Daily national Democrat., 1860-10-12
The Question of DisuniOn-Letter from
Hon. j. l.. Seward, of Georgia.

Hon. James i. Seward, of Georgia, wa
sometime since styled an infamous calumnia
! tor, by Hon. VIM. L. Yancey. Mr. Sewarl
wrote a letter, dated at Thomasville, Ga.
Aug. 23d, in reply to this assault, in which
he declares that he is ignorant Of having sale
anything in his speeches a t which Mr.. Yancey
could take oifeuse. He adds;
al did, at Petersburgh, attempt to estab.
lish that the course pursued by DIr. Vancey
and the seceders from the National Demo-
cratic Convention, and the consequent divi-
! sion of the Democratic party, was favorable
to the election Of Lincoln, and that intelli
gent gentlemen could not fail to see the
effect Of their action, and that, unless such an
object were desirable, division of the Demo.
cratic party for the cause assigned was Who'll
ly ineXcusable And this | repeat now.
further said in the same connection, that my
impression was that the South had deter
mined, in the event of the election Of Lincoln
to dissolve the Union; that regarded the
conduct Of Mr.. Yancey and his followers as
leading to this result; and that, Judging from
their mode of action, they must desire a dis
memberment of this Confederacy. These are
my opinions now.
This division Of the Democratic party
may cause the election of Lincoln. And what
then? fla dissolution of the Union should
follow, will not the responsibility be upon
the seceders, who have brought about a
schiam Of the Democratic party upon new
and useless issue.
Suppose neither Of the candidates get a
majority in the electoral college, has not Mr..
Yanccy insisted that Southern Representa-
tiyes would be justified in seeding to defeat
an election, before the House of Representa-
tives, Of an Objectionable man to the Presi.
dency? The first section Of the second art-
Gle Of the Constitution of the United States
says: But, in choosing the President by the
House of Representatives, the vote shall be
taken by States, and the majority of all the
States shall be necessary to choice The
secession Of twelve States will prevent an
election by the House of Representatives.
"The present Representatives in Congress,
most of whom are socedcrs, must make the
election, (if at all) provided no election is
made by the people and should the South
ern States seccde and prevent an election, the
Union could not stand the shock Does not
the past conduct of the seceders foreshadow
what their future policy will be? For these
reasons and upon these premises | have ar
gued that there was in my opinion, pur
pose to destroy this Government.
81 have argued that intelligent men under
stood the effect Of their movement. (con-
certed and agreed upon and that they Ger
tanly intend to accomplish the object which
would legimately result from their conduct.
"The prominent position which Mr. Yam
cey took in the secession from the Democratic
Convention, the disuniOG sentiments attribu-
ted to him, and which are apparent from his
public declarations, has subjected his acts
justly TO criticism; and | cannot admit that
his public careeris exempt from scrutiny, or
his opinions from proper review and just
commentary.
81 shall exercise the full freedom Of speech
in regard to public men and measures in this
canvass, and shall draw my own differences
from their acts as TO the effect which they
will produce upon the country, avoiding per
sonal oilense to any one.
81 am native of the South, born on the
soil Of Georgia, largely interested in slave
property, and shall judge for myself what is
due to Southern honor and Southern rights,
and express my opinions freely and fully.
81 have carefully endeavored to avoid per
sonalities, yet | shall not be deferred from re
viewing the public opinions and acts Of others
by the dirty language Of foul mouthed con
sprator against the government whose
heart, throat and tongue are tainted with a
libelous and slOnderous intent against every
man who may differ with him in opinion |
mean VIM. l.. Yancey, of Alabama.
81 occupy a defensive position and intend
to maintain my opinions, let what will come
| desire peace with all men, and hope l shall
always regard the feeling of others: but
when assailed thus, without knowing why OF
for what, l shall defend myself, if necessary,
to the last extremity. Very respectfully,
JAMES L. SEWARD"