The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-08-15
Letter from Charles 0'Conner.
New YORK, July 18th 1860.


sident and Joseph Lane for Vice President OF
the United States, l regret that it will |
not be in nv power to address the ratification
meeting appointed to be held tomorrow even |
ing at the Cooper Institute.
However deeply it is to be Geplored that |
rival Platforms and rival candidates are pre-
sented to the Democratic party, threatening
odiy;de its strength and deliver it over as an
EASY prey into the hands of its opponents; yet
such being unhappily the fact, the duty oil
making a choice cannot be avoided.
The difference between these Platforms,
like every political question OF the times, de-
riyes all its significance from the subject OF
negro slavery. Its relations to the Terrific
RES and the mode of governing them is mere
Iv Incidental it is merely the form in which
this perpetually recurring subject is here de-
welcomed as an element of strife. The contro-
yersy, in all its practical bearings, is merely
this How is negro slavery to be dealt with.
In its moral, political, legal and CONNER
cial aspects, my views on that general subject
have been so distinctly and so often expressed,
that NV position in reference to the rival Plat
forms now before US, could not be doubtful.
81 The most fertile regions of the globe cannot
he 50 cultivated as fully to develop their ma
tnral resources for the benefit OF mankind
except by negro labor. Negro labor cannot
be there employed except through the judi
cious compulsion Of o superior race and in no
way can so greaf-a measure ofPhysicai ENJOY
,nent and moral Improvement be impaired to
the negro as by his compulsory servitude IN
these yery regions. FE Sea
From these undeniable facts, written IN the
great book of nature, proven by experience
and not without sanction from revelation, my
reason draws the inference that negro slave
nv Is not repugnant to JUSTICES not unpro-
fitable TO the white mans not oppressive to
the negro, and is not inexpedient as matter
of social policy.
Let us apply these views to onr own couns
/ trva .aSince the foundation Of this Republic
/ negro slavery has ever been main piller Of our
/ strength. an indispensable element of our
growth and prosperity. 1t is now an integral
i mart OF our being as a nation; to expel it by
4 fraud or tear it out by violence would be a
national suicide
II follows to yindicate its essential justice and
/ morality, in all courts and places, before men
and nations, is the duty of every American
citizen -
A moral war has been made upon this insti-
q tution by infidels, and quasi-religious cru
sadie has been preached against it by another
4 Glass. Hitherto, at least in the North, no one
d has defended it, and its Southern advocates
have not been heard. The natural results
| have ensued Judgment has passed against it
hv default and the idea that it conflicts with
natural Justice and with Divine law has taken
/ Ipossession Of the northern mind. .tzs.
This state Of things afforded most pro
missing query for the industry of political
, party.makers, and they have availed them.
selves oft. They thus argued with ths
. rational conscience on our side-witll Coo
; and nature both on our side, and against GU
antagonists, surely we must win." Accord
ineiy, this bright idea, has been industrlousil
! working into political organization, and her
+ stands before us at che North the BLACK Re
3 publican party, almost if not absolutely, IN
!, vincible.a g . Ee3s
. Why has that party any strength? VIII.
= does il. now threaten to destroy harmony be
: tween the North and the South, leading T
s disunion and to disasters deep and irremedia
u BILE
e. It's simply because. the false assumption
II abolitionists, that the negro slavery Is wick
a ed and unjust has been permitted to pas
d tfiifefoted. Z ! Il . / : = =
d HOW is that destructive party to be shor
Of of its pernicioi1s strength There is but or
Is method by which this object can be effecte
and that is by denying and disprovlng Il
,e false position on which it is founded
IN We must, as party, insist unqualified
d that in the institution Of negro slavery the
n Is nothing whatever which calls for unfayor'
,e bIe action by the Government; that the RICH
n Of the white master to the services OF his n
at gro slave is in every moral sense, precise
IL 4 the same as his right to any other property
ne Ifthis proposition be not true, no hone
n man ought to desire the permanency of o.
3. Republic if it be true, the Black Republics
be doctrine is REASONABLE and destructive ii
s. lacy.
II. i am in favor of the principles ennunciat
an in the Senate resolutions of 1860, and in
n renort of the Committee on Resolutions ma
To- IN our National Convention at Charleste
ke because they come up to this point. IN
al meet the exigency before us; they fairly
directly meet the issue as it is understood
ha ali Honest and sensible men on either side
q am in favor Of Breckenridge and La
srs because they stand upon platform distinc
nj. expressing these principles
.rv Mr.. Douglas declines practically to sta
nc mn a them. He blinks the main issue, Q
cls / Sacks to ride into power upon o dogma VIII
an ;mnliedly comedies to Aboltionism the Y
,le- element of It's political power, to-wit t
AZ. negro slavery is UNJUST or at least has i
,;cs some element which, on moral grounds iu
md fies hostility.
Get 5 isfr;ends may deny this construction,
ere. 10 nav mind it is manifestly just. Tho wi
nth practical Importance ofhis Popular Severe
can II doctrine IS its bearing on the slave quest
md No one cares fig about it, except in this
ore Gle connection. In all its other bearings
VIII an admitted abstraction, unworthy of q !
,ern ment,s attention and incapable of attractin
ma Let every man who donbta this read
npie Douglas argument as published in Harp
olly Magazine, and. his subsequent reply toll
Re- Black in defence Of that article. Slavery IS
nri- staple of bis whole argument. The pa
CEN and postuatcs Of the anti-siayery agitation
Nv invoked by him at every point in the dis
[oIly ssion, and most literally used to sustain
NAV views.
- Il Thus, to all practical purposes, Mr.. Dor
;nlo- presents himself as q semi-Aboltionlst.
ION platform tends to keep Abolitionism aliv
,nta- 4 power in the State, for future mischi
nan The platform Of Breckenridge and Lane a
OouI- THE hydra IN front, and aims to STAY i
.sses whist I ana thvs' With you in sentil