Newbern weekly progress., 1860-12-04
A Sensible Letter from Cousin DO


Tn renlv m a communication addressed to Cen
eral Lane by a comittee appointed by the Breck-
inridge and Lane Club of the city of New YORK,
asking the Generals views in regard to the pre-
sent crisis, the Senator from Oregon has written
the subjoined letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 90 1860.
Gentlemen /: Yours of the 18th inst IS re.
ceived The address, embodying the views OF
the committee, which you say was enclosed, mas
should "make suggestions as in my judgement
would tend to preserve our institutions and our
government" I proceed briefly to comply
Nothing is palmer than that ours is govern
in sovereignty, equal in dignity, and equal IN
rights This equality, in all respects and IN all
| things, must be maintained Any act oy the
people. or by any branch or department OF the
government, tending to impair this equanty IS
| an usurpaticn. and the destruction OF that
! equality is virtually destruction of the Union
| Have we not reached point in the history OF
our government when it may be said with truth
| that this equality has been seriously menaceo, II
| not impaired or destroyed
! Never was proposition more plainly put nor
| an issue more directly made, than that upon
which the people lately rendered their verdict
Shall the people of all the States possess and en-
ioy equal rights and privileges in the common
| territory of our common country? BY major
ity almost fabulous, a Northern sectional party
| have determine that the people of the Southern
| States
carry their property with them-that no more
States recognizing property in slaves Gas did
twelve of the thirteen original States) shall ever
be admitted into the Union. Can any man
whose mind is capable OF discriminating between
ripht and wrong says that this is just and right,
and in accordance with the spirit or letter OF the
Constitution To me it appears plain that the
equal rights under the Constitution of those
States recognizing slavery have been violated bJ
their Northern neighbors in the verdict which
thew have rendered. to the effect that the States
are not equal that the people of fifteen soVerel
States shall not go to the territory with tnell
property that they interiors. and must SUB
mit not only to inequality, but degradation
Now can the Union be held together upon sucl
terms? FIVE would preserve the Uulon we mus
maintain the Constitution and the equality o
States and be Just and deal fairly by every por
tion of our country.
In nv iudgment the Northern people are un
inst and unwlse in denying to the citizens OF tn
Southern States the right to emigrate to and set
| tie in the Territories with their slave property
They are wrong in holding that no slave State
shall be admitted into The Union, for it is clea arly
: the RIGHT of the people of Territory, when the
f population entities them to admission into tn
, Union to form such government AS may sui
= them and whether slave free. it is the dut,
of Congress to admit them And they are wron
i in permitting to remain upon the statute book
laws obstructive of the faithful execution of th
Y fugitive slave law. Let them speedily take step
i to correct these wrongs, and maintain good talt
: toward all the States, as maintained in th
t early days of the Republic. THIS is in thei
power, and in no other way can they avert dis
= solution for no one, in my opinion, who is at a
- informed as to the framework of our governmen
: can conclude that the Federal Government ia
the constitutional power to use force against
State for resuming the power which it delegate
! TO the General Government, when its rights haV
# been nfringed equality refused or # the go'
ernment had the pow er, that If would be wise c
e prudent 10 use it The Uni II was not forme
5 hv force. nor can it be maintalnefby force.
. | was Il voluntary Union Of sovereign States an
" whenever the rights Of any of them shall be IL
frnged or eonaiity refused, and they find it nee
n essarv and shall d-sre part. there is no po"
r that can keep them together. or that should a
tempt il.
Il am, gentlemen. with much respect. your OBJ
, | di.nt servant JOSEPH Lane,