The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-08-01
Letter from Charles O'Connor.
NE~ IoaE, july II, 1860


Gentlemen :-Cordi.iIy approving the
uomiuat!on Of John c Breckenridge for
Presiden, and J"seph Lsue for Vice.
Presideu, OF The United S,s,e>, regret
Ihs, II will no, be in thy power 10 al
dreAs The ratIScsIioD meeumg appointed
TO lie held tomorrow evening a. The
Cooper Institute.
However deeply i, is to bs deplored
that nva! Platforms and r.vai candidates
are presented 10 the Democratic party,
threatening TO divide its strength and DE.
h'er /, over as an easy prey into the
hands Of Its opponents /; yet, such being
unhappy the fact, the duty Of making =
choice cannot be avoided.
The difference between these Platforms,
ike every political question nf The tunes,
derives al lis significance from The sub
j-ct OF negro slavery. Its relations to the
Territories aud the mode OF governing
them is merely incidental IL j. merely
the form in which this prrpetuaily recur,
ring subject is here developed as an eIe
meat Of s'rl'e. The controversy. in all its
practical bearings, IS merely this: How
Is negro slavery 10 be dealt with
10 lis moral, political, legal, and econ
onica! aspects, my view on that general
subject hays been so distinctly and so Of
ten expressed. that my position in refer
ence to the rival Platforms now before US
could not bs doubtful.
The mos, fertile regions OF the globe
cannot be so cultivated A. fully 10 dayel
/ Op their natural resources for the benefit
Of mankinG eTc-p, by negro labor. Ne.
! gro labor cannot be there employed eI-
I eerI through The judIcious compulsory Of
superior race and in no way can so
greA. a measure Of physical enjoyment
aud moral inpro, ement be impaired TO
the negro As 10y his compulsatory seivi.
iu5e 10 these very regions.
From these undenisble facts, written
/ va the great book Of nature. proven by
experience, and not without sanction fom
revelation, my reason draws The inference
that Oegro slavery is not repugnant to
jasIice-is not Improbable TO the white
mans not oppressive to the negro, and
is not ineSpedIent As matter Of social
policy.
lie. US apply lhess views TO our own
| couDuy. Since the foundation Of this
Republic negro slavery ha. ever beer
main pillar Of our strength, an indispen.
sable element Of our growth and prosperi.
". 1t is now an integral part Of our be-
ing ass nation to expel IL by fraud or
tear it out by violence would be q nation.
al suicide"
IL follows thai sto sipdicste its essen.
Iisl justics add morality. in AlL courts an6
places, before men and nations, 10 the
duty ofevery American citizen"
moral var has hssn made upon this
institution BY iafidsls, and quasi relg-
ious crusade has been preached sxains, !,
by another class Hitherto. at least ia
the North, no one has defended it. and lis
Southern advocates have not been heard.
The natural Iesulis have eosued juJg-
meDt has passed against it by default, snd
the idea a. at !, conflicts with natural jos.
tice and ~ith Divine las bss taken poss.
Sssion Of the Northern miud.
This State Of things afforded mos,
promising quarry ior the industry Of fpoiiti.
cal party makers, and they hsye avsiIed
themselves oft They thus argued -
with tie national conscience on our
sids-~iih God and nature both on our
side, and against our sntagonis,s, surely
We mos, win." Accordingly, iba bright
idea has been industriously worked into
political organisation, and here s,seds be.
fore us AZ tbs North The Black RepubH.
can party, almost, IL not absolutely, invis-
eible
Why has that party stsength Why
does it sow tbreaten 10 destroy harmony
5etwesn The North and ths South, Iea5iax
to diseo'on AID 70 disasters deed sud irrs-
nedisblsi
IL 10 simply bpc4uss The false sssanp