Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-11-23
a PROGRESS OF TREASON. r-
Correspondent of the n. Y. Herald.
Richmond, Va, Nov. s, 1860.


Correspondent of the n Y. Herald.1
-s Richmond, Va, Nov s, 1860.
Revolution is upon us; it is useless to
deny it. South Carolina, as you will have
ascertained before this reaches you, has ia
ken the initiative, and she vii be sustain
ed by most, and ultimately all, of her SIS
ter Southern States She is now on the
verge of collision with the General Gov
ernment, and she will push matters to that
focus Immediately. Mark the prediction
Three of the principal federal officers IN
the State have already resigned. Their |
place must be filed. From where? Not
from South Carolina, for no man there
would dare to accept any OF these offices |
if SO disposed Will they be filed from
out the limits of the State? They proba-
bly, may, but their functions must be dis
charged under the protection of federal
bayonets. This will make collision Of
the State and Federal authorities imminent
nay, inevitable. BY the shedding of
the frs drop of blood the grand purpose
of the sunionists will have been accom-
plished. | state to you fact within my
own knowledge when | say that the disun-
ion party in the South have never enter
tanned hope of peaceful separation 5
nor do they now They have always ad-
mitted, and do now admit, that if the ques-
ton of Union or dsunion were put to
vote of the people in any Southern State
save South Carolina, the latter would be
defeated by three to one. With this con-
viction they could not be supposed foolish
enough to resort to such procedure -
Their policy was first to await a proper
pretext or more correctly strong incen-
tive to disunion, and then having obtained
| it, to push matters forthwith to an extrem-
[ ity This incentive is furnished in the
election of Lincoln. The public mind Of
| the SoutE is now aroused to thevery verge
of revolution, and it needs but a spark
the shedding of one drop of blood-to
precipitate the country into civil war And
this drop of blood will be shed. The dis
unionists will not let this splendid opportu-
nifty pass without profting by it. Matters
are just now at the very focus to which
they have long been trying to bring them,
and they will make a dash before time can
be given for negotiation. ''Precipitate the
revolution delays are dangerous" This
is their motto, and, mark my words, they
will adhere to it.
/ I had conversation to-day, with gen.
tle,nan, native of Virginia, and undoubt-
edly the best posted man in regard to the
political history of the country, of probab-
| ly, any in it. He is eminently conserva-
tive, and has been for nearly thirty years
prominent member of the press. Some
four years of that period were spent in Al
ALBANIA as chief editor of one of the lead
| ing papers of that State, and during that
time he took an active part in the politics
of the State. He said, in a voice. and
in an expression which betokened the
strength of tie conviction, 81 am satisfied
that for the balance Of my life | am des-
tined to witness nothing here but such
scenes of anarchy, bloodshed and rapine,
as have afflicted Mexico for years past
| We might add, the scenes will be more ag-
gravated here in proportion to our greater
| population, our greater facilities for civil
war and the stronge motives for rapine
which are found in our immense wealth.
The smile furnished by my friend, howey-
er, is forcible, though an alarming one
Relative local circumstances, Which may
aggravate or diminish the fury of the con-
hict, cannot affect the truth and faithful
ness of the smile Many. have no doubt
on reading this will be struck by it's force,
if they do not shudder at the very thought
of Sc terrible consummation.
But what is most awful in the contemp-
lation of this dreadful prospect is, that the
impending evil is now beyond remedy
1.-The die is cast Lincoln is elected No
time is left for negotiations. South Caro-
lima, as I have said, Will preciptate the
revolution. While the spirit of resistance
awakened by Lncoln's election is W, she
will strike the blow, she will force the col
lision with the general government, and
thus convulse the South. Oh! it is a glad
and welcome opportunity for the Palmetto
State Will the South permit her now to
be trampled upon-now when she is bold
ly taking the initiative in cause in which
that whole section is equally interested
with herself? Such presumption would
be silly. just as sure as one drop Of blood
is shed in an effort to coerce South Carroll
ma, so sure will the whole South be in arms
to sustain her. And it will be she'd for
either the general government must peace
ably surrender its jurisdiction over its de-
partments within that State, which is hard
ly possible, or contend with soyereignty.