New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-31


which the people of ST. Lawrence County cherish with
reverence, havo begged the privilege of laying
before them:
"WAsHNGToS, Dec. II, 1860.
"MY DEAR Sir:
81 am glad to zee you are sound in the faith and
that cloudy weather does not induce you to expect
food 10 drown the earth. The conduct Of the Admin
isIation won see General Cass has lett it since Cobb
ran away Is nexplcable. The President is unques-
tionably under the influence Of the traitors. Bat
neither he nor they be they many or be they few can
destroy this free Government, or divide the Union
They are attempting TO interpose the State
as shield to treason The State cannot
ainTe may FSEs al az re SW and
State Convention may make Constitutions aud pass
ordinances and resolutions in conflict with the United
States Constitution 10 secede or anything else Such
laws, constitutions, ordinances, resolutions paper
acts of secession being unconstitutional are without
any validity, null and void, and thus furnish no de-
tense to the citizen who steals OK, shoots man. or
commits treason against the United States. 30 much
for Constitution and law aud so much fOf the Federal
Government and the State Government, each Of which
is sovereign in its sphere This is the bubble upon
which the nuliers argue that the United States can
net make war upon or coerce State. lie Constltu-
ton and laws OF the United States act directly upon
the persons who commit against them, and Is
the duty Of the Federal Government 10 maintain the
Constitution and execute the laws, and the State can
not nterpOse its authority 10 shield citizen charged
with an OieBse against constitutional law OF the
United States But you do not want disqusitlOn on
law.
~ do not consider ii absolutely certain that even
South Carolina will 40 anything more than TO pass
laws ordinances and resolutions OF secession These
viii not move tie State out Of its geographical on po-
htical position though the South Cirolinans may
swear does II it's citizens do not resist the eXecu-
ton of the Federal laws, levy war, there Is no
breach OF the law and treason. But 1t Is possible
oat the South Caroinians ana others may be 70 naa
az to resist the law attack the United states iors
and commit treason. For them and the whole country
this would be great calamity because yindicalon OF
the law by the whole power oi the country ana the
LEGAL uunishnent Of treason must at once be entered
mon by this Government ami, the evil officers are
nadeduate TO the task the law directs the army ana
the navy, and the militia OF the States TO ne c9lieu
mon. and to aid the enforcement OF the law.
4 b6ue we may not have collifi0n, especially
do / hope not in mercy to the slavehoidihg
Statee. But what Providence sends or permits we
must mee,-and If We cannot save our Couhtiynien
from their own madness must gave our country aa
10 tb,ce excellent form Of government. Though II
tie general opinion here that we shall nave open rcpei
lion and the collision Of force do not yet believe we
shall The imbeciity and faulty OF the present ad'
Ii,lstraon however makes il impossible TO calculate
the future upon any basis Of reason or common oenSe
We must duff TO the 18th OF March ana meet wha'
comes when and IL comes You zee the debates III
the two Houses Of Congress and their proceedings
and get the news Of events as they occur DC,
fore an account Of them IN letter Wouiu
reach You, and you are quite az well prepared
on the distant frontier where you are 10 rec tlt
future before it comes as anybody here who Is not
in the councils of nulfers and thus able to know
what their strength and real designs are. But what
ever comes, have faith that wisdom, PATIENCE IoT
bearance courage and the blessing Of Providence, wiz
carry our country safely through all the trials ID store
for rs, and when we get through them, our national
bouudares will be unchanged and constitutional lib
erty and the union OF the States will be more frly eS
tablished than they were In the beginning ana upon
tIe SANE foundati1ps the good old fathers laid when
thew framed our Government and put its constitutional
machinery in motion under the direction OF george
MeIima;on yours ttuly Preston KISG."