place, there was no such
thing as the South seeding. There was such a
thing as State seeding. He could see how a
State could secede, and he had answer to give
with regard to the seeding of the South. He
was States Rights man. The Constitution told
them that all the rights not delegated to the Gene
raj Government were reserved to the States. He
believed in the right of secession. The original
compact was made between the States willingly as
senting to it, and either, by her own will, might
withdraw. But this was mere speculation, predi-
Gated upon a contingency. Alabama had passed
law requiring its Government to consider this
question it Black Republican was elected. His
State to decide this question, not he. If she
went out Of the Union, he went with her. APP
plause. If she remained in, he'd remain IN
I"Good."] 1t grave matter, and he hoped
that some man opposed to the irrepressbe conflict
would be elected President But when the time
came TO decide it, he would consult with the men
in Alabama and act with them, and they of New
York had nothing to do with it. La this Presiden-
tial question, the contrary, he had something
in common with them. For him here to commit
himself this question, with the future uude-
veoped, merely to crafty soEe political autagon-
list, would be the widest folly. The to the
question, he would give to his State when she
asked it. ["Three cheers for the answer were
proposed and given
TO the second question he replied that he would
aid in maintaining the integrity of the Union with
his life's blood. He was laboring now for it. But
if it meant to ask whether he would aid in
the preservation of an Administration that was
trampling the rights of the South, he replied
that he would aid any State in resisting it with
his blood. Revolution was justifable before the
last expiring throcs Of oppressed nationaltics.