New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-12
THE SECESSION MOVEMENT.
letter from the ESoy. .soi,n EseII.
THE HON. JOHN BELL, on THE CRISIS.

Pointed for tie 10Th ~. at yckeburg would contrib
Ute In Any important degree 10 aid yOu and your com
patriots in staying the progress OF the sentiment which
tlIeaiers TO rTeciriatc your state into political vo-
tex, which III my judgment would be no lees fatal TO
Ter interests than rinOus 10 those OF her nrigh-
lOrp would al any pcrsOnal sacrifice, have obcyed
the summons Of my friends; but feeling such conf
| Genoe IN my ability to serve them as you asc1be to
ne in your letter have yielded to the force of cir
| cunisancos whch claimed my attention at home.
So lar as my views and opinions may have any
weight or influence in determining the course of ony
portion of the people of Mi sissipT in the present c
cal uncure, they may be stated on paper, and sup
pose would be effective for the purpose intended, as
they would he If communicated in speech.
TIE qutsti( Of chief importance 10 be considered
and answered is whether the elel ton of Mr. Lincoln
10 tie Presidency, considered In all It's iicanCy and
hearings, together with al precedent and existing
grievances, would justify Mississippi, any other
state States, in Withdrawing from the Unionl In
form, the election WAS in strict accordance with the
regulations prescribed by the Constitution and laws
The objection to it is that effected by purelv
ecions party, organized upon the principle If HOSTILE
" to slavery ana having for its prime object the re
| preston OF Slavery, as permanent administrative
iohcy witt view TO its ultimate extinction Ii can.
no, be doubted that administration Of the Govern
n, IT. based UroR this policy, could operate far more
eieCtufy In bringing shout the extinction Of Slavery
in the South through official influence and patronage,
| than by any more direct mode of attack.
| But il II clear that the Federal Government
tabished for such purpose object for, however
strongly many Of the trainers Of the Constitution were
OH Osed TO Slavery ii is notorious that was owing TO
their OTbearaECe 70 insist upon their objections to the
clause in the instrument providing for the rendition of
fugitive slaves 10 their owners, chat we have any Fed
erl Union 1t was upon this question that The Con-
vention was, at ore time upon the point OF breaking
| uU in conf lsOn. Tie policy o. making tie Govern
uent an fundamentally for the repression or exnc-
| tion Of Slavery, as is now attempted by the party
viii is to be in power was never contemplated
| by the trainers OF the Constitution.
have often expressed the opinion that the success
cf purely sectional party, organized upon any prnc-
PIE, tentnent policy, In strong antagoEism 10 the
norests and entiu ents Of the opposng and defeated
section, would deeply npeiil the tn0ni nor did be-
eye until the result Of the October cec0ns became
known that d majority Of the Northern people would
ever 70 far disregard the co1nses and warnings of
Washington elect the candidate of such party 20
| the Presidency. Tie election Of Mr.. Linc0ln by
soctionll rarity organized and sustained upon the dis
tinctiye pTEc lie Of opposition to Slavery as II exists
in the Southern Stafep and syOwing the policy Of its
! Repression and final extinction by prohibiting its ex
tenfion into the IerritCrieFl, was bold experiment
| upon the temper and forbearance Of the South
and upon tie strength OF their loyalty to
| the Union. This experiment, IL not con-
| ceived in spirit OF disurion, was made with
| a reckless disregard Of consequences. No greater
! strain upon the igamen,s which bind the two great
tectiout OF the country oge er could be devised than
! the attempt TO establish or nalgurate permanent
| Government policy upon such principles. The late
| Ha1son GRAY Otis Of Boston, of the most dstin
! euisl,d anu al le Of New-England statesmen, when
called upon in 1875, 10 give the weight OF hiS name
and influence in chccl ing the further progress OF a
rabid Abolition spirit, tben beginning TO ddise itself
over Mas,Ih sCtts ard other States Of the East and
Norih, in a speech delivered in Faneu Hail. did not
hesitate to express the opinion that the plans and de-
signs Of eAbolilion soietes, or, ar they were then
eslled, AntSayery associations, contemplated such an
interference with the domestic policy and s.itulions
OF the South would be violation both Of The spiIi
and letter of be Constitution, and were IN fact reY0lu-
! ticnaIy in Their character and tendency.
