The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-11-17
COMMUNICATED
"Let us take COun sci tOgether.o

| ht rft"$ tthttrt VI fCOt
having passed away, we find in its result,
the election of Lincoln, the Black Republi-
can, our worst fears realized, and unforin n
nately, the excitement and agitation usual
ly connected with such occasions, instead
of subsiding with the close of the contest,
has rather increased. That event upon
which our patriotic fathers looked with so
much dread, and whose solemn voice is
still heard throughout the land, warning
their countrymen of the danger of section
al parties, has come upon us in all its
threatening realities, causing every lover
of his country to tremble with apprehen-
sion of coming danger. May Heaven dis
siPa'e the gathering clouds and calm the
troubled waters !"
For the first lime in the history Of our
country a man has been chosen to preside
over her affairs, exclusively by the people
of one section, and upon issues congenial
only with that one section. The wild buz-
zahs which will bear him to the chair Of
State, viii fud no response from the
Southern heart; but with feelings az
grieved, with vital and dear interests at
stake, we of the South will stand aloot and
look forward with anxiety for the issue of
coming events.
1t becomes therefore question Of no
little moment what position the South
shall take, and it undoubtedly demands
the most practical wisdom, the calracst de-
liberation, as well as the exercise If sound
Judgment. If, under the impulse of prs
sion, We torgcs that the Northern people
are our brethren, descendants of onc com
mon ancestry, who have iaborcd with us
IN building up this great country
who have fought with us apor the
same battlefield in defence 0fhe. hon
or; and resort to menace tr rio-
lence, we weaken the moral force 90 our
position, and obscure its truth and justice.
II on the contrary, we employ wise and
prudent counscls, and are found on the
side Of law and order, our cause e stfcnth-
ened, and sympathiz;ng world will test
the righteousness of our aims
Lei tie people of the South, then, cor
daily unite upon the single National plat
form OF STATE equality and State sovereign
IS. The three candidates among whom
our votes were divided in the late contest,
have each been defeated; we have there
fore a common bond Of sympathy, and can
the more readily mite upon one platform.
Thus united; then, as a leading Southern
Journal truly remarks, "evcI if the ami
slavery fana,icism obtains the control Of
the whole Federal Government, il would
be powerlcss for injury against the united,
organized resistance of the Sou,herY
States. Each Of these States is Govern
mcnt, and in tie regular exercise Of las
Constitutional powers can glard itsell
cficc;ually against sggression, will almost
inevitably, prevent aggression on the part
of til" Federal authorizes"
Entertaining these views; believing
that in the Union the welfare Of tlr Sou.h
alike with every section of our country i
more secure; tinat The Constitution guar
antccs 10 us all our rights that the laws
project US i'll those rights.
The Executive Committee of the Con-
stitdtional Union party of Rapides, having
discharged the duties, delegated to them bv
their fellow citizens in the late canvass, to
the best e eirabili'y. and further ucccss-
ity for their laLours being at an end, re-
sign To their constituents the power con-
ferred. But in 50 doing, desire to give
some expression to their deep feeling for
the welfare of the South and the salvation
Of the union Of the States, and accordingly
send ont an earnest and cordial appeal To-
the people of Rapides, irrespective Of par
ty, 20 assemble at no distant day. in The
town of Alexandria, 10 take into Consider
alton the state of the country; to delibcr-
ate and confer upon measures hest adapted
20 the times.
Come one and all, in the true .pirit of
patriotism, determined TO cmplo,- every
one of those means so wisely provided by
the Constitution for urprescrvation-yea,
to suffer the last ray of hope to be cxtin-
guished, before rcsortingto the brutal force
Of arms.
Come and express your confidence in
the stability Of our glorious Union, and
take such other action as may best secure
a union of all parties in the South, in de-
from the North, in finn but con
~ lrtor,- Sn;rit an honest ;u+nrnrota DIN nf