Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1860-11-03
Speculation.

SlDