Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-12-21
L Il T t e r.
FROM THE
H 0 N. JOHN B Ell L
NASHVILLE, Dec. 9th, 1860.


Dear Sir; Could have Aattered myself that
any argument could address TO the Mass Meeting
appointed for the 25th ult, at Vcksburg, would
. contribute in any important degree to aid you and
your compatrots in staying the progress of the SEN
tment whichthrentens to preeipiiate your State in
20 political vortex, which in my judgment would
be no less fatal To- her interests than ruinous to
those of her neighbors | would, at any personal
sacrifice, have obeyed the summons of my friends;
but feeling no such confidence in my ability to
them as you ascribe to me in your letter. have
yielded to the force of circumstances which claimed
my attention at home.
So far as my views and opinions may have any
weight or influence in determining the course of
any portion of the people of Mississippi in the pres
ent critical uncture, they may be stated ON paper,
and suppose would be effective for the purpose
intended us they would be If communicated in a
speech.
The question Of chief Importance to be consider
ed and answered. is whether the election of Mr.. Lin
coin to the Presidency considered in all its signif-
cancy and bearings together with all precedent and
existing grievances, would justify Mississippi or any
other State or States in withdrawing from the I'm
iou In form, the election was in strict accordance
with the regulations prescribed by the Constitution
and laws The objection to it is that it was affect
cd by purely sectional party, organized upon the
principle Of hostility to slavery, as permanent adj
uinistratiye policy, with view TO its ultimate ex-
tnction. 1t cannot be doubted that an administra-
ton Of the Government, based upon this poll y,
could operate far etectually in bringing about
the extinction of slavery in the South through Off
cial influence and patronage, than by any more d-
rect mode of attack.
But it is clear that the Federal Government was
established for NO such purpose object; for how
+ ever strongly many OF the framers OF the Constu-
ton were opposed to slavery it is notorious that it
was owing to their iorbearance to insist upon their
,l,;. in m
for the rendition of fugitive slaves to their owners,
that we have any Federal Union 1t was upon this
question that the Convention was at one time upon
the point of breaking up in confusion. The policy
for making the Government an instrumentality for
the repression or extinction of slavery, as is now
attempted by the party soon TO be in power, was
never contemplated by the trainers of the Constitu-
ton.
| have always expressed the opinion that the sue
cess of purely sectional party organized upon any
principe, sentiment or policy in strong antagonisn
to the interests and sentiments Of the opposing and
defeated section, would deeply mperil the Uuion
nor did | believe, until the result Of the October
elections became known, that a majority Of the
Northern people would ever so far disregard the
cOunses and warnings of Washington as to elect
t. the candidate OF such party to the Presidency
The election of Mr.. Lincoln, by a sectional party
organized and sustained upon the distinctive prn.
ciple of opposition to slavery, rs it exists in the
Southern States, and avowing the policy Of its re
PRESTON and final extinction, by prohibiting its ex
tension into the Territories, was Il bold experiment
upon the temper and furhearancc OF the South, anG
upon the strength Of their loyal y to the Cnon.-
This experiment if not conceived in spirit of dis
union, was made with reckless Disregard Of con
), scque C $. No greater strain upon the ligament
u which h nd the two great sect Oi Of the country
together could be devised than the attempt to es
tab ish or inaugurnte permanent Government up
Inn snph hp n Harrison
of Boston, of the most able and distinguished
of New England statesmen, when called upon il
1888, to give the weight Of his name and influence
c in checking the further progress OF rabid nboli
tion spirit, then beginning to dilluse itself owe
Massachusetts and other States of the Fast and thu
North, in II speech delivered in Faneu Hall, die
not hesitate To express the opinion that the plan
aud designs of the Abolition Societies or, the!
d were then called, Ant-SlNcry Associations, con
) cmplated such mn interference with the domestic
policy and institutions of the South rs would be
violation both of the letter and spirit of the Con
stitution, aud were in fact revolutionary in thei
character and tendency.
am not able to discriminate between the charac
= ter spirit aud tendency of the anti-slatery princi
pie and the slavery repression policy Of the Repnh
lCan party, considered in connection with the tor
rent of nlamatory publications and invective
against the domestic institutions and social relation
) Of the South which is daily poured forth by Reput
lican Journals and orators and the character ten
dency and designs Of Abolition Societies, and tn
II incendary publica ms which find their way to tn
public under their auspices. The only tntia
difference tan perceive between the spirit an
~ tendency of the doctrines and avowcd policy of tn
" Republican party and those OF the doctrines an
lolicy Of the Abolition Societies in the extent an
degree of dhe mischies which may be inflicted NJ
on the South by the one or the other, and the dc
lihcrnte intention to infct them by the AbOlitio
~ Societies, which it would be unfair and unjust
impute TO the whole body Of the Republican part.
Bdt both are obnoxious TO the charge of pursuing
policy which is in violation of the spirit if not
the letter of the Constitution, and revolutionary
its tendency. The policy of both tends strongly
stir up internal strife in the Southern States to e.
cite discussions and instructions among the slave
to produce alarm and a sense of insecurity, both
y to life and property, among the white population
every Southern State and finally TO influence Il
-, whole South to revolt against the Government. I'll
.r degree and extent of the mischief which the r
publican party may be able 10 nhct by its ant
slavery policy for reasons which need not state
will bc readily acknowledged, will he ten-fOld gre
- ter than any which the Abolition Societies have
in their power to nlict,
=. That do not uniustly charge the Republici
party with having adopted II policy which, in
character tendency, and practical operation is
conflict with the spirit if the letter of the Co
.rn stution, be made manifest in very few word
Nuc Ol le Important ogtcls 10 hc HCCoIplehcu
the adoption of the Constitution ms declared in q
preamble was to ENSURE domestic tranquility Al
- the power was expressly given to the Federal Go
crnment $40 suppress Instructions The simI
announcement to the public that great party
- the North, opposed to slavery, has succeeded
clecting its candidate to the Presidency, disguise
as We may is well calculated to raise expectatio
among the slaves, and might lead to seryile nsu
rection in the Southern States If suchan event
which is more than possibe--shoud really happe
- might become the duty OF MIR. Lincoln to resto
the tranquility which the policy of his party h
disturbed and to suppress an insurrcction viii
!. the same policy had excited.
inc In stating the exceptions which may be fairly
"3 ken by the South TO the election of Nc Lincoln
nd have purposey presented, in the strongest lgl
'rn the dangers to which Southern rights and intcre
q are exposed, that il may not he supposed that h
not considered or comprehended the full extent
the injurious consequences which may result frC
ti,. OH it,,,l, ,,Tt Nnrth nm