Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-10-31


change The character nf the Federal dow
ernmeni, and destroy our rights in respect
TO slavery. Aud all this would be done Ia
crafty The passions aud prejuiices and
nalco of the patty Of which MIR. lineoln
Is the head and representative la this con-
test, aud no, hecallse Of any prelence even
that they have any material OF poliiical
Iighs inyolycd in the question,
salne al the recent evidence of The ulti-
mate purposes Ut the republican party may
be found in the fact that Senator'S aud Hep
resentatiyes in Congress, sixty odd In NUM-
her and republican Governors aud iegls-
laiors Of siaies-leading republican Edi,
tors ani republican preachers-cndorsed
within the last year and sent forth the Hell
per li0nk, with It's demonstrations OF
treason, hlool aud a carnage as u proler
cOmpaign document for that party, AMI
that John Iirnwn aud his followers aiiempi-
e,l To put iis hlo0dy doctrines into full opcr-
aiion In the State " Virginia,
Locking NJ these facts, aud others which
will not now present, am hound To con
clnle that the doctrines OF the republican
party are unconstitutional, unjust, cruel To
both races, revolutionary and destructive Of
the hest Interests II the South as well Ms OF
the Union, and that the election NJ Lincoln
would he success Of revolution which must
destroy onr present constitutional Govern
mcui, anl with Il our rights, equality aud
security as u people. So regarding his ell
cction, | am for resisting II, in case II
should occur, by the best and most effective
means which can he adopicl Log iic state
Ia he injured and Of pplug such cnirsc
ns will secure onr RICH ln lit tnhnu
We can, hut Oui of II " We WNf tNetl
instinct III self preserve, ~ Nnsgls Of a.
In demand and insist oA li.as' icil and
io,obtain II peacably II No onn, ,n', r'u-
son and peaceful means thoaId lail ,leH 70
Is equally our duty To mninum yW right hy
all the means which Too ana imH hafe
placed NJ our command.
The plan OF action which WnulCH ~ M
mend In meet such an emergency H i,t
that IL Lincoln should be selected - o.
that fact shall he ascerta uct. TO- 'v-
errors Of all the slaveho'diHg tU
convene the Legislatures a. ont. ~ he
purpose of enabling them ly law, tn provide
for State conventions. Aud lhl those
State conventions should provide Gor a gen.
cral convention of delegates from all the
States aggricvcd, And that this general
convention should submit to the free States
propositions requiring n renewal Of the or
iginal guarantees of the constitution in ia
yor Of our rights in such specific form as to
settle forever the question as the TO extent
and character of the rights Of the slave
States and Of the owners of slave property.
One of the conditions should be that VIC
would not continue our political connection
with any State which would not repeal all
Of its laws intended to hinder the rccapturc
Of fugitive slaves; another should be to de-
mand m equal participation in the settle
mcnt and occupation Of the common terri
tory, and a safe guarantee for the ndmis-
sion of future slave States into the Union !;
another should be the suspension Of the ag-
itation Of thc question about abolishing
slavery in the District Of Columbia, IN the
Forts, Dock Yards, &C., and another that the
Interstate slave trade should not be inter-
fcrcd with by Congress. If they would
ngre to these, we should remain in the I'm
ion and support and cherish it rs hereto
fore. If they should refuse these guaran-
tees, then my judgement Is, that VIC should
form seperate confederacy of such States
as would unite in the movement
II the southern States would adopt this
course promptly, believe the free States
would renew these guarantees of the con-
stitution to us; and upon such an issue
crush out and annihilate abolitionism, and
that the Union Of the States would be pre-
served. But If l am mistaken in this, then
their refusal to do so would assure us of our
fate il We Should remain in their power,
and warn us of the necessity Of self prescr-
walton.
indicate this rs the plan which meets
my approval, but will, il the emergency
shall ari,e, agree to such other plan, if this
be not the best, rs may be adopted by the
people Of the South, to resist the establish
mcnt of the doctrines of the republican
party. have thought this would be the
best, because it would rest on the viii of the
people, and be supported by the authority
of State sovereignty, acting in support of
their own reserved rights and powers, and
maintaining tho rights of their people
against palpable and dangerous violations
of the constitution.
five fail to adopt some such course, on
the happening of such contingency, and
adopt the timid and foolish policy Of COM
promising away pur rights for the sake of
peace no one can doubt the early and COM
pletc abolition of slavery, and the visitation
upon us of all the calamitics which must
follow such result.
fear the evil day is upon us, md believe
duty and patriotism alike require us to face
the danger and prepare to avert it. &
may be excused for adding, for myself
that am one of those who have chung to
every reasonable hope for the Union.
That have resisted, as am still ready to
do every measures which supposed would
cndangcr it, whether proposed in the North
or the South, without enquiring for the COM
sequences to myself. i chung steadfastly to
the hope that the democratic party would
maintain its nationality and preserve the
tho constitution and the Union. But UNI
bridled ambition, ,prefering self to country
and appealing to the freesoil sentiments of
the Northern wing of the party, has des-
troycd its unity if not its nationality, and
with it, there is but too much reason to fear
prepared the way for the separation of the
States.
You will sec have chosen not to answer
this question categorioally, but have aim
cd to answer it fully and fairly. know
not how far my views may be sustained by
the popular judgement, but the times re-
quirc that this question be answered with
candor and frankness.
Very respectfully,
Rag We commend the following patriotic
sentiments from q distinguished Wing of
Alabama. Hon. nj. L. Woods. as showing