Gazette and sentinel., 1860-08-11

Saturday, August 4. 1s6o.@
A Noble Letter.

At the nnmense ratlicatlon mass
meeting held il the city of New York,
on the 18th INST, at which Mr.. Dickin-
son deli,cred his great speech, the fol
loving letter from Chas. OConnor, Esq,
,ras read. We commend it, says the
Courier, tc the special attention Of our
.'Bob!Tair friends
New York, July Il, 1860.
Gentlemen 1: Cordially approving the
nomiyation Of John G. Breckenridge for
President of the United States, | regret
tina it will not be in my power to add
dress the ratification meeting appointed
u be held tomorrow evening at the
cooper Institute.
However deeply it is to be deplored
that rival platforms and rival candidates
are presented to the Democratic party,
threatening to divide its strength and
deliver it over into the hands of its OPP
ponents; yet, such being unhappily the
fact, the duty of making a choice cam
not be avoided.
The difference between these plat
forms, like every political question of
the times, derives all its significance
from the subject of negro slavery. Its
relation to the Territories and to the
mode of governing them is merely the
form in which this perpetually recurring
subject is here developed as an element
of strife. The controversy, in all its
practical bearings, is merely this How
is negro slavery to be dealt with?
In its moral, political, legal and econ
omical aspects, my views on that gene
raj subject have. been so distinctly and
so often expressed, hat my position il
reference to the rival platforms now be-
fore US could not be doubtful.
The most fertile regions of the globe
cannot be so cultivated as fully to de-
velop their natural resources for the
benefit of mankind except by negro la
Dor; negro labor cannot be there en-
ployed except through the iudicious
compulsion of a superior race; and, in
no way can so great a measure of phys
lcal enjoyment and moral Improvement
be impaired to the negro as by his com
pulsory scrvitude in those very regions.
From these undeniable facts, written
IN the great book of nature, proved by
experience, and not without sanction
from revelation, my reason draws the
inference that negro slavery is not re-
pugnant to justice--is not Improbable
to the white man-is not oppressive to
. the negro, and is not i~nexpcdient as a
matter of social policy.
Let US apply these views TO our W
country.
"Since the foundation of this Repub-
lie, negro slavery has wei been a main
pillar of our strength, an indispensable
element of our growth and prosperity.
1t is nov an integral part of our being
as a nation: to expel it by fraud or tear
it by violence, would be a national SUI
eide"
ltfollows, hat ito vindicate its essen
tlal justice and morality, in all courts
and places, before men and nations. is
the duty Of every American citizen
moral war has been made upon this
lhs'ie,tion by infidels, and a guasi %religi-
gus crus'de has been preached against
~ y anotll.s class. Hitherto, at least
IN tne N0rth, 10 one has defended it.
ana us southern advocates have not
been heard. The ns.ural results have
ensued Judgment haa nassed aoa;rst
it by'default, and the ide~ that Is con.
ficts with natural justice ssd with Al.
vine law has taken possession of tho
Northern mind.
This state of things afforded a rrns,
promising quarry for the industry of DO,
litical party-makers, and they have
availed themselves of it. They thus
argued !: with the national conscience
on our side--with God and nature both
on our side, and against our antagonists
surely we must win" Accordingly.
this bright idea has been industriousiy
worked into a political organization,
and here stands before us at the North
Black Republican party, almost, if
not absolutely, invinciblc.
Why has that party any strength
Why does it now threaten to destroy
harmony between the North and the
South, leading to disunion and to disas- ,
deep and irremediableY
1t is simply because the false assump-
ion of Ab~olitionists, that negro slavery 5
5 wicked and unjust, has been permit .
ed TO pass unrefuted. 4