Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-12-21

the subject of the Fugitive Slave Law, is at all
satisfactory to the extremists of lis party.
Upon tho whole if Mr. Lincoln's public declsra-
tions on the subject of slavery are to be considered
as the true exponens of his future policy and if he
possesses the moral courage to adhere to them in
opposition to the counsels Of the extreme men Of
his party land il is just and fair to presume that he
does possess that virtue), serious mischief need
be apprehended during his administration, except
the usual evils attend ng the perpetual agitation of
the slavery issues
2. But it is assumed By some that Mr.. tincoln
has disguised his true sentiments; that his true
character has not been undersood; and that be viii
be under the control of the worst of his party.
do not think so. have every confidence that his
future policy will be found to be 10 strict coEform
ty with his past declarations. But apart from this
it is now generally known that he will be poweress
for mischief except to very limited extent during
the first two years Of his administration, unless the
Southern Senators and Representatives elected to
the next Congress should rashly, and think, in
excusaby, resign their seats or retire from Congress-
and thus voluntarily surrender the control in both
Houses to the Republican party, which surely they
will not do. With both Houses oppose to him. MIR.
Lincoln cannot appoint his Cabinet Ministers or fill
any offices of high grades without the assent of the
Senate. or indeed of any inferior grade above that
of Clerk or petty deputy postmaster lie will be
able to carry no measure connected with the subject
of slavery which docs not commend itself to the
South and the conservative members from the North
! 3. As to any apprehensions that the Republican
party, encouraged and stimulated TO further efforts
by their late success, may be strengthened in the
result Of the election of Senators and Representa-
tives, in the meantime, to obtain majority in
both Houses Of the ;5 h Congress, that is during
Mr.. Lincolns admnstration-whilei it may be well
to regard such an event possible, the strongest
reasons exist for the confident belief that no such
unfortunate result will attend the elections in the
| wi IN tho vi of ,ha
3Sth Congress.
i OF the whole number of votes cast for Mr. Lin
coin in the recent election, from my own personal
knowledge and from information received from
other sources, of the sentiments of the North and
especially of those of the Middle States, and the
States North of the Ohio, am sure hazard moth
ing in stating that large number--at least one
third-are devoted to the Union, and, although op-
posed to slavery in the abstract have but little SYM
pathy with the Republican party and would be
sincerely glad to the slavery controversy between
the two great sections of the country speedily
minated. They supported the Republican candi-
date in the late election. mainly influenced by their
strong and inv tIa'e feelings of opposition to the
Democratic party-beeving that Mr. Lincoln was
the only available candidate in the field to defeat
that party.
Il am also well satisfied that no more one-thirl of
MIR. iincolns supporters extreme in their
antl-slavery sentiments, and animated by so in
Oh lue SOutll as 10 he either WHOLLY
indifferent TO the effect upon the Unon of the poll
cy of the Republican party or actually dcsirous of
n separation OF the free from the slave States.
OF the remaining third of Mr.. Lincolns suppor-
tiers, think am warranted in saying that they are
attached to the Union, though anti-savery in their
!, sentiments. They joined the Republican party as
rctaliaory measure adopted in resen tment to the
repeal o.. the Missouri Compromise which they re-
garded as little less sacred and binding than the
Constitution, and in further resentment of the at
tempt to force the Lecompton Constitution upon the
|, people of Kansas. But that they have so sig
nally trumphcd in the late election aud in view of
the evils already inflicted upon the country, they
Will he content to cease the Southern inter-
csts and feelings.
4 For the foregoing reasons | feel confident that
the 3sth Congress will exhibit falling off in the
strength of the Republican party, instead OF an in
crease.
c 4. All of the existing grievances of which the
South my Justly complain, can be redressed in the
= Union. As to the indgnty not to say insult off
cred to the South, of nominating and electing the
candidates for the two highest offices of the Gov
: ernment by sectional party, on principles which
: practically excluded the Southern States from q
voice in the election contrary to established usage
and in violation of the spirit of the Constitution
S they may be pardoned for the sake of peace and
g harmony, and in consideration that the South has
}. not been gutless of having contributed and that
in no small degree to increase the violence and as
g perty OF the slavery controversy between the two
g sections.
Il In expressing the opinion that all grievances may
d be redressed in the Union, | intcnded to exclude
other greater offences which have been apprehendel
d from Republican domination and which are of Dos
d sble occurrence. How they shall be redressed
should they unhappy occur, will call for coun
sels but sufficient unto the day is the evil there
N Of"
10 The existing grievances are the obstructions in
erposed by some Of the non-slaveholding States L
the prompt and faithful execution of the Fugitive
IF Slave Law 10y what called Personal Liberty
IN Laws, and the refusal of the Governors of severi
to OF those States to surrender fugtyes from ustic
from the savehodng States in those cases in whic
s. the crime imputed to the fugitive is the abduction
As or stealing OF slaves Some further legislation b,
of Congress may be required to secure the surrende
,c of such ugitves, but the due enforcement of tn
ne Fugitive Slave Law is all that is required to re
dress the grievances arising from the escape and ab
l. duction OF slaves from the Southern States. Tn
ii President is armed with sufficient power and mean
A. TO enforce this law in defiance of all obstruction
il which may be thrown in the way to defeat it,
he neglects or fails TO see it executed he is liable
m Impeachment
ts &'he next subject which proposed to myself {
in notice briefly is the doctr-e theory at secession
n which, as understand it, is the right claimed t
exist under and by the Constitution, in the exercis
ly Of which State may withdraw from the Unior
he whenever a majority of the citizens may decide
nd do So for any whatever. For it is quite in
" material whether any grievance wrong sustaine
lie at the lands of the co-States or by the action
at the Federal Government is set up TO justify the e'
in ercise Of this right not nasmuch as the peop
il of the seeding State, under this theory, claim
ms be sole tribunal or judge to decide whether any
lr- grievance or wrong has been inflicted, and upo
- the pretext and sutficency of the wrong. In fac
m, the theory of secession implies the right OF Sta
re To dissolve its connection with the Union at discr
ad ton; and the whole question resolves itself int
ch this whether the Federal Union, as II now exs
and as it intended to he by its trainers, is an!
a. thing more than voluntary association Of Stat
for common deence and other objects of vital in
h porance to their interests and prosperity carryr
sts with it no binding obligation upon any one OF Il
ad States TO yield obedience TO the Federal Cover
of ment any longer than such State should consider
)m eNpedient. propose toenten into no elaborate
nnmenI 10 hnmnnsfrnIn the nnsnnndness Of this lh