Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-10-24


A Letter to j. L., Esq, Nashville, Tenn.
Dear Sir A few days ago ! received your letter
Of the 10th In reply to mine Of the Sd inst In
your letter find the following remarkable para
ITO day we had a dispatch from Louisville
which Indicates that your prediction In regard "a
the Indiana election was correct. You may be
correct, too, when you say the election of Lin.
coin Is fixed fact' and, il 1t 10, YOU NAV regard
the immediate dissolution Of the Union as a fact
equally fixed. general gloom Is thrown over
our whole community. Men grasp each Others
hands and ask with q most painful expression of
anxiety, w hat do you think Of the news! What
II your real estate worth to-dayt"
That the election of President In accordan ce
with the Constitution and the laws of the United
States should affect the public mind In any por-
ton Of the Union seems strange to me There Ia
only one way to account for 1t The measures of
public policy had In view by Mr.. Lincoln and
those who intend eiecting him are most grossly
misunderstood by your people They have been
taught to believe that the republicans are In favor
Of resisting the provision Of the Constitution in
relation to fugitives from labor that they desire
(by some unexplained process) to abolish slavery
In those States This is not true. No such inten-
ton or desire exists, -r=- &c.,.
Instead Of giving heed to the excited harrangue.
Of ofceseekers at the husngs, would 1t not better
comport with true statesmanship TO look at the
proposed measures Of the republican party as an.
nounced In their " confessions Of faith ~
Do that, and 1t will De found that they nj mply
propose, as announced at Chicago, al folIows:
L. Non-interference with slavery in the slave
States; but opposition to its extension into Terri
tories now free.
2. To procure more eflicient law for the SUD.
preston Of the slave trade.
8 The admission Of Kansas under her present
Constitution.
4, A revenue law, discriminating in favor Of
home industry, for the support of the oyern ment
S. A reform in the abuses and reduction in The
expenditures Of the General Government :
liberal Homestead law for actual settlers on
the public lands. s--.a -
z. The improvement Of rivers and hsrbors OF
5. The speedy construction, by aid of the Gen.
e,sl Government, Of 4 railroad to the Pacific.
Would the establishment Of such measures be
good cause for the dissolution Of the Union? L,
sesms to me that ho man In Tenns xsee can answer
In the affirmative; and YET that Is all the republi-
cans purpose doing! 40. f-l.f . g ID =
Opiy one Of taem can At all be objection able 10
you, and that ought not TO be- The exclusion Of
slavery from tho Territories, during territorial
existence, by act Of Congress, 10 opposed BY some
Of the people Of the slave States, because, they
say such exclusion creates an inequality Of States,
This argument IL rounded upon the assumption
that property In slaves IL Of the same character as
In any other kind Of property This the republi-
cans regard as fallaey, and the cause Of much of
We hold thst property In slave labor 10 Of a
peculiar character, and 10 not therefore, property
within the acknowledged meaning Of the word
ds recognized by the clvillzed world. It's only
property by reason Of the local law or regulations
OF the States where II exists, and outside Of the
jurisdiction Of those States II Ia not property Had
II been otherwise, why the necessity Of that pro.
vision In the Federal Constitution In regard to
fugitives from labor, Why does not the Consti-
tuition contain provision for the rendition Of hor-
sss OF cattle escaping from State into another!
or the reason that they are property everywhere
IA Cniistendom, aad governed by the laws of
property. universally recognized. II horses or
easur 90 into Canada they are reclaimed without
alneulty. Why !. IT. that you cannot reclaim
your slaves when they escape into Canada IL IL
the common law, the usaees and cu.foma Swi,ch
feiate 70 property In ih universal, acknowledged
We say that the Territories are the common
EoPefty Of all the people, to be governed, while
Territories, by the law-msking power OF the
whole people, which 10 In Congress we believe
IL 10 b best for the whole people that ia verv
be, excluded by Get Of Congress, II aecesssry.