The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-12-07
Secession.

1t looks now as though South Carolina at
least is bound to 60 out of the Union, and
that, too, solitary and alone. At any rate
she prefers to 90 alone, though if all the
cotton states, as they are called, should
choose to join her it is supposed that she
will consent to their wishes. Whatever the
other Southern states may conclude upon
South Carolina seems to be in sober earnest.
She has already gone too far to recede, and
it is quite generally supposed that she will
"step out" though there are doubts as To
whether she will remain long in the state of
single blessedness. 1t seems to be conceded
that if South Carolina shall declare herself
out of the Union, our government should
use no force to retain her. Gov. Gist de-
cares that he does not expect coercion, but
if it is undertaken by the general govern
ment the other Southern states will defend
South Carolina in her right to secede. Their
state convention meets on the 18th of Dec,
and they will probably proceed at once to de-
clare themselves out of the Union. Pertinent
to this case is the following, which the Dos
ton journal says is an extract from bust
ness letter received by firm in that city
from one of its correspondents at the South
! ard only serves to confirm what has appear.
ed from other sources-that the South Caro-.
linians are severely in earnest in their talk
of secession. The writer is a merchant of
moderate views, and perhaps fair represen,
tative of the business men of South Carroll
ma:
"In addition to what l have said in refer
ence to business, l cannot forbear saying that
new era is about to dawn upon us. What
ever may be said or thought about it in your
section OF the country, YOU may depend upon
that orr state goes ont Of the Imion-with
her sister cotton states, if they will, but alone
if she must. You must not regard this as
idle talk. If you do you will be deceived
Our state, l may say, is unit on that sub
/ ject-all the old Union men have come into
the measure. On the 9th of December we
elect our members to the state convention
who are to meet on the 18th for the special
purpose of taking the state out of the Union.
That body will consist of our ablest and wi
sest men-mostly men of great experience
and known ability. Among others, our dis
trict will send Senator Chestnut, who has re-
signed his seat as L. S. Senator, and Judge
Wlthers, man Of sixty-6ve years, and one
of our ablest Judges. For the last twenty
five years he has kept himself aloof from
politics. He is now fully committed to the
measure. When such men take hold of the
matter, don't think they are engaged in any
child's play.
The greatest excitement prevails. Geor-
gia and Alabama, you will see by the papers,
are fully up to the mark. A man who could
not get single vote in slaveholding state,
and whose party is pledged to the destruc-
ton OF our institutions is not the man to
reign over US. We would be degraded, in
deed, and not fit for elf:government, were
We to submit to such thing for moment.
Out of the Union slavery will be on firmer
foundation than it ever was before in the
Union, We have no security, therefore we Sc
cede'
In Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama, the
unionists and disunionists are both in the
field, holding meetings and discussions. 1t
is uncertain which party is the most namer-
Gus, but an immediate secession of these
states is not looked for. The Georgia state
convention meets Jan. 16,and it is yet doubt.
ful whether the secessionists or unionists will
nave majority in it. Alabama is also to
hold convention, and Mississippi and Lou
isiana both extra sessions of their Legisla-
lures. 1t is thought that union or disunion
in these states depends very much upon the
temper AMI frmness of the administration.
Notwithstanding the unwarrantable and ma
lgnant policy Of some Northern papers and