The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-08-22
Letter from Hon. ". ". Boyce.
SABINE FARM, August 8, 1854

SABINE FARM, August 8, 1860.
GENTLEMEN My high respect for yor
induces me to hasten reply to your note.
If Lincoln be elected, think the Southern
States should withdraw from the Union all
If not all, then as many as will, and II nc
other. South Carolina alone in the promptesi
manner, and by the most direct means.
To comprehend the full significance OF Lin
coins election, we must remember the prln-
ciples, the character, and the sentiment the
Republican party.
The vital principle of this party is negro
equality, the only logical finale Of which is
emancipation. To see this, it is only neces-
sary to look at their platform, which, though
intended for obvious reasons of policy to ap-
pear conservative, yet raises the veil in part
This platform says 1--WE hold that all men are
created equal; that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable rights
that among these are life, liberty" &C., and
this on motion of Mr.. Gddings. This In in.
tended to include negroes. It follows, there.
fore, according to Republican faith, that nc
one can be rightfuny held in slavery.
Slavery then, is a great wrong.
The Republican party are bound, therefore
so far as their constitutional power goes, t.
remove that wrong. At present their practi.
cal point of attack is the Territories wher
this question shall no longer exist, then the
District of Columbia will receive their atten.
ton, and so on with the other outposts o.
slavery. Surprising these outposts disposed
Of, then the movement necessarily must be
directed against slavery in the States. The
party will be bound to exercise its con-
stitutional powers to destroy slavery in the
IA L. mi.
stitutional by the Republicans, to agitate the
question so as to influence the South by mora
means to abolish slavery. And as soon as the
admission of new free States, and the change
of status of some of the border States furnish
ed the necessary majority to change the Con-
stitution, the Republican party would be sure
to demand such change, and abolish slavery
| in the States. The Republican party has bal
one stopping plaee-emancipation. Mr.. Sen.
ator Wilson of Massachusetts,. one of the
ablest men in the Republican party compre
hended the mission of his party, when he sale
| in Boston, az tell you here tonight, that the
agitation of human slavery will continue while
the foot of a slave presses the soilof the Amer
lean Republic
| By the character of this party, mean it
| sectional. It is party confined entirely tc
! the Northern States-both its candidates art
Northern men. The idea the majority sec.
ton banding together for the purpose of seiz
ing upon the Government, is at war with the
| spirit of the Constitution. The great idea O
the Constitution is the equality of the States
| The seizure of the Government by one section
| is a practical revolution in the Government
The Northern States then become the master
| States, and the Southern States sink into ar
| inferior condition. This is not the Union int
which our fathers entered. It was ushered il
| by the administration of Washington, Q
| Southern stakeholder, who had hurnbled Eng
| land.
The new order of things which the Repub
| lican party propose to introduce would be in
augurated by the administration of Lincoln, 8
Northern Abolitionist, who would humble
the South. Between these two administra
tons what profound gulf. The first repre-
scented the perfect equality Of the States, tht
second would represent the domination of the
North and the subjugation of the South. A
half dozen unsuccessful campaigns could mo-
put the South in more abject condition.
| By the sentiment of this party, / mean its
antagonism to the South. 1t requires NJ
elaborate proof to show that the feelings o
this party is that of hostility to the South
| The tone of the Republican press, the tenn
per Of public speeches, such as are delivered BY
| Sumner and Loveioy, and other leading mer
in the party. the sympathy for John Brown
the very agitation of the slavery question, and
numerous other facts which might be cited
| show that the great passion on which the Re.
publican party rests its hatred to the South.
Such being the Republican party, for the
South to consent to its domination is to con.
sent to death. Not that apprehend any
startling measures of aggression by this party
Immediately. No, its policy is too obviously
a wise moderation, and its leaders are men o
too much sagacity to be driven ahead of theil
| programme. But the mere fact of such 8
| party taking possession of the Federal Gov.
eminent, with the acquiesence of the South
will be the most fatal blow the South has evel
received. The whole power and patronage o
the Government will be placed upon the sidt
of negro equality the Northern majority ad
verse to us will be stimulated to new life, they
will feel the exultation of being the maste
| States The Southern States on the othe
hand will be wounded in their prestige, thei
equality gone, hopeless Of the future, the,
will be prepared for defeat because they vii
have despaired OF victory.
Great as are the moral effects, importan
practical results would also speedily follow
The patronage ofthe administration would b
used to build up Republican party in tn
border slave States and the Federal judicis
~ would be remodeled, so that the dogmas
anaticism would become the DEGREES of th
Supreme Court. Nor could we obtain peaC
by an abject submission, if so inclined, tn
agitation would go on with increased voluIn
when it was found not to be hazardous, an
!. we would ultimately be forced to yield all, o
to resist under circumstances infinitely NOR
discouraging than exist at present To az
quiesce in the vast powers OF the FEEDERS
Govrnment going into the hands of our woul
be masters, with the intention of resisting q
some future time, would be to emulate th
infatuation of the Numidian King, who deliy
cred his treasures, his arms, his elephants an
his deserters to the Romans and then renew
ed the war, having needlessly deprived him
self of the means of defence.
; Ifthe South acquiesces in Republican ad
ministration, / think the question Of negr
equally is settled against us, and emancips
ton only question of time. have regarde
this question in the same light for years, an
have considered the success of the Republ
can party in the Presidential election rs in
volying the necessity of revolution. So re
garding it, 1 have'thought the great paramount
object ofour policy was to let this Republica
success occur, if it must occur, under The mo.
auspicious circumstances for disruption, an
those suspicious circumstances I though
would consist principally in the largest attain
able sympathy North, and the greatest unit
South. These conditions I thought WEI
most likely. to be reached by wise and pr
dent moderation on the part Of the South
And accordingly advised and acted in thu
direction, and / am satisfied never gave wise
counsel. said to my constituents last sun
mer that we must act with the most const
mate prudence, then, in order to profit by Il
most desperate boldnesS if it became necesss
ry,-prudenee to give no pretext for the ele
ton ola Republican, boldnes to relieve on
selves from such election If it must take piac
Ny policy was consistent policy, prudenc
; when prudence might be advantageous, bolt
! ness when nothing else was left. The tin
is now approaching when in my opinion Il
,. | only alternative will be boldness. IF the r
, publican party triumph in the PRESIDENT
election, our State has no choice but to imm
diateIy withdraw from the Union Nor
: this so hazardous an undertaking as might
conceived at first sight.
Suppose we have done this. The only ty
| courses TeLudh W OuF SIAciAAicos AoAs Wv
must let us alone; secondly, they must q
tempt to -coerce US. Either alternative W
. accomplish our purpose.
: Suppose they let US alone-very good.
J. We viii have free trade with Europe and G
along very well in our happy mediocrity,
better than as degraded satellite of gorg
2 Gus system, whose giories would be for othe
whose shame for US alone. We would
have to pay any taxes, direct or indirect,
Northern abolitionists-that would be SOL
consolation.
Suppose they undertake to coerce us; tn
: Southern States are compelled to ma
common cause with us, and we wake up sol
!. morning and find the flag Of q Southern Ct
= federacy floating over US. That would be
: great deal better than paying tribute to 20
q Brown sympathisers.
. The South still has splendid cards in
q hand if she will only play them. The cons
: tuition of Northern society IS artificial IN
"a extreme Immense wealth has been accun
lated there. A few are richer than
d Kings of the East; the multitude labor
Is their daily bread much of this wealth