The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-01-06
EillmOre's Letter 40 the New
- DIRK Union Meeting.


Your letter of the 18th reached me yester-
day, enclosing cali for public meeting in
New York city, headed, g The North and
South-Justice and Fraternity inviting
ME to be present on the occasion. As no
time is specified, ] hasten to respond, bv
saying that the objects of the meeting have
my most hearty approval, but | have long
since Withdrawn from any participation in
politics, beyond that of giving my vote for
those whom deem the best and safest men
to govern the country and have uniform
~, since was at the head of the govern
ment, declined all invitations to attend DO
htical meetings; yet, in view of the present
stormy aspect and threatening tendency of
public events, did / feel that my presence
at your meeting could, in the least, tend to
aliay the growing jealousy between the
North and the South, l should, at some
personal Inconvenience, accept your invita-
ton, and cordially join You in admOnishing
the country, North and South, to mutual
forbearance towards each other, and TO
cease elimination and recrimination on both
sides, and endeavor to restore again that
fraternal feeling and confidence which have
made us great and happy people.
But 1t seems to me that if my opinions are
of any Importance to my countrymen, they
and satisfactory form than could give them
by participating in the proceedings of any
meeting. My sentiments on this unfortu-
nate question of slavery, and the constitu-
tional rights of the South in regard to it,
have not changed since they were made
manifest to the whole country by the per-
Torrance of a painful duty in approving
and enforcing the fugitive slave law. What
the Constitution gives I would concede at
every sacrifice. ] would not seek to enjoy
its benefits without sharing its burthens and
responsibilities. know of no other rule of
political rights and expediency. These
were my sentiments then-they are my
sentiments now. stand by the Consttu-
ton of my country at every hazard, and
I am prepared to maintain it at every sac
rifce.
Here | might stop; but since | have
yielded to the impulse to write, would
not hesitate TO express very briefly, my
views on one or two events which have oc
Cured since | retired from office, and
which, in all probability, have given rise to
your meeting. This | cannot do intelligi-
bly, without brief reference TO some events
which occurred during my administration.
All must remember that in 1919 and 1850
the country was severely agitated on this
disturbing question of slavery That con-
test grew out of the acquisition Of new ter
ritory from Mexico, and a contest between
the North and the South to whether
slaves should be tolerated in any part of
that territory. Mixed up with this, was
claim on the part of the slaveholding States,
that the provision of the constitution for
the rendition of fugitives from service
should be made available, as the law of
1893 on that subject, which depended
Tot
had become imperative because State Off
GERS were not obliged to perform that duty.
After a severe struggle, which threatened
the integrity of the Union, Congress finally
passed laws settling these questions; and
the government and the people for time
seemed to acquiesce in that compromise as
Il fiua. settlement of this exciting question;
and it is exceedingly to be regretted that
mistaken ambition or the hope of promo
ting party triumph should have tempted
any one 10 raise this question again. But
in an evil hour this Pandor:t's box of slave
nv was gain opened by what | conceive to
be an unjustitable attempt to force slavery
into Kansas by a repeal of the Missouri
Compromise, and the flood of evils now
swelling and threatening to overthrow the
constitution, and sweep away the founda
ton of the government itself, and deluge
traced to this unfortunate act. Whatever
might have beer the motive, few acts have
been so barren of good and so fruitful Of
evil. The contest has exasperated the pub
lie mind North and South, and engendered
feelings Of distrust, and l may say, hate,
that | fear it viii take years to wear away.
The lamentable tragedy at Harpers Ferry
is clearly traceable to this unfortunate con-
troversy about slavery in Kansas, and while
the chief actor in this criminal invasion has
exhibited some traits of character that chal-
leuge our admiration, yet his fanatical zeal
seems to have blinded his moral percep-
tious. and hurried him into an unlawful
attack upon the lives of peaceful and I'M
offending community in sister State, with
the evident intention of raising a servile
Insure ction. which no one can contemplate
without horror; and few, believe, very
few, can be found so Indifferent TO the con-
sequences of his acts, or so blinded by ia
natical zeal, as not to bell eve that he just
" suffered the penalty of the law which he
had violated. / cannot but hope that the
fate of John Brown and his associates will
deter all others from any unlawful attempt
10 interfere in the do nestle affairs of a sis
ter State, But this tragedy has now closed
and shown that she is quite competent to
manage her own affairs and protect her own
rights. And, thanks to an everything
Providence, this question of slavery il
Kansas is now also settled, and settled il
fl Or of freedom. The North has triumph'
ed, 4nd, having triumphed, let her, by he
magnanimity and generosity to her South
ern brethren, show that the contest on he
part was one OF principle and not of per
soual hatred, or the low ambition Of a sec
tional triumph.
Finally, if had the power to speak, and
there were any disposed to listen to m.
counsel, would say to my brethren of tn
Sonth Be not alarmed, for there are few
very few, at the North who would justify il
mTm inner an attack upon the institution
of IA. South, which are guaranteed by tn
Constitution. We are all anti-slavery i
sentiment, but we know that We have moth
ing to do with it in the several States, an
we do not intend to interfere with IT. An
TO l,rafnrau Of the North