The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-12-14
Secretary Tloyd's Letter.

request OF Nathan Tyler. Secretary Floyd
has written alctterto the Enquirer, Civ
ing his views Mt length on the present
state Of affairs in the Union. The En-
quirer has tht following in regard to the
letter.
Mr. FloydS letter derives additional
interest fromthe fact that lie is n men,
Der of the Cabinet from whose head has
just emanatcG the most remarkable and
mischievous niessage ever sent by Presi-
dent to Congress. Speaking of slavery
agitation he sayss This agitation which
has been so bong and wantonly persisted
in by Northern men, has produced the
sectional Alienation which is about to
find its natural result in the destruction
OF ConledeIacy that was voluntary in
its origin, and can only he pcrpetuated
10y the voluntary assent Of its members.
Again, spanking of the rights of States
to secede, he says: The States of the
South hays a right to secede, not only
from the lvery nature of the Federal
compact, but by an express reservation
on the part ofsomc of them at the time
of entering inlo the Confederacy.
OF the present danger he says: The
great danger II the present crisis exists
in the fact thu in our country all politi-
cal action is bY a popular movement and
| all popular md cments, during the period
of angry excl nent, are from the nature
of things, ul and extreme: the dill
Guilty of acc Riodating the differences
of the two ions while the present
animosities Due, is therefore almost
insurmoSAu -S.gie election of Mr..
Lincoln "a result of the ultra and
violent popuyr feeling of the North
against the South. On disunion, he says:
81 am not for secession as long rs any
honorable effort can be made to preserve
the Union on constitutional basis,
guaranteeing equality, justice and pro-
lection to the negro property OF the
South, In regard to both sections, he
says: - believe, however, that the great
material interests OF the country de-
mand reconciliation OF the sections
and the preservation OF the Union, and !
rely upon the slow but certain, the ST.
lent but potential influences OF TINS great
agency to bring about the settlement OF
our present trouoieS. Inc man struggle
OF all should ne 10 prevent coiiisioi oe-
tween the sections ana most especially
inc sheadihGoi the lrst oiood.
~ " 'S W.
caiamites, the great practical business IN
terests of the country, may perchance,
sooner or later; oring about recons.ruc.
ton oil the Union and restoration OF
harmony between the sections. Alter
this shall be done, who can doubt that a
returning sense OF confidence Will be telt
by the injured and eXasperated South,
and that peace and Union will be re-
stored. Mr.. Floyd says that twenty-five
years more OF Union and harmony will
concentrate the commercial power OF the
world in the harbor OF New Iork-then
the decline oil England becomes as Ger,
tain as was that of Alexandria and
Venice, AMI for the Same cause. Instead
of the first she becomes third rate pow
ell, but let lisunion take place, let civil
war and discord distract this country,
and England well knows that the ships
of the North must rot at their wharves,
and the busy hum OF the manufactures
must cease forever, then would England
feel again that she was mistress OF the
seas without rival, secure in com
merce which no power could never shake