The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-10-06


then sown grew and fiOurished, and in lS44 tn,
Abolition votes swelled to LAO. This was tn,
first fruit of agitaton-of forcing a moral, religi
GUS and domestic question into the politics Of til,
nation. In four years the votaries of fanatcsn
increased nearly nine fold in numbers and NOR,
than a hundred fold in zeal. In 1913, after tn,
lapse of another four wears ofagitaton il had in
creased TO 296,2S2. Mark the rapid rate of pro
erosion, and iel me practical men, if it wa,
not time to Try some other remedy for this great
and growing evil
Fortunately there were those in the
Councils Of the Nation who were equal to
the occasion, and still more fortunately
there was Il President in the White House
worthy to be the successor of Washington
Calm and conciliatroy in his bearing; pure
and unspOtted in his character; honest up
right, just and patriotic in every thought ;
firm and unwavering in the mainta nance
Of ihc right, he looked ont upon the storm,
and babe the troubled elements be still. In
voice that echoed from one end of the
Republic to the other, he proclaimed that
agitation must have an end. The giant
wonders of the American Continent, Clay
and Webster, We're by his SIDE, and Len,
their voices to swell the mandate.
For the first tiiie fanaticism paused in
It's career. For the first time waves more
dreadful than those that refused to do tho
bidding OF Canute, were rolled backwards
10y the magical power ofwisdom and ear
nest truth. Willard Fillmore stood upon
the beach and the black and deadly waters
>hrank away from his presence. During
his Administration the Abolition vote fell
off to 1926. Treasure that fact in vor~
memories, and when you go home record
1t in your tablets, that Willard Fillmore,
the Abolitionist, as he was called, is the
only President, who for the last twenty
years has dealt an effective blow at the
anti-slavery organization of the North.
Mr. Pierce succeeded Mr. Fillmore. He
found a land at peace, and people happy
and contented. lie had been elevated TO
the Presidential chair by vote approach
inc to unanimity, and revival ofthc Mon
roe era Of good feeling was confidently
dictcd
In an evil hour he lent his influence 10
the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise, and
thus necessarily rcopencd the whole subject
~ 'i'A'' ii' hl'lISlfl We All thought
dead inhaled new life and energy. Again
its horrid head was erected and again it,
hateful hisscs sounded in our ears. The
ballot box i'll 1866 told a fearful story.
Mr.. Pierce had increased the abolition vote
to l,3il,SI2.
What Mr.. Buchanan has done by his
LecomptOn agitation cannot be- 50 precisely
told. We know that he has lost the con-
troll OF the House Of Repre,cntatiyes-that
he has increased the Republican Strength
IN the Senate, and made the election of
Lincoln, by a purely ctional party, at
least matter of doubt. And this is the
end Of Southern Rights Democratic states
manship This is the boon for which you
have to thank those, who would agitatc far
yoDr rand! Time and again they have
addressed You III passionate harangurs in
favor of the rights Of the South. Time
and again they have assured You those
rights were dependent upon the election of
Il Democratic President Time and again
You have listened to the Syren song, and
time and a. IN You have been deceived. |
Now they come 10 You W tn another RENE |
dy-disunio the last the worst-the |
most drcadfuIinits consequences; the most |
da.ming in lis guilt. They have led you
on as the vcilrd Prophet Of KhOrasen led |
his dcludrd followers. Like him they have |
extracted from f. lure itself, the argument |
to support new dclusion and like hun |
they offer You at last a fiery poison which
has dea,h in every draught, and torture in
every drop. Let me hope that the simile
will end here, and that they may not when
you have plunged into disunion, lift the
veil and eXclaim,
There We wis., saints behold yourlght your STAR
We would be- dupcs and victims, and We arer
bcsccch your patience, Fellow Citizens, while
| 20 back little. 1t IS no traIsiory trtng
interest which Is AT stake, and it should be dis
missed with nG cJis0ry examination.
in J-Jl, Convention of Southern Rights |
Clubs, assembled in Montgomery, officially an
nounccd tlat it the duty of the people of Ala
bana q" put thtr house in order with view to
; Secession OF that Convention John A Elmorc, |
tirorgc W. Gaylr, Samuel +. Rice, William l. |
lnccy. and o;hcr breckenridge leaders Of the
present day, wtn' members and on lith day Of
February Ir5I, they published Card declaring
II To- have been th" object of ihc Convention dis
timely to establish Southern Rights Platform |
for the Souih'rn Rights men of Alabama" There
was no dodging the question. No covering up
the issue under professions OF attachment To
Union. 1t was boldly and plainly made. Upon
shat issue they went before that people and upon
that issue ih'y we've Overwhelmingly dciraied |
Up 10 this Time the conduct of the Southern
Rights men had been manly at least; but with de-
feat came a change which took away from their |
causc The dignity Of sincerity, and left nothing to
inspire the respect of an opponent. They sought
readm's,ion INTO the party they had abandoned,
for m" purpose of bcraying it, and working out
their designs under The name of Democracy, thus
adding the disgrace Of party trcachery 10 the
d"c.rr "u!t Of treason. They said, eve appealed
10 ,hr people and the yc'Gict is against us We
submit We are willing TO cease our warfare up
on ,he Union, and 20 back 70 the party organiza-
tions. We beg you to meet rs once more as
brother dema ra:s, and bury the remembrance of
or lac unhappy differences This language
was bcicvcG-fh, offer accepted and in their
anxiety for the preservation of The purity, the
{ lion Dcmoc as deserted he Wing allies who
had stood by them when the thunder rolled, and
the tempest ragged, and went over almost in a
body 80 The standard which was still rocking
fson th'' hp.-bcd of treason They went further
and submitted themselves 10 the irresponsible dcs
pOdam of ,he Caucus System. Under its opera
ZION the SOr .hcrn Rights party were vested with
the absolute disposal of every Office from Door
keeper up to United States Senator How t.
IL a.. L.