Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-07-30

therefore, to lay before the country this morn
ing the evidence that the South has already
made arrangements to secede peaceably from
the Union in the event of the election of
Lincoln. who seems morally certain to obtain
a majority of votes in the electoral college.
We commend, then, to the careful attention
of our readers the elaborate manifesto of the
Hon. Lawrence M. Keitt, and the brief, but no
less important, letter of the Hon. William L.
Yancey. which will be found in our impress
sion of to-day. We are aware that both these
gentlemen are ranked as ''fre-eaters'' at the
North, but we know, also, that they represent
the general feeling in the cotton States, and
that the cry of secession, which was raised
four years ago, comes up now with redonbied
vigor. and that some of the most prominent
Union men in 1856 are now foremost in the
ranks of the seceders.
If we examine Mr.. Keitt's argument critic
ally, we shall find that his premises are
plainly stated, and his conclusions worked
out clearly and logically. He employs no
bombastic phrases by way of illustration !;
his style is calm and temperate. and he writes
like man who expresses the deliberate con-
victions of powerful party, rather than one
who gives vent to his own crude and ill-di-
gested fancies. In his letter the position of
the republican party is fairly stated. He ac-
cepts for the party creed Mr.. Summers view;
first, that slavery is barbarous, and the South
necessarily in Il savage state; second, that
the South, being inferior in every way, is to
be held tributary to the North. which section
is hereafter to be the sole fountain of politi-
cal power. What follower OF Lincoln's BAN
ner can deny that these are the issues OF his
party, as presented by Seward, Sumner,
Helper and other leaders and teachers of the
republican masses. Mr.. Keitt proceeds 10
prove that the "impending crisis" is upon US
that the "irrepreSsible conflict" is "a livlng
and terrible reality He asks, pertinently,
what would have become of the government
had the black republicans held the executive
power when the John Brown affair took
place at Harper's Ferry. His sympathizers
would have sided with him as a matter of
course, and the land would have been de-
luged with fraternal blood. The motto OF
the South is Equality in the Union, or indie
pendence out of it." If the party which
John Brown represented succeed in the next
election, loyalty to the Union will be treason
to the South"
Mr.. Keitt calls for union of all parties
in the South for Breckenridge and Lane, but
he has evidently very little hope OF their
election. He is prepared for the inevitable
result. He advises secession, and points the
way towards such consummatlon, and
closes with a description of the rottenness of
our political system. in which, though over
drawn there is too much that is undenlably
true.
The letter of Mr.. Yancey advances the
same conclusions as that of MIR. keitt: and
since the 10 of June the :" League of United
Southerners" has not been idle. Already
the cotton States are prepai ed for revolution.
The piece is loaded. The torch is lighted.
The cannoneer stands by his gun waiting for
the fatal signal.
1t is not alone the evidence OF Messrs.
Keitt and Yancey which we have upon this
subject. The influential Southern presses
declare that the issue is between the North
and the South, as represented 10y Lincoln
and Breckenridge that the South Will be
defeated, and that the State Legislatures
must be prepared for the worst. In the
Gulf States the feeling in favor OF secession
seems quite unanimous, the border states
are undecided, and there is dark cloud
which means mischief hanging over Virginia.
The great landed proprietors OF the SCUM
believe that, in the event of Lincoln's elec-
ton, there would be no adequate security
for their property, and they are, therefore;
preparing to reassnme the powers delegated
to the general government. We cannot re-
sist the conviction that they are terribly In
earnest.
That the South can secede, if united In the
movement, there is no reasonable doubt
The vote of that section will be given 10
Breckenridge and Lane. The Southern Sen
ators and members of the House would go
to Richmond instead of Washington. Con-
gress being opened in regular form, MIR.
Breckenridge would be declared President OF
the United Southern republic, and the gov
eminent may be organized in week after
the result of the November election is made
known. There is really nothing to prevent
such action on the part of To South, and
there is every reason TO dread that it may
take place.
In view of this state of things, we deem it
to be our duty to warn parties interested of
the danger which threatens them. So far as
we can see, the Breckenridge movement at
the North will avail nothing. Lincoln will
be the Northern President, and Breckenridge
the Southern. The confusion into which our
commercial and monetary affairs will be
thrown cannot be described. Trade will re-
ceIve blow compared to which the storm of
1857 was mere furry; stocks will go down
to within a fraction OF nothing; all kinds of
property will depreciate in value, and the
fortunes accumulated by years of toll will
be swept away in moment.
We ad wise our readers to prepare for the
coming crisis. Between this time aud Novem-
Der something may be saved from the wreck.
Merchants who have dealings with Southern
traders will do well to close us such affairs as
soon as possible Holders of Southern State
railway or city stocks, or securities of the
general government, should realize upon
them at once. Bankers at home and abroad
should prepare themselves for the inevitable
panic in financial affairs. The crisis is i'm
minent. The dissolution of the Union is
fact already determined upon. Let US be
prepared to meet the doom which the trading
politicians and crazy fanatics of the day have
precipitated upon the republic.