am not able 10 discriminate between the character
flit, and tendency Of the Anti-Sayery principle and
tie slavery rePreseion policy Of The kepubH?an party
toy ru Stations and nyectivee against the domestic III
stituiions and social relations Of The South which daily
poured forth by Republican journals and orators, and
lie character, tendency, ana designs OF tie Abortion
SO,etice, and the ineenGary publications. which ma
their way the publ, under their auspices Tie only
esertia difference can perceive between the sl1t
and ter deDcy OF the dotTines and avowed pollcy OF
the Relublts party and those Of tEe doctrines and
ayowed policy OF the Abolition Societies Is IN the eK-
/ tent and degree OF tie miscblais which may be
/ inflicted upon TIE South by one or the other,
! and the deliberate Intention to inict Item
/ by tie Abolition Societies, which II would
( be- Unfair and unjust 10 impute to the whole
body Of the Republican party. But both are obncE-
ous tie charge Of pursuing policy winch IS In VI
ation Of the spirit If not Of the letter OF the Cons
luton and revolutionary in lis tendency. Inc pom
OF both tends strongly 10 sir up internal srie III the
Southern States to excite disenslons una insurrecns
amopg the slaves produce alarm aud sense of IN
security both IS 10 life ard property among the white
population Of every Southern State, and hnay TO III
uence the whole South 10 revolt against the Govern
ment. The degree and extent Of the mischief wmch
the Rel ubG,a party may be able to inlet by It's Anti
Shaver policy for reasons which need not state, IT
will be readily acknowledged, Will be ten-Sld greater
than any winch tie Abolition societies have Al M their
| over 10 inlet.
That do no, uniu-tly charge the Republican party
with haN ing aGOpte0 policy which, in Its character
tendency and practical oIeratiOn is IN conflict WIN
tie lit il the letter Of the Constitution can be
! mace IN meet An "A very few words: One OF me I'M
Ioitalt Cbiecs 10 be acOmpshed by the adoption Of
Inc Constitution as declared in the preamble, was 10
insure domestic tranquillity;' and the power was
eXpIessly given the fedcTl Government By thai ~
striu eni, TO "suplIess Instructions. HE Staple
ainouut em,Ht to TIE public thai gieat party al the
North on Decd 20 Slavery, has succeeded IN elcc,ing
In candidate Ter the Preitercy, dsgu 1t as we may
is well c3lcl4led to raise eXpe tIlIons among The
slaves al might lead TO seryie insuneciion In the
sOuem States. Il such an event. which J. more t1ah
ICstitle, thOId really happen, II ml-h become ths
rtty Of hT. Line oln OTcetore the tranquility when
the policy OF biz party hao dtuibed, and 10 suppress
au isuIie cii,I wlici tic same policy bad excited
la stating the exceptions which may be tlrly taken
nv Tie South TO TIE election Of Mr.. Lincoln, have
urposly pIe,ented, A. tie strongest hgh the dangers
10 Wt,h Southern rights ana Interests are cGpOeu,
that II my not be supposed that mad not considered
OF comeI ended The iull extent OF tine Injurious oo'Se
o,eu,ee = leh may result from tie present uouasing
attitude of tie NOrh upon tie Slavery question: before
TONED an opinion upon tie grave question, whether
tie o lion Of D Lincoln IA all Iis tsarinss tobe'her
with al TIE precedent grievances oi winch the oon.h
layc light 10 conn aiD urs any SUFFICIENT cause 10
Justify tie suIeIoer BY tie Southern States O nelr M
tercst in the ii,h ana glorious heritage OF the ChlOn
and TO setk saity and tie undisturbed enjoyment OF
their H. liz III Southern Corfedorcy. VIVA this eA"
piausiiOu | am HOw prepared 10 say, undertaking.!
and uneguiyoelly, tat il does not and the c0nil-
dente feel in tie sOidity OF the grounds upon Wich
ave this aswer, Will he justified by toe following
combinations;
Fact. Mir Lincoln, it is well known does not hold
49, stAl 0 a. TtNn