The weekly Mississippian., 1860-10-24
From the Ne,O Tors Day BooE.
To the Friends of Mr.. Bell in the
Southern States.

During the course of the presentcanvasz. we
have been repeatedly requested to publish the
political record and antecedents of Messrs Bell
and Everett, the so-called Union candidates
for President and Vice President. This we
have not thought it necessary to do. mainly for
the reason that we felt almost sure that he.
fore November, almost every patriotic man.
who is not firmly welded to party ties, would
see that duty called upon him to vote for
breckenridge and Lane. We have nothing to
say against Mr.. Bell, except that he represents
no principles, lays down no policy upon which
ne intends. IT elected, to administer the Gov
eminent. He says he shall be bound by the
Constitution, but so says Lincoln, and the real
issue is, what does Mr. Bell hold that the Con-
stltution means, especially upon the paramount
issue now before the people-the right to pro-
lection of the property of all citizens alike by
the Federal Government? When asked this
question, Mr.. Bell referred his interrogation to
his record in Congress, embracing period of
some twenty or thirty years, contained in
some forty odd Uolnmes of Congressional re-
portsi Now, Mr.. Bell could have answered
the question propoundCd to him in five line
paragraph, costing him about five minutes of
very easy labor, whereas it would take us
some days, perhaps weeks, to investigate his
Congressional record, and even then We might
not be able to find any thing upon the exact
pointnow under discussion. Mr.. Breckenridge,
on the contrary, in his letter accepting the
Baltimore nomination, replied frankly and
boldly, and assumed the responsibility Of
standing or falling by an open and brave enun-
citation of what we believe, and what all true
Southerners must regard, as only their fair
and just constitutional rights. The simple
fact that Mr.. Breckenridge has risked all, by
standing squarely upon the true platform,
while Mr.. Bell, to say the least, has evaded
the direct issue, ought, as we conceive, to COM
mend him to the gratitude and earnest sup
port Of every Southern man. 1t really seems
to US that there is question Of honorinvolyed,
which the sons o. the South noted as they
have been for their chivalrous conduct upon
all memorable occasions, cannot ignore with
out blot upon their fair fame.
We do not doubt that many patriotic people
at the South, when the Democratic party split
| at Baltimore, did really feel that perhaps the
only way left to defeat Lincoln was to vote for
Mr.. Bell. The election in Kentucky increased
this impression, but we feel convinced that
subsequent events must have convinced them
that this idea is wholly erroneous. The eec.
tions in Arkansas and Texas were uumstaka.
BILE indications Of the popular current. Mr.
Bells warmest supporters cannot now Sc.
riously believe that he stands any chance fol
these two States. Florida and Delaware arc
much stronger arguments against Mr. BelI',
chances at the South. These two States wer,
claimed, with some plaus. .bility, for him. l
Mr.. Douglas possessed any strength, surely hC
ought to divert enough in two such closl
States as these to give them to Bell Blu
the result is before US. The Democracy il
triumphant in both. The people have adhere,
to principles, to the Constitution and the Su
preme Court.
We have always believed that, as soon al
Southern men saw that it was necessary t.
concentrate their votes upon Mr.. Breckinridg,
to defeat Mr.. Lincoln, they would do it witt
a unanimity never before known. And ou
reason FOR this belief was this: The Demo
cratic platform now expressly comedies TO tht
South what men of all parties there eve
claimed as their constitutional rights. Can i
be possible that they are now going to vott
against the recognition Of these rights, wheI
there is every chance to elect President VIII,
is pledged to administer the Government upoI
them We shall never believe it until we Ge
it. No matter what may be said, every Stat
at tie South echtcb Uotes for Mr. Bel, aoilI b
understood at the North to sag that the Soutl
does not demand protection for her property il
the Territories. 1t will do more to weaker
and break down Northern men who stand u
boldly for Southern rights, than all else com
bined, and if the entire South could by any
possibility be carried for Mr.. Bell, it woult
encourage and keep alive faDatical abolition
ism. Not that we mean by this that Mr.. Bel
favors anti-slaveryism, but it would be con
sidered an acknowledgment on the part Of tn
South that her institutions were unworthy 0
protection, and it would invite further aggrcs
sions upon her rights Any yielding to fanati
cism only infanes its spirit and adds fuel t
the flame.
