Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-10-26
L1NcoLN's sourHERN orE1cEns.

LtNCoLN's SOUTHERN OFFICERS.
The probable election of Lincoln has
educed many projects. declarations and
conJecturcs upon the policy, duty, and
probable decision and action of the South,
should that event occur. The ultra party
declares for immediate disunion; more
timid party proposes only sullen and
negative resistNuce-the refusal to hold
office under him, and the tarring and
te"thering of any who dare accept office
under him a third and more moderate
party declare that the mere election of anv
man, in II constitutional manner, is no
cause . Tor dlsuni0n or 9theE. EesistaRGes7.
us wait for some overt act of aggression,
and stand prepared to resist it. Without
recommending the policy of either the i'm
mediate bOlters or the watch and walters,
propose to show that the plan of the mid
die purty-those who will not hold office,
nor let others hold its utterly pueriIe
and futile. Let us test the working of
their project in Alabama. Say Lincoln is
elccted-iS inaugurnted, and instantly all
federal officers in Alabama resign. None
dare accept, and the Offices remain vacant.
This may seem very spirited and patriotic,
but ask cWi bono, what's the good to re-
suit from it? Let us see. There are four
! kinds of federal ofticeholdcrs in Alabama,
! to wit: postmasters, aud collectors of Gus
| toms. The judges of the Supreme Court
hold Office for life. and therefore do not
! hold Office under any administration
Suppose that there be no mnrshalS or dis
| trict attorneys in the federal courts. Sup
pose even that the courts be shut up, what
good will that accomplish? What would
! Lincoln care if the courts were closed p
How would that interfere with his admin
istration? Next come the land officers.
| Suppose the lNnd Offices were closed, who
wonid be injured or annoyed by it, Lin
coin or our own people? The Government
derives paltry pittance from the sale of
its bit AT acre land, which it can spare
without Inconvenience. If the offices
were closed, our own people who want the
land could not get it. Next the post
masters. Suppose the mails are stopped,
who will be inj ured, Lincoln, or our peo-
pie? The mails are given to us as q boon,
at an expense to the government, and are
au indispensable necessity to us. What
would Lincoln care if we stop the mails
Not fig. And last of all the Custom
House officers. From the receipts of our
Custom House, government derives about
Il million dollars per annum. This is the
only department of the federal govern
ment the obstruction of which would in
jure or annoy the administration. But we
have no means of obstructing the colIec.
tion of customs. Suppose none Of our
people dare accept Custom House offices
then Lincoln will find Northern meu
who will accept them. Suppose they
dare not land upon our sail. then they can
remain on sbipboard, and collect customs
on board Il revenue cutter. And, if neeG
be, Congress can abolish Mobile as a porl
of eutry. What good would that DO the
business and commerce of Mobile?
Think that have demonstrated the fol.
ly and futlity of the project proposed 10y
the party who would by terror, or violence
or public odium, prevent persons from
holding Office under Lincoln. They would
deprive us of the mails, an indispensable
necessity; they would close the Land Office
and the Courts, which would be a MATES
of Indifference to the Administration; ant
the attempt to prevent the collection o
Customs would be a ridiculous failure
Away, then, with such trifing. Let Iii
take more manly course. If LincolI
shonld be elected, convention of thr
people of Alabama is already provided fo
by law. That convention must determin,
whether the election of Mr.. Lincoln just
fies IL withdrawal from the Union. If so
very well. Let us pack up and go. If
however, the people, in Convention, deter
mine that it does not Justify disnnion, thel
let the legitimate operations of the Gov
eanment go on as before Let us try n,
childish whims which will annoy none bu
ourselves. BEN LANE.
THE vicissitudes iu Central American pol
itics are well illustrated by the following
sentiment: -