Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-10-17

( 1850
may be taken either as a compliment to
! those who did or those who didn't speak,
just as the American people please aboutit.
Tur Hon. John slidell-senator from
the State of Louisiana-has written an
address to his constituents on the political
questions of the day 1t is remarkable for
its vigorous style, and for its exceedingly
plain language. If anybody who reads it
is at loss to understand the Senator's
opinions on any of the topics discussed,
the fault is in the reader, mott the writer.
In the beginning he makes the following
extraordinary admission:
"There are many, fear very many, in
New Orleans, whose secret sympathies are
with Lincoln aud Hamlin, and who only
await the moment when they may safely
| disclose ihcm."
But as these men have not proposed any
candidate, he passes to the consideration
! of the three that are before the people of
Louisiana. He discusses the position of
Mr.. Douglas with unsparing severity, and
while admitting his ability, and his former
services to the Democratic organization,
charges him with sacrificing his principles
and his party in the pursuit Of an inordi-
+, nate ambition. He gives to Bell credit
for high character and integrity, but re-
| CARDS his record as altogether unsafe for
the South. He takes up Everett's votes
and letters on the slavery question, and,
of course, found no difficulty in showing
that that distinguished man very lately
supported the same principles that he now
regards as dangerous to the safety of the
Union. He quotes Mr.. Everett's letter on
the anti-slavery resolutions of 1887, and
his endorsement of the main line of argu-
ment in Mr.. Summers speech. Everybody
knows that the record of Everett, Winthrop,
and of other leading Bell men in Massachu-
sets, is full of anti-slavery sentiment far
stronger than any ever uttered BY Lincoln,
quite equal to any by Seward, and only
exceeded by the rawlings of Garrison, or
the more ultra speeches of Caleb Cushing.
Breckenridge, of course, is endorsed as ii
satisfactory candidate, and the statesman
which we are confident is not meant to be
iregic9l, however it may seem to the care
Mr.. Slidell predicts that Douglas will
not receive the electoral vote of a single
State; he is certain that Louisiana will
vote for Breckenridge, and regards Penn
sylvania as the controlling State in the
grand result. He says:
"As it is, the battle must be fought in
Pennsylvania: if we fail there, Lincoln
must be elected by the colleges"
We accept the prediction. He previous
ly says:
"At the threshold of this inquiry it will
be much simplitied by conceding n fact
which no well informed man doubts, that
Lincoln will carry every free State, with
the exception of Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey, California and Oregon"
Mr. Slidell adds:
"With any other Democratic candidate
than Douglas, tremendously nominated,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, In
diana, Illinois and Minnesota would hove
been debatable States, and we should, in
all probability, have carried three or four
of them; even now, if under the dictation
of Douglas all terms of fusion and COM
promise, however fair and liberal were
not obstinotely rejected by those States,
We might indulge reasonable hopes of sue
1t seems to us that with Douglas har-
moniously nominated, some of the States
which he names would have been very
doubtful; but we do not believe that one
of them could be carried by candidate on
the platform upon which Breckenridge and
Lane are nominated
Mr.. slidell pays his respects to the New
York delegation to Charleston in the fol-
lowing complimentary style:
sin speaking of the controlling influence
that New York might have exerted, it
must be borne in mind that the majority
of her delegation had not then developed
those traits of baseness, duplicity, and
mendHcity which have rendered their
names by-word and reproach with all
honest men,"
Altogether, the address, in the way of
sharp and vigorous writing is not behind
the New York Breckenridge address.