The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-12-07
Reaction in the South.
E.,,. A. NJ. vo.t. IIor.1l 1

We publish this morning q significant
letter from Governor Letcher, of Vir-
ginia, on the subject of the present dis
union excitement in the South, Southern
constitutional rights, Northern State acts
of qualification and the position of Vir-
gina in this crisis. This letter will 90
far to repssurc our conservative men of
the North of the existence of cooper
ative element in the South competent to
prevent any precipitate revolutionary act
of Southern dissolution. Iffurther evil
dence be wanted upon this point, it may
be had in the letter Of the Sovernor of
Kentucky, and in the lataS nion, con-
servative speech of A. Id tephens, of
Georgia, to the people Of hlSStis eis tate which
we laid before our re!ijI.e i Z ,,eeefo,1 =
Each of these three men, we doubt not,
represents, in behalf the Union, the SEN
timcnt of an overwhelming majority of
the people of his State, of all the late
Presidential parties. We expect, too,
that these opening Southern maniiesta-
tions in behalf of the Union will soon be
followed up by popular assemblages'
speeches and resolutions, and by legis-
lative and State Convention proceedings,
from Maryland to Louisiana and Texas,
in support, not of the desperate alterna-
tive of South Carolina, which is a South
ern republic at all hazards, but in behalf
of general convention of the Southern
States, or of all the States, to consider
the ways and means Of restoring har-
mony and good will between the North
and the South within the Union.
The only danger of disunion immedia-
tely before us is in South Carolina. Her
State Convention, however-which it is
generally believed will declare the State
an independent establishment, outside of
the Union-does not meet for several
weeks yet to come. In the interval the
movements of the conservative body oil
the people of the surrounding slave
States may induce even South Carolina to
pause, reflect, and finally acquiesce in the
policy Of Virginia, which is convention
of all the States to rearrange on the sla-
very question the fundamental landmarks
and checks and balances of the federal
constitution. .... .
We are strengthened in this impression
from the recent developments of the
views and purposes of the administration
at Washington, and in consideration OF
the fact that Congress will re-assemble on
the first Monday in Decembfr. Thus the
delegates of the South Carckiaa secession
Convention will, before they meet, have
time to consider the conservative re.
concentrations Of the Presidents annual
message. and, we hope, of some CORES.
ponding expressions from both houses ot
Congress. We do not, therefore, alto.
gether despair of saving even South Caro-
lima from the act of secession. But
granting that she will resolve herself out
of the Union, we do not despair Of bring
ing her back again before any revolution
airy collision shall have occurred between
the State and federal authorities.
To this end, would it not be well 70,
the conservative Union men OF the city
of New York to initiate, in grand popu
lar Union demonstration, Northern
movement of conciliation, concession ant
harmony? Coercion, in any event, is ou
of the question. y Union held togcthel
by the bayonet would be nothing bette
than military dcspotism. Cancellation
and harmony, through mutual conccs
| sions, in reconstruction of the funda
mental law, between the North and South
will restore and perpetuatc the Unor
contemplated by the fathers. So, nov
that the conservative men of the Soutl
are motinc, let the Union men of the
Noulls~econd their endeavors, and lie
Stw York, as il the matter of the com
promises of 800, lead the way.