Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1860-12-20

the still more intolerable oppression to be
anticipated from the frantic spirit of the
North, on the one hand, and tie glowing
pleasure and seductive representations Of
the grandeur, power end prosperity Of the
new Republic, on the other hand, il is not
surprising that a body Of highly gifted men,
strongly excited and carried along by their
own fancies, have been able TO mislead
many thousands of peculiarly excitable
and impressible population, against the die
tates Of their sober judgments. Audit is
a sad reflection that upon the speedy re-
turn Of this class of Southern citizens TO
wiser and more temperate oounselsl may
depend tho fate Of the Union. May no
hope be INDUCED that a little time for
calm though twill suffice for the change
Of what seems to be their present purpose
and determination? little time for refiec-
ton upon the nature and amount Of evils
which arc certain 10 attend a revolutionary
movement, and also upon other and more
appalling contingent evils, which may end
probably will arise between its beginning
ard contamination.
l do not forget that am addressing,
through you, brave men who are ready 10
die in yindioatica Of their honor or in de-
Tense of what they believe 10 be their rights
Il do not appeal 10 their fears, go.
But whatever may be the final decision
Of the people of Mississippi upon the grav-
est question ever presented 10 their consid.
Grafton, and which must deeply affect the
relations existing between them. and the
people Of Tennessee. and OF every other
State Of the South, u cannet bring myself to
the conclusion, all the existing evidences to
the contrary, that Mississippi will take
upon herself the responsibility of doing an
act that would expose the peace and secu-
rity Of her sister States of the South TO d.
rect and imminent danger, and perhaps de-
eide their destlnies for veal or woe forev-
er, without previous consultation with them,
and first exhaust every peaceable mode Of
redress for the grievances OF which she
complains. 10 community of indepsnd-
ent States or sovereignties, If any one of
them should pursue course which would
put in imminent peril the peace and secu-
rity of the other States, without first ex-
hausting every means Of peaceable redress
for any grievances Of which she might
complain, they would be justified BY the
laws Of nations in making common cause
against her, and in preventing her by force,
ii necessary, from pursuing such a course.
Such being the responsibility attaching 10
the action Of one of a community of separ-
ate and independent States, how much
greater would be the responsibility incur
red by one Of the Southern States Of this
Union, in adopting the desperate measure
Of breaking up this Union. and thereby put
ting in jeopardy: the highest and dearest in.
terests Of them all without 6rst taking SOL
ernn counsel together. These interests are
common 10 them all, and the grievances
complained of are common TO oil. Could
the evil consequences certain TO ensue be |
confined to the State adopting the rash
measure Of secession, the other States might
not feeled called upon 10 protest against il.
Bat that cannot be. The Consequences
and who can foresee their exteh,?-must
be felt by all. ''.' ' $50
Viewing the subjec, in every light which
il can be presented, | am constrained to say
that by no principle Of Public Law, by no
code Of morals, by no law of Earth or
Heaven, would Mississippi OF any other
State be jusliSed, under existing Gircum-
stances, in Withdrawing from the Union
confidently believe that The happisst con-
sequences would result from conference
Of the Southern States. I as confidently
believe that majority Of the people Of the
North are this day prepared TO agree to any
'air and reasonable plan Of adjustment
which such Conference Of the Southern
States weuld propose. / purpesely abstain
from suggesting what, in my opinion,
should be the basis of such plan Of adjust.
nent. .f,-.-. s
After what l have written on the pre-
'eding pages Of this Letter, it is scarcely ne
,sssary TO say that am resolved TO adhere
10 the Union. | will not say that in no
possible contingency would consent to q
separation of the States. But / would OK
haust every constitutional means for the re-
iress Of our grievances, before would
.hink of dissolving the Union. / am not
willing that one State should be withdrawn
rom the UDion-that one star should be
stricken from the bright cluster which now
smblazons the national flag. o. b. .s.s
! have long fsrseen the probable occur
'ence Of q crisis like the present, and shrunk
rom the possible issue Of il; and could
never contemplate the destruction Of the
Jnisn without sensations not unlike those
which imagine ,wonld overwhelm me on
'eholding the last gazing down Of the sun
lever TO arise again forever. a. ,-sl-l...
With the highest consideration and es-
eem, am your ielow-oitizen, i,r
- ..-.- ~, JOHN BELL. /
To A. BUnwELL, Esq, Vieksburg, Miss.
n n M uT n n HfT AT -.-