The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-11

To The Hon. Thomas Cor'ci", House Of Representa-
tires.
My DEAR SIR:-Although the election of Mr..
Lincoln is of itself, nowhere relied upon as Justify
ing the secession of the Southern States it is yet
quite clear that that election is the chief source of
all the discomfort Of that region Southern men,
who really fear the influence of an unriendly Fed
eral administration, of Federal administration
Indifferent to the protection of their interests can
not close their eyes to the fact, that the Sec
tiona combination which elected Mr.. Lincoln may,
in all future elections, choose President and Vice
President, whose political education and prepos-
sessions, will naturally lead them to regard the
institution of Southern slavery institution
which ought not to be encouraged, but which it
will be wise to allow to PERISH perhaps which it
may be meritorious to overthrow. Speaking as
Southern man, have no hesitation in saying that
it is to Mr. Lincoln as the probable predecessor of
a line of Presidents chosen upon the same
or similar grounds that object, rather than to Mr..
Lincoln, as deadly enemy of my interests or my
| section.
1t seems to me, sir, that, if it be admitted as |
think it must be- that the real apprehensions ofthe
South spring from conviction that hereafter every
| President is likely to be put upon them by com
| bnation of the Free States, the true mode of re-
assuring them and of restoring peace to the coun-
| try is to provide against the recurrence of such
| elections. | venture, therefore, sir, with great
submission, to ask you, as the chairman of the i'm
portant committee just raised in your House, to
| consider whether the following measure, simple
as it is, will not be found eficacious in removing
| the apprehensions of the South and reconciling
| her to the maintenance of the present Union.
| | propose that Congress, at as early day as pos
sble, proceed, under the 9th article, to submit an
amendment providing that the United States shall
be divided into four Presidential Electoral Districts
| to be called the Northeast Southeast, Northwest
and Southwest Districts. The Northeast to consist
of the New England States, New York New Jersey
Delaware and Pennsylvania The Southeast Of
Maryland Virginia, North and South Carolina,
| Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
| The Northwest of Ohio Indiana, Illinois, Mi
chigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon and
California. The Southwest of Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and
| Texas.
propose that the President and Vice-President
be elected, in succession from each of these eecto
raj districts, by the vote, however, of all the States
The effect of this mode of combining the choice of
President andVice-PreSdent every other four years
to citizens of the slave States will be to assure them
that there cannot be any long-continued or unin-
terrupted Federal Administration hostile to what
they regard as their especial interests, and it will,
besides insure to them their joint share of the hon
ors and emoluments Of Government. Its many other
advantages--its justice, its soothing influence
will, i am persuaded, become more apparent the
longer you honor it with your consideration.
The first President to be chosen under this amend
ment ought to be from the Southeastern district,
for reasons of policy which your Committee will
appreciate, well because both the present
President and his predecessor, besides Mr. Lincoln,
were from the Northern division Of the Union. The
Northwestern Electoral District ought then to fur
nish the President to be chosen eight years hence,
and the Southwestern his successor, and in six
teen years the choice would again devolve upon the
Middle and Northeastern States.
l am not so sanguine as to suppose that this plan
will, if even speedily adopted, put period to the
movements towards secession which
solved upon in South Carolina But to these States
who are not vet so far committed 1t will address
itself as a measure which insures them Just weight
in the Confederacy. and furnishes safeguard
against future encroachments. And | cannot Int
hope that with the other tranquilsing eXpedients
which the little experience we are now undergo
ing will lead to in the North, the cOnsummation oil
such mode Of electipg our, future , PTstsldents
, which has solely ,>fessed," and that TIM. I,:a
Nationality, will again rest his wing on the Pal
; metto.
purpoSely refrain from charging upon the re-
. concentrations which, in my opinion, this plan Of
pacitcation possesses-but | submit it to you with
a profound conviction that, if it he promptly EN-
braced, it will disarm faction rally reasonable men
, everywhere to its support, and, under the blessing
. OF Heaven, prove the means of perpetuating that
Union which amidst the tears and lamentations
of whole people, seems now fastening to an igno-
miniOus dissolution.
} BALTIMORE, Dec. 10, 1850.