The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-12-15

concern at the present is tie painful convc-
ton that the movement in favor Of secession
IN HlSslssippi and other States Of the South
Is led, Tor the most part by men Of dls.in-
giished ability and influence, with whom the
expediency Of Secession is iurgone conclusion
and settled corvicton-incn who can be
reached by no argument or rcm,nStrance
! men W no do not want To be convinced of the
lnrihci,ncy ofeXIsrng grievances TO Justify a
| disruption Of the Union MIN whose inagi-
nations have been icd captive by the dazzling
but rs | think, dciusivc vision OF a new
great, and glorious Republican, empire
stretching far into the South. The sch,n.e
OF disunion, Ms have rrnsorto believe, has
long been chez is!n d by some of llicse leaders,
aud they have oily waited II pretcxt more
plausible than any heretofore presented to at.
tempt The accomplishment Of It.
do not forget that | am addrt ssing,
through you, brave men, who are ready TO
die IN vlndicution of their honor. or in defence
Of what they tel;eve to be their rights | do
not appeal TO their fears.
but, whatever may be the final decision of
the people Of Mississippi, upon the gravest
! Question ever presented to their consdcrat ton,
and which must deeply affect the relations cx.
iSt'ng between them and the people of Ten
| nesste, and other Sta les of the South, | can.
not bring myself 10 the conclu>ion-all the
existing evidences to the contrary - that
| Mississippi viii take upon hers eli tn. respon.
| albilty OF noing all act that would expose tie
peace and security Of her sister States of the
South to dire ct and imminent danger, and per-
haps decide thcii dcStinics for veal or woe for
| ever, without previous conSu. cation with
them and Erst exhaus;ing every peaccable
| mode OF redress for the grievances of which
she complains In community of lndrpcn-
dent Sta es or sovcreigLlics, if any one Of
them should pursue course which would
put III Imminent peril the peace and security
Of the other States, without first exhaustiny
every means Of peaceful redress for any
grievances Of which she might comp in, they
would bc justified by the law of nations in
making common cause against her, and III
preventing her by force, if necessary. from
pursuing such course. Such being the re.
sponslbllily attaching to the action OF one Of
II community OF scpcraie and independent.
ent States. how E.uch greater would be the
responsibility incurred by one of the South.
erp States of this Union, IN adopting the dcs.
prra'e measure of breaking up the Union, and
thereby putting in jeopardy the highcs, and
dearest interest Of them ALL without first
| taking counsel together These interests are
common to them ALL and the grievances com
planned of arc common to all. Conld the evil
consequences certain 10 enSue be confined to
The State adopting the rash measure OF Scres
sion. the other States might not feel call d
upon TO protest against it. But that cannot
be. The consequences and who can lorvs,e
their extent !-must be f,lt by all
Viewing the subject in every light in which
it can be presented, am constrained to say
that by no principle Of public law, by no
code of morals. by no law Of earth or Heaven
would Mississippi or any other State be jus
titled, under existing circumstances. in with.
drawing from the Union. confidently be-
ile'e that the happlrst consequences would
result from Conference Of all the Southern
States. | as confidently believe that a
majorily of the people Of the North are this
day prepared To agree to any fair and reason
able plan Of adjustment which such a Con-
ference of the Southern States would propose
pnrpoScly abstain from snggt sting what
in my opinion, shonld be the basis Of such
plan Of adjustment.
Alter wha. have written in the proceed
ing pages of this letter, 1t Is scarcely n,ccs-
Sary TO say that | am resolved to adhere
to the Union. will not say that in
no possible contingency would | consent to a
separation ofthe States. But | would cx.
hdust every constitutional means for the re-
dress Of oar grievances. before | would think
Of dlsSolvng the Union. am not willing
! that one State should be withdrawn from
the Union that one star should be stricken
F., from the bright cluster which now cmbluzons
! the national flag.