The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-12-14
Important Proceedings of the South
ern Caucus in Washington.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 0, 1860.

secretary CoDo mas competed ms let
ter to the people of Georgia, and IL will
be made public in day or two. lie
avows the most ultra sentiments, and
scouts the idea that any compromise or
adjustment can be made with the North.
lie discusses at great length the issues
involved in the struggle between the
North and the South, and maintains the
clear and unquestionablo right Of al State TO
secede. His views are Numerically OPP
posed to those of the President, so much
so, indeed, that the moment they are
published he will be compelled to retire
from the Cabinet, lie is in daily cxpcc-
tation of intelligence from his State that
member of the convention. The moment
he receives dispatches to that effect he
will leave for Georgia at once.
The great Importance Of the caucus of
Southern Senators has induced me to fol-
low it up. Its action settles the question
so far as the South is concerned. 1t was
"''Nh"SN w H'i lhc rOutHeln senators
in the city excepting lverson. He was
invited, but refused to attend. Breckin-
ridge was also present. Its deliberations
were grave and dignitied, and the de-
bates exceedingly able and interesting,
bu; no programme Of Congressional action
was agreed upon, or indeed seriously
urged.
Senators from States where the Lesis-
latures have been called. or conventions
ordered to consider the present position
OF federal affairs, held that the subject
had been taken out of their hands, and
were quite unwilling to commit them
selves TO any course Of action in Congress.
They said no earthly power could arrest
the tide of dissolution, and that the only
question to be considered is one of re-
construction. With them the proposition
Of Senator Powell, to raise select COM
mittce, met with no favor. 1t is even
doubtful if any one of them would con-
sent to serve on such committee.
The right of secession seemed to be al
most unanimously conceded in the caucus.
and the doctrine of coercion rs generally
repudiated. Indeed, it is not certain
that any Senator, except Crittendcn. dis
sented from these views, and even he did
not think coercion wise or practicable
1t was in this regard that the action of
South Carolina was considered so poten-
tial. She was determined to 90 out, and
when out the other fourteen slavehold-
ing States were committed to maintain
her. Whether her action was wise or un-
wise, they held it to be right, and they
would not stand by and see war waged
on her for the exercise of that right,
though an impolitic step for herself
Thus, it was held, if South Carolina goes
out she must be treated as rightfully out
of the Union, and permitted to remain
out, else war between the slave-holding
and the non-slaveholding State must fol.
low. But South Carolina nee not 60 out
alone. One of the most conservative and
intelligent members of the caucus stated
to-day that the developments had con-
yinced him that disrnption to the. .exteut
of five If not seven States. before the 18th
Of January, was inevitable, and that no
thing that can be done in Congress will
arrest the disaster.
The great effort now among the South
ern men is to get together and to induce
all the States to act together, in order
that they may be able to command such
new guarantees for their rights as are
necessary in case of reconstruction, or to
be able to take care of themselves if it
be determined that the free and slave
States must separate forever.
This new and important and formal
programme has been presented for the
consideration of the Southern Senators,
and was talked over in their caucus. 1t
emanates from Lamar, the able represcn-
tative from Mississippi. The first object
is to get the cotton States to postpone
final action so as to give time to the other
Southern States to cooperate with them.
The plan is to have all the Southern
States in separate conventions at the
same time, and to adopt the present gov
eminent of the United States at first,
without any alterations to provide for
the execution of all grants and treaties,
ard for the general and peaceable opera
ton of all the machinery of the present
government, even after several States had
solemnly withdrawn from the Union, and
invite all the other States to JON with
them, with the hope that New England
will stay out.
The first feature in the programme is
to have all the Southern States in separate
convention at the same time, and have
such perfect understanding that they
should on the same day adopt the same
ordinances rcrJatim CT Hteratm.
Second, that such ordinances, whilst
severing in solemn way the bonds which
unite the said States to the United
States of North America, shall provide
that the constitution and laws of the
United States shall remain in full force
and effect amongst the seeding States,
and that the present constitution shall be
their constitution and compact.
Third, that the laws and decisions of
courts which are now of force in the re-
public of the United States of North
America, under the authority Of the gov
eminent thereof, shall be adopted as
body of laws for the federal government
of this, the United States of the South.
Fourth, that the people of these Uni
ted States South do hereby bind them
selves TO observe and soundly and sacred
ly carry out the stipulations Of all trea.
ties subsisting between the United States