St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-12-27
The Secession Movement,
New York. Dec :

NEW York, Dec 20.
The Herald's despatch says Caleb Cuush-
ing Is about to proceed to South Carolina.
under instructions from the President, to
make strenuous efforts to prevent secession.
Senator Douglas has decided to support
Cr;ttenden's proposition for restoring the
Missouri Compromise line.
The Times publishes letter from Bu-
chanan to citizen of Philadelphia on Sc
cession. 1t is very long, It cites various
articles in the Constitution, showing that
they are entirely inconsistent with the al
legged supremacy of State laws, and tho
claim of absolute sovereignty is entirely If.
reconcilable with the Constitution. it is
clearly his opinion that no State can Sc
cede from the Union, as it is impossible to
destroy the Union except by revolution.
He says: l have, after grave reflection
determined not to pursue that line of con-
duct which, although it might be legal,
would end in civil strife and the overthrow
of our present form Of government. AL
thong it would appear that my line Of
duty was plain and rugged, yet am tir,a-.
ly persuaded that instead of restoring order
and obedience, [ would have caused war.
The only means have now at my COM
mand centre in exhortation to the people
as a nation to implore assistance from an
overruling Providence to avert the dangers
which now beset our beloved land.
WASHINGTON, Dec. -.
All the intelligence, public and private,
FROM the South, shows that the progress Of
disunion sentiment is onward, and is be-
coming predominant even in states where
the Union feeling was supposed lately to
strongly prevail. Tennessee is likely to
be carried away with it, in spite Of tho
counsels Of John Bell. It is making fear
full progress in Eastern Virginia, and in
some parts of Maryland, including the
city of Baltimore It runs like wild fire
through the South. In fine, it is now
the commonly accepted opinion that the
present Union is to be broken up, and that
new construction will take place. The
great danger is IN the difficulty of this re-
construction. tits no easy matter to break
up the government; it will {for the same
reason) be difficult to reconstruct it. Let
one refer to the history of the adoption Of
the present Constitution, and it will be
seen with how much difficulty it was finally
formed, though circumstances were then 40
much more favorable to it than now.
Great sympathy is expressed by the
Southern and conservative members of
Congress for the suffering of the mercantile
and working classes Of tho North. Private
letters to members from New York say i.
that over one hundred and sixty good firms
and names went to protest during the last
two days, and that hundreds of honest and
industrious laborers are almost at the star
wing point. Similar disastrous Intelligence
comes from the cities West, North and
East, mingled with fears of an outbreak
from the masses, which will prove destruc.
tive of property and life.
The Cabinet are unanimous in the opin-
ION that it would DO not only unwise and
in the present disturbed and
excited state of tho Southern people. to
send additional force to Fort Moultrie, but
that it would certainly result in collision
between the State: and federal troops.-
General Scott, it is understood, comedies
With this opinion. -, -. :.
Mrs. Anderson, wife of Major Ander,
son, in command at Fort D1oult.ie, has
called upon the President within 4 few
days and, demanded that: he increase the
force at that place, or she will take his ne
g'ece to DO 20 as an intent 3nal and wicked
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