Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-08-15
The Standard.
THE CRISIS IN NOVEMBER.
wu.r WILL TIE SOUTH DO If LINCOLN BE ELECTED ?

WHAT WILL THE SOUTH DO IF LINCOLN BE ELI'ihD'
Letter from M. Speaker Orr on the e'eet'o" Of
Abe Lincoln.
ANDERSON c. H., July %, 1860 .
ripSrseAEN-I have read and carefully considered
YOUR appeal to me to become capdidate 'oI ''ie
LEGISLATURE IN this district The steadast and cor
dial snnnort YOU gave me throughout my pubic
career Of sixteen years. renders it painful for me to
dcl;ne INV nositop which you desire me to occupy,
and vet private considerations, OF too great weight
tn he disregarded, impe Inc reluctantly to decline
am like yourself, deeply impressed with the
critical aspect of federal affairs and believe we
are drifting rapidly upon revolution. N.Y. hope, as
YOU know for years past tor the preservation Vi .,e
FIGHTS Of the South in the Union has been upon the
democratic party. So long as it was united, har-
monous and triumphant our rights and institutions
we're safe That great party that has, in times gone
bv won so many brilliant victories over federalism
abolitionism and consolidation and established so
many sound and conservative principles, IS now dls-
united, divided and broken up.
Its disruption extinguishes my ardently cherish
ed hope of preserving not only our rights, Out the
Union ITSELF 1t is idle to debate or review the cause
that led to its disruption Let it suffice here for me
"a cav that in nv opinion the secession of the
Southern delegates from the Charleston Convention
WAS unwise and impolitic. 1t manifest there to
the most casual observer that Judge Douglas, who
was 80 Justly obnoxious to the South, would not re-
covo the nomination in full convention, and 1t was
eona,Iv certain that Mr.. Breckenridge would have
been the nominee if the Southern delegations had
not abandoned their posts. If Mr.. Brecln'ldse had
been the nominee at Charleston his election would
have been a certainty. He is now the nominee Oh
only one wing Of the party, the other wing having
nominated Douglas, and while shall give to brecK-
;nr;doc and Lane. the nominees of the Baltimore
observation-disclosures of tried patriotism and
sound PRINCIPLES, hearty and cordial support
gee no prospect of their election either by the peo-
Lincoln and Hamlin, the black republican nomi
nees. will be elected in November next, and the
South will then decide the great question whether
thew will submit to the nomination OF black repuo-
lcan rule-the fundamental principle OF the organ-
sation being an open undisgused and declared war
nnon our social institutions believe that the honor
and safety of the South, in that contingency. will
REQUIRE the prompt secession of the slaveholdIng
States from the Union, and failing then to obtain
from the free States additional and higher guarantees
for the protection of rights and property, that
the seeding States should proceed to establish
new government But while think such would be
the imperative duty Of the South, should emphat-
ically reprobate and repudiate any scheme having
for its object the separate secession OF South Caro-
lima. III Georgia, AIaUduid diu In''oiS''PPi "i'''S
giving us portion of the Atlantic and Gull coasts
would unite with this State in common secession
upon the election of black republican, | would
give my assent to the policy
would indulge in no language of elimination or
denunciation Of our brethren i'll the South who are
impelled by sense of patriotic duty to support
Douglas and johnson. l believe they are miSjudg-
ing the most efficient means of preserving the rights
and interests of the South in sustaining these gen.
tlemen but l concede to them a patriotism as
catholic as claim for myself and feel well assured
that when the great sectional issue between the
North and South is to be decided-an issue which
words alone will not settle-that the South will
have need for the services of all her sons, and that
Breckenridge men and Douglas men will only emu
late each other in their gallant devotion to her honor
and interests.
Thanking you, gentlemen, for your kind consid-
Grafton, and reteratng my regret tina. cannot res
pond afirmativey to Your call, subscribe myself
most truly your friend and fellow-citizen.
JAMES L. ORR.
To Ioul N prJN and others