Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-11-08
ALABAMA CoRREspoNDENCE.

MONTGOMERY, Ala, Nov. 3rd, 1861.
Me,srs. Editors:-He who nova days writes
concerning anything save matters political, may
expect to find few interested readers and he
who attempts to write on politics, will find him =
self engaged in the very pleasant and profitable
business of sailing without chart or compass,
upon n stormy and uncertain sea-. To South
Carolinians, who are almost entirely free from
the strife, turmoil and ill-feeliug, consequent
upon the existence of several-and in some re-
spects widely differing-political parties, the
foregoing remark may seem unfounded. But its
justice will be readily acknowledged by every
candid witness of the events, which have trans
pired in this city-the very heart of the South
during the last few days.
As you are aware, Stephen A. Douglas-the
'Squatter Chief'-had made an appointment
some weeks ago, to address the people of Ala
bama, at this place, on the End November. On
the night of the lst, he made his entree into the
city. Met at the Depot, and welcomed by his
friends and adherents Of Montgomery, and other
portions of the State-who, to do the State JUS
tice, were not very numerous-he Was escorted
to his quarters at the Exchange Hotel" On
The arrival of the procession at the Hotel, and
just as Mr.. Douglas and party were alighting
from the carriage in which they had been con-
vcyed from the depot, a shower of eggs fell upon
them. Whence they came has not been ascer-
tanned. The act certainly reflects no credit upon
the parties concerned. If Douglas was allowed
to visit the city at all, he should have been
treated with civility while here. Such seems to
be the general sentiment, and the perpetrators
of the act, are condemned by public opinion.
Douglas addressed the people from the portico
Of the State House, yesterday. He spoke nearly
three hours, the audience-which was very large
standing all the while. OF the address 1 have
very little to say. 1t was simply a rs-hah Of
the Harper's Magazine article on Popular Sow.
ereignty," and of the Norfolk speech on "Dis-
union, accompanied with ~vrathful denunciations
of the administration" and the Breckenridge
party, and interspersed with glowing panegyrios
upon Stephen 4. Douglas. In the discussion OF
the "squatter" question, he failed to meet the
points at issue "squarely and fairly" His
whole argument may be summed up in the two
words, evasion and peruersion. One page of Cal.
houn's speech in the Senate, on the "Oregon
Bill" in 1913, would upset his whole fabric
He accused the Administration and the Brock.
inridge Democrats of cooperating with the Re,
publicans, against himself-said that they had
not the most remote idea of electing their candi
date, but simply wished to defeat him. In case
Lincoln should be elected, he cav no cause for
%disunion, plainly implying what he said at Nor
folk, that be would uphold the administration
(Lincoln's) in coercing the South if she should
withdraw from the Union. And this sentiment
was applauded by some! I had hoped, Messrs.
Editors, never to hear such sentiments uttered,
much less applauded on Southern soil. The
right of peacesble secession is the dearest right,
and only safeguard Of the Southern States, and
when they yield that, they yield their all. The
question is more vital than that of slavery itself
for neither the institution of slavery, nor any
other of our institutions, are secure without this
safeguard for their preservation. Deny our right
to hold slaves-deny our right to eDjoythe bene.