The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-11-20

paper which it is presumed knows something about
Lincoln's opinions, publishes a dispatch from
Springfield, Illinois, (the home of Mr. Lincoln }
saying that his Cabinet would be composed as fol-
lows: VIM Fl Seward, of n Y, Sec'y of State;
John Sherman, of Ohio, Sec'y of Treasury; F P
Blair of Missouri, Secy of War; HI Winter Davis
of Maryland, Sec'y of Navy; John Hickman of
Penn, Sec'y of Interior; Emerson Etheridge of
Tenn, Postmaster General; s T Logan of Illinois,
Attorney General
Other accounts mention the names of Corwin,
Ewing and Vinton of Ohio, and Graham and Bad
ger Of North Carolina, in connection with Cabinet
appointments, though it is not likely the two last
named gentlemen would accept positions O. the
kind.
SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER-By the proceedings
of public meeting held in Lancaster S. Co.
the 9Th inst, we learn that a man named Robert
r. Thompson had uttered seditious language and
declared himself an aboltionist in the presence of
both negroes and white men. Inasmuch Thomp-
has fed from the District the meeting resolved
that demand should be made for him on the
Governor of any slavehoding State in which he
may be found He is supposed to be lurking
somewhere in North Carolina, probably in the
neghborhood of Beatties Ford on the Catawba
River He is described as being about 80 years
old, sandy hair, blue eyes, feet or inches high,
incorporate, and talkatve when drinking.
Hon. j. G. RRECKINRIDGE.-The Cincinnati
Commercial, of Nov 18th, states that MIR. Brock
nridge has determined to make trip to the cotton
States, and publicly urge his fellow citizens to abide
by the Union.
We copy the above for the purpose of saying that
it is not true. a dispatch from Lexington Ky, says
that Mr. Breckenridge does intend visit the South
for any purpose at present
BE DELIBERATE AND FIRM-We do not think
we can do better, in the present excited condition
of the public mind, than to ask readers to read
the following article from the Charleston Courier.
1t is addressed to the members of the South Caro-
lima Legislature, and written, says the Courier,
by gentleman possessing one Of the clearest and
most cultured minds in South Carolina 'The
counses and suggestions it contains most whole
some and timely" Here it is, read it:
To the Members Of the State Legislature:
There is grave task awaiting you. 1t is your duty
in your coming deliberations that the State re-
ceives deriment Your constituents have left you
free to deliberate. They expect pledges. They rely
upon your ability and honesty You will not be the
less willing that account to receive and consider the
suggestions of those who are like yourselves ocitous
for the public safety.
Let us assume that the Southern States will adopt
some mode of redreSs-some plan by which to vndi-
their rights and protect their property What shall
that plan be?
In the course thus forced upon them by the Northern
States by words and acts, the States aggrercd be
compelled dissolve the ties that unite the coun
try If they to be one people with the North
they may refuse to continue under one government
The South may be obliged the ground which
their fathers trod before them to resort to the same
mode of redress. What that mode? 1t one,
we know of great wisdom. 1t received the applause
of the abest of Europe. The leaders of the
Colonies were resoute but calm and deliberate. They
appreciated fully the difficulty and decacy of the task
imposed upon them. They laid their plans slowly
tously with deep sagaciy Let US trace their course
Passing their preliminary complaints and remon-
strances will take the calling together of the Con-
gress at ?hiadep hia in ia the first systematic pro-
ceedng of the American Colonies in the assertion of
their liberties. They began 5y uniting their councils
No colony seeded alone They formed Congress for
joint eliberation and action The Congress so formed
assembled in Sept. l774. They did not begin by dis
solving the Union; they adopted declaration Of rights
they issued addresses to the people Of the United Colo
MES of Canada and Great Britain; they petit
oned the King; they adopted resolutions to import no
goods Great Britain Ireland and to export none
to those countries they prepared arms they formed or
recOmmcn ded associations; they still delayed; they knew
that in reforming abuses the last step to dissolve the
Government; they firm, but patient Boston was
occupied by the British army. The battle of Bunker's
achieved Still the rCsoluc, moderate patriots of Con-
gress kept open the door of concliation From Sep
ember l774 July l776 they made every effort that
honorable preserve the Union. They still hest
ated abolish it even in the midst of battles, seges
and frequent bloodshed. 1t at the end only of
nearly two years. when every appeal to the justice,
friendship and interest of England had been made in
vain that Congress severed the bonds that united the
Colonies the Mother Country. There bOytsh
petuence indecent haste blind rushing into the mire
Of reroLtiOn ch uague dependence contingent
Jupiter assist them IN getting out of It, The leaders OF
America were statesmen-calm, firm, moderate. They
took and establish new Union before
they dissolved the old They preserve the old
by every fair and proper effort.
We ask You, gentlemen, whether you can devise any
better mode of proceeding in the emergency
your counsels? you cannot then adopt the one pre-
pared your hands You propose to follow the exam
piles of the Revolutions follow them faithfully. DO not
disregard the pregnant teachings of your own history
of the fathers whom you much respect and whose
sagacity and spirit you profess to emulate Listen to
rabid enthusiasm chmercal projects of feverish
mpatence Exhibit the courage Of your ancestors, but
take care preserve also their uisdom and prudence
We forfeit nothing of self-respect by deliberate
proceedings. We owe them only to the teachers
whose lessons have been learning but to the worlds
Judgment and to sympathy of large portion of the
North and West We shall weaken the hands of our
friends by hasy counses and strengthen their enemies
and By contrary course we shall prove the
truth of reservations that desire to preserre the
Union prorded at be Constitutional Union We shall
deprive opponents of every pretext for aSsang u.s.
and render ourselves impregnable to their attacks.
We do not profess to enter into details We point
only to history, to the textbook OF American