Are Southern men prepared at this crisis Il
recede, to retreat from their enemy? vii
they throw a tub to appease the Northerl
whale of abo.itionism, instead of striking hin
with the harpoon when they have the oppor
tunity presented? Have they not been tor
menLed enough yekssisI, sIiis iIIvnsssr &c =lar
it no quarter? The election Of Breckinrds
and Lane would break the back Of anti-slave
ry. If followed up, as it would be, by gen
eral assault upon it at the North, in four year
we could restore Democratic ascendency ii
nearly every Northern State. Notwithstand
! jill, L eIlHSyNdLld NSN DEISb1 may u
set down as reasonably sure for the Demo
cratic or Union electoral ticket, which, in boil
States, is pledged to vote for Breckenridge ans
Lane, if it will elect them. Their vote amour
to thirty-four. We want one hundred GRt
eighteen more. Where can we get them? Lie
US see: Cannot the following States be re
garded as sure for Breckenridge and Lane, anC
if not all positively sure no,0, can they not b.
made SO by the proper exertion before the 6tt
of November? Alabama 8, Arkansas 4, Cali
fornia 4, Delaware 8, Florida 3, Georgia 10
Kentucky II, Louisiana g. Mississippi Z, Mis-
souri, 8, North Carolina 10, Oregon g. South
Carolina g. Texas T. Virginia Is, Tennessee
H. Total 119. Add 81 and it makes 153-
one more than is necessary to elect Mr. Breek.
inridge. Mr.. Buchanan carried every one u
these States on platform that did not dis.
tinctly recognise the constitutional rights O
the South, or at least was open to different
constructions; and hence why shohld not Mr
Breckenridge carry them when there is nc
doubt about the platform upon which he
stands? We leavs Maryland and New York
out of the calculation; the former surely will
be against Lincoln, and the latter, now that
all parties here are united upon one electoral
ticket, we have reason to hope will be also
But we will not allow ourselves to doubt
the result in November. Men of the South.
We tell you an immense responsibility now
rests upon you. The world will Judge OF you
and respect you in accordance with the report
you give of yourselves. Disguise the issue,
torture it, or turn it as you may, it is no more
nor less than this: Do you consider the iRsti-
utions under ,ohicJ.' you livs ,orong? DO yoa
hfRk they should be outlda0ed bg Government,
and declared vnaOorthy Of its protection? Are
you actlling to ao'Tte yourselues dotoa before the
entire ,corld as living in the daily practice Of a
tsin and a crime? If to all these questions you
treply mo-" then, to be consistent, and to
convince the world of it, you mast vote for
Breckenridge and Lane-for they alohe fully
recognise this issue, as all must acknowledge
The defence of negro slavery" is far above all
mere parties or party interests. Before it
Breckenridge, or Bell, or Douglas, are as moth
ing-for it is not simply even the material in
terests of the South that are at stake; for as
far as that is concerned, even we of the North
are as deeply interested as she, but with her it
is a question Of social life or death-and to the
country at large it is the solemn alternative Of
the overthrow of republican Institutions.
Men of the South you have heretofore
saved your country in times of the greatest
peril our JeHeTSonS, youF JackSOnS, your
Polks have brought US safely through terrible
struggles in the Cabinet and in the field The
minority of the North, who are still faithful,
look to you now with confidence and with
hope. They believe you will still sustain the
gallant leaders who recognise not only your
rights, but the great interests of human free
dom and true republicanism. These precious
gifts are in your keeping See to it that in No
vember next they receive no harm.
WAITING FOR THE MISSISSIPPI TO Run By.
A family of emigrants, westward bound, and
hailing from Scott county, in this State, have
been "caalped OUT in what is known as the
" bottom" in the lower part of the city, for
several days. A day or two ago one of the
family approached lady living near by, and
very innocently inquired how long it would
be before the river would run by, so that they
could drive their teams over. The lady OF
course, replied that while leaves were in the
5orest or foam on the ocean, there was
of the Mississippi still vending its
wav towards the pulf which surprised the |