Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-08
LETTER FROM HON. JOHN BELA
2tnIOMsayrnE. Dec 9th, 1860

2tn y 0NAsHyILEs Dec 9th, 1860
DEAR SIR:-Could l have fatteFed myself
- that any argument could address to the
Mass Meeting appointed for the 18th ult., at
Vicksburg, would contribute in any import
ant degree to aid you and your compatriots
in staying the progress of the sentiment
which threatens to precipitate your State in
to a political vortex, which in my judgment
.would be no less fatal to her own interests
than ruinous to those of her neighbOrs, l
would, at any personal sacrifice, have Obeyed
the summons of my friends; but feeling no
b such confidence in my ability TO serve them
- as you ascribe to me in your letter, have
Welded 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 Mis-
90 sissippi in the present critical juncture
they may be stated on paper, and suppose
would be as effective for the purpose intend
ed, as they would be if communicated in a
speech.
The question of chief importance to be
considered and answered. is, whether the
election of Mr. Lincoln TO the Presidency,
considered in all its signifcancy and bear
ings, together with all precedent and exist
ing grievances, would justify Mississippi, or
any other State or States, in Withdrawing
from the Union? In form, the election was
in strict accordance with the regulations pre-
scribed by the Constitution and laws. The
objection to it is that it was effected by a
purely sectional party, organized upon the
principle of hostility to slavery, and having
for its prime object the-repression of slavery,
as a permanent administrative policy, with
view to its ultimate extinction. 1t cannot
be doubted that an administration of the
Government, based upon this policy, could
operate far more effectually in bringing about
- the extinction of slavery in the South
through official influence and patronage, than
by any more direct mode of attack.
But it is clear that the Federal Govern
ment as established for no such purpose or
object: for, however strongly many of the
trainers of the Constitution were opposed to
slavery, it is notorious that it was owing to
their forbearance to insist upon their Obec-
tions to the clause in the instrument provid-
ing for the rendition of fugitive slaves to
their owners, that We have any Federal
a, Union 1t was upon this question that the
Convention was, at one time, upon the point
of breaking up in confusion. The policy of
- making the Government an instrumentality
Z for the repression or extinction of slavery,
as is now attempted by the party which is
soon to be in power, was never contemplated
by the trainers OF the Constitution.
Ihaye often expressed the opinion that the
success of purely sectional party. organic
ed upon any principle, sentiment or policy,
in strong antagonism to the interests and
sentiments of the opposing and defeated sec
ton, would deeply imperil the Union; nor
did believe, until the result of the October
elections became known, that a majority of
the Northern people would ever so far disre-
gard the counsels and warnings of Washing
ton as to elect the candidate of such party
to the Presidency. The election of Mr.. Lin
coin, by a sectional party, organ
lied and sustained upon the distinctive prin-
ciple Of opposition to slavery, as it exists in
the Southern States, and av owing the policy
of its repression, and final extinction, (by
prohibiting It's extension into the TerritOries,)
was a bold experiment upon the temper and
forbearance of the South, and upon the
strength of their loyalty to the Union. This
experiment, if not conceived in spirit of
disunion, was made with reckless disregard
of consequences. No greater strain upon the
e. ligaments which bind the two great sections
of the country together could be devised,
than the attempt to establish or inaugurate
"a permanent Government policy upon such
principles. The late Harrison Gray Otis, of
Boston. one of the most distinguished and
able of New England statesmen, when called
upon, in 1885, to give the weight of his name
and influence in checking the further pro-
gress of rabid abolition spirit, then begin
ming to diffase itself over Massachusetts and
other States of the East and the North, in
speech delivered in Faneuil Hall, did not
hesitate to express the opinion that the plans
and designs of the Abolition Societies, or, as
they were then called, AntiSlavery a ssoci-
ations, contemplated such an interference
with the domestic policy ard institutions of
the South as would be violation both of the
spirit and letter of the Constitution, and
were in fact revolutionary in their character
and tendency.
am not able TO discriminate between the
character, spirit and tendency of the anti
slavery principle and the slavery
u repression policy Of the Republican
party, considered in connection With the tor
rent of infammatory publications and inrec-
tiyes against the domestic institutions and
social relations of the South which is daily
poured forth by Republican journals and or
ators, and The character, tendency and de-
signs Of the Abolition Societies, and the in
cen6iary publications which find their way
to the public under their auspices. The only
essential difference i can perceive between
the spirit and tendency OF the doctrines and
- avowed policy Of the Republican party and
3 those of the doctrines and ayowed policy Of
the Abolition Societies, is in the extent and
degree of the mischiefs which may be iafiet-
I. z Z ed apaa the South BY one or the other, and
the deliberate intention to infiict them by
the Abolition Societies, which il would be
Unfair and unjust to impute to the whole