St. Paul weekly Minnesotian. (St. Paul) 1860-1861, 1860-11-09
Southern Feeling Concerning Linz
coins Election.

Correspondence Of the New York World.
NORFOLK, Va, Oct. II.
Nothing short Of actual experience could
convince me of the change which has como
over the popular mind Of this section since
the election of Lincoln became manifest.
Before the result of the Pennsylvania cleo
ton was ascertained, secession was the all
pervadng doctrine--the only panacea for
the thousand ills which the southern mind
coniured up in connection with Lincoin's
election. As that result comes to be
calmly considered, however, all the ground
less apprehensions at first entertained seem
to vanish, and give place to feeling of re-
Cancellation, growing out Of the conviction
that Lincoln's election, if it should take
place, will be made in conformity with the
constitutional provisions governing such
procedure. Many, very many with whom
| conversed upon the subject, far from an
ticipating the evil consequences to the
outh which are ascribed in advance to
Lincoln's administration, seem rather dis
posed to give Mr.. Lincoln credit for mo-
lives very different from those generally
attributed to the party whose standard
bearer he is. Indeed, have heard ardent
Southern men express the belief that his
administration would be as conservative,
if not more SO, than that of any of his pre-
decessors; and that in his zeal to conciliate
the South he would, in all probability, for.
felt considerable popularity in the North.
The idea is very generally entertained, and
is having a very saI,.tary effect in recon
cling the Southern mind to what was re-
garled not long since, an event fraught
with danger and disaster to Southern in.
terest.
HOW SECESSION IN REGARDED.
From the location of Norfolk and its in
innate commercial relations with the cities
town and country regions of Eastern Vir-
grim, it is presumed that its interests in
Slavery is great, and that its zeal for its
protection and preservation is proporti, n
ably intense. No city in Eastern Virgin
ia is more interested in the institution than
Norfolk. Almost all, If not all, the pro-
ducs which forms the basis Of its COM
merce, is the product of slave labor. 1t
forms the outlet for large portion of the
trade in North Carolina, which is made up
chiefly of cotton, rosin, tar and turpentine;
all the products Of slave labor. In view OF
this state of things, it is to be presumed
that the people Of Norfolk would not be
wanting in sympathy and zeal with and
policy, however extreme, which afforded
the best guarantee for the protection Of an
institution which imparts to the commerce
Of that city its chief vitality. They spurn
the idea Of secession as a remedy for the
evils unjustly associated, as they believe,
with the election of Mr.. Lincoln. They
are for adhering strictly to every constitu.
tional obligation enjoined upon them, lest
by disregarding these obligations, they
may themselves become the victims Of their
own bad examples. There is no idea of a
resort to secession in any contingency now
in prospect. Nothing short ofpositive ag-
gression will ever force the people Of this
section to seek redress in such resort;
and, take it, the experiment will never
be made, as the provocation is never likely
to be given.
PROPOSED MEETING OF THE COLLECTORS OF
CUSTOMS.
understand that it is seriously contcm-
plated by collectors Of customs of the lead
ing Southern ports, TO call meeting of all
the Co lectors in the South with view to
decide what course they viii. pursue in the
event of Lincoln's eection--whether to
surrender the keys of the custom house or
retain them; and whether to give up the
revenue to the Federal Government, or
reserve it for the benefit of the Southern
States. This is revolutionary scheme,
which, am satisfied the state Of public
opinion now by no means justifies. So
serious step will hardly be taken in the
teeth Of the conciatOry sentiment which
now peryadcs the people. it should be
taken at all, it will only be in obedience to
an excited popular demand, which at pres
eat has no signs Of development.
WAT THE SOUTHERN oFrIcE HOLDERS WILL
DO.
Ofal classes in the South, the Office
holders seem most interested in the result
OF the pending Presidential election Most,
if not all of them devOutly pray for Lin
coins success, believing that in his election
they have an undoubted guarantee Of an
other official term Under Lincoln's adj
ministration ii is presumed no Southern
man would be an applicant for office, and
of course no Northern an would have the
temerty to accept office in Southern
State, even if rendered to him. The Odium
which an outsider would incur in the
South by soliciting an office and accepting
it if offered to him, would not attach to the
present incumbent, inasmuch as he is in
possession, and not, technically speaking,
an applicant. In order 10 heighten this
odium, and with view, no doubt, to scare
off all troublesome competitors, many Of
the present incurnbents repudiate the very
iiea of continuing in Office under Iincoln's
administration, when it is well known that
very few Of that class throughout The
whole southern country contemplate re-
signing. have no doubt this policy will
work well for the office holding tribes; for
should any other OF the candidates now in
the field be elected, they would have to en-.
counter the usual quadrennial onslaught
which makes the return of each Presiden--
tial election the terror of that hungry yor--