Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-08-13
Letter from Hon. w. W. Royce.
SABINE FARM, August 3, 1860.

Gentlemen My high respect for you in.
duces me to hasten reply to your note.
II Lincoln be elected. | think the Southern
States should withdraw from the Union : all,
if not all. then as many as will, and IT no
other. South Carolina alone, in the pr0mptest
manner, and by the most direct means
If the South acquiesces in a Republican
Administration, think the question OF Ne
gro equality Is settled against us, aud EN-
ancipaiion only question of time. | have
regarded this question in the same light for
years and | have considered the success of
tue Republican party i'll the Presidential
election as involving the necessity of revolu-
ton So regarding ii, l have thought the
great paramount object of our policy was to
let this Republican success occur, II IT must
occur. under the most suspicious cIrCum-
stances Tor a disruption, and those auspIcIous
circumstances / thought would consist prin-
cipaIIy in the largest attainable sympathy
North, and the greatest unity South. These
conditions | thought were mostly likely to
be reached by a wise and prudent modera-
ton on the part of the South. And l ac-
cOrding advised and acted in that direction,
aud | am satisfied | never gave wise couhsels
| said TO nv constituents last Summer, that
we must act with the most consummate pru-
dence then, in order to profit by the most des-
perate holiness if it became necesSary-pru-
denc, to give no pTeteXt for the election OF Il
Republican bOldneSS to relieve ourselves from
such election if it must take place. My poll
cy was consistent policy-prudence might
be advantageous bOldaesS, when nothing
else was lett. The time is now approaching
when in nv opinion the only alternative will
be boIdness. II The Republican party tri-
umph in the Presidential election, our
State has no choice but to Immediately with
draw from the Union. Nor Is this so hazard
GUS an undertaking as might be conceived at
first sight.
Suppose we have done this. Then only
two courses remain TO our enemies; first they
must let Us alone; secondly, they must at
tempt TO cOeIce Us. Either alternative VIII
accomplish our purpose.
Suppose they let US alOne-yery good
We will have free trade with Europe, and
get along very well in our happy medIocrIty
far better than as degraded satellite oil
gorgeous system. whose glOTies would be for
others. whose shame for US alone. Wewould
not have to pay any taxes, direct or indirect,
to Northern AbOliiiunsts- that would De
some consolation.
Suppose they undertake 10 coerce US. Then
the Southern States are compelled TO make
common cause with us, and we will wake up
some morning and find the flag OF south
ern ConiedeTacy floating over us mat
would be great deal better than paying
tribute to the John Brown sympathiseTs.
The South stiu has splendid cards in her
hands if she will only play them. me con-
stitutiOn of Northern society Is artihclai III
the extreme. Immense wealth has peen ac-
cumuIated there. A few are richer than the
Kings of the East; the multitude iaoor ior
their daily bread; much of this wealth Is
0reath-the breath of credit. A civil CON
vulsion will bring their paper system Ol
credit tumbling about their ears 1he nIat
gun fired in civil war will cost them ooUV,-
600 900, and strikes will not be confined TO
the shoemakcrs. but will become epidemic.
If Lincoln is elected, let US put them at de-
fiance, and if they incline to try the last ar
gument of Kings against us-Very We'll
When, in sixty days, they have lost 93OO,-
000, 900, and hear the curses of their unenl-
pIOyed mob, demanding bread or blood, per
haps the doctrine of negro equality Will not
be quite so popular, and the beginning OF
powerful reaction may take place-the har-
binger of long years of peace and fraternity.
But if no reaction takes place, and our
Northern tyrants persist in putting us to our
mettle-very well. If nothing will do them
but the sword, be ii so.
Let US show that we can grasp the sword
as well as they can; that we are not degen-
crate descendants of those glorious heros
from whom we draw our lineage. If the
worst comes 10 tne WORST, we Gun Dut iaIiJ
sword in hand, fighting for all that makes
life desirable-justice, equality, and our
country Bu: have no fear as to the result,
if il comes to question of arms. We can
give blows as well as receive them, and we
are as apt to have our winter quarters in the
city of New York, as they their in New Or
leans. -r
But we do not desire war. We wish peace
and fraternity in the Union, if possible; but
one thing there is which we are determined
TO have, in the Union or OFT of it-equality.
WO to those who would rob US of this, for
they will bring great calamities on their
country. themselves, and humanity.
WILLIAM w. BOYCE.
Messrs ID L. PROVENCE, ". S LYLES