The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-10-19
LETTER r
FROM
HON. AMOS KENDALL,
HON. JAMES 7. ORR,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 1860.
Hon. JAuEs L. ORR-.Ng Dear Sir Y5ur
altsr Of She 18th nit, reached Washington
while | was absent in the North.
Though l did not contemplate when wrote
70 you on the 9ih ult, anything beyond limit
ed private correspondence, yet, having no opn-
.on on the porteEous condition OF public affairs
which I have a motive to conceal, Of am asha-
med to ayow, cheerfully comply with your
suggestions.
You quote from my former letter the decla-
ration that "my G,lnd is equally clear that the
South has long had a peaceful remedy within
her reach, and has it stIl, though impaired by
ile recent condGct Of some OF her sons, and
you ask of me full explanation OF my opinions
n that point as well as ''ths remedy to be re-
orted I'd by US ghe South should the Govern
aent in November, pass into the hands OF
2arty whose declared purpose IS 10 destroy our
property, amounting IN value, at the present
line, TO not less thaG three billions, one hun
drsd and ily millions OF dollars" fou ask,
''Can it be prudent, safe or manly in the South
70 submit 20 the domination OF party whose
declared purpose Is TO destroy such an amount
Of property and subvert our whole social and
industrial policy :"
To a subsequent part OF your letter YOU cali
nv attention to certain grievances endured by
The South, aud conclude your commentary
on them as illl3ws, VIZ
',Is it wise, # we do not intend TO submit to
such consequences, TO allow Black Republi-
cad President to be inaugurated, and put him
10 possession of the Army, the Navy, the Trea-
sury, the armorIes and arsenals, the public
fact xF1 piI ms NJ he
Government with its appendants and appnrte-
naLces! If the South should think upon
this subject as do, no Black Republican Pres
id+nt should ever execute any law within her
borders unless at-the poiu: of the bayonet and
over the dead bodies Of her slain sons"
| shudder al such sentiments coming from
one whose sincerity cannot doubt. The tire
was when 10000 mn rendered their services
TO the President 10 aid him It necessary in ex-
ecuting the laws OF the United States the
time will be when 200, 900 men wall be voIun-
tesrs FOR like purpose, should resistance De mad
70 his legitimate authority, no matter by what
party he may BE- elected.
There seems TO me 10 be in the course recon-
mended to the South, in the event of MIR, LIN
coins election to the Presidency, iatuity little
short Of madness Would you pull down the
canopy ol heaven because wrong aud crime eX-
ist beneath it Would YOU break up the earth
On which we tread, because earthquakes some
times heave il and pestIlence walks on lis sur
face This Union, sir, - 10 precious 70 the
people il protects, North aud South, East and
West, TO be broken up, even should a Black
Republican BE- elected President next Novem-
Der. Seoud the attempt be made, united
North and tbree-iOurtbs OF divided South
would spring to the rescue. No, no, the rem
edy for the evils of which YOU Justly complain
IS to be found within the Union, and not a
mong its bloody ruins.
| admit that the grievances which you emu
merate are hard to be borne but few Southern
men are not without responsibility for their eX-
lsence. The general sentiment of the coun-
'ry, North and South, at the close OF the Rev
oiutionafy var was Anti-Slavery. 1t has
changed in the South, but remains unchanged
in the North There, however, II has been
reused to unwonted activity, by the pTeachlngs
OF fanatics and the denuncatioDs OF political
temagogues, aided not a lIttle by the arts, the
language and the violence OF Southern diSu-
n,JnISts.
Il is needless to give in detail all the causes
which have brought the politics oil the country
90 their present deplorable condition. Suthct
10 say that you have long had in the South a
small party of able men whose ann has been 10
destroy the Union that, as preliminary tc
their main design, they nave sought 10 break or
the Democratic PARTY; that their means for
accomplishing this end were 10 act with II, and
force upon it every possible issue obnoxious to
the general sentiment of the North that they
have dragged after them the true Union men
OF the South, partly through their fears OF being
considered laggard in their devotion to the
Southern interests, and partly through ambition
for political distinction TO make the Democrat.
ic party as odious as possible at the North, they
became the advocates Of slavery on principle,
justified the African-Slave-trade, and denounced
the laws prohibiting it. By these acts anC
frequent threats of disunon they enabled the en-.
emies of the Democracy in the North to de.
nounce them as Pro-Slavery men, and to all
this they added occasional taunts that they were
no more to be relied upon for the protection O
Southern rights than their opponents. BY these
means the Democratic Party was reduced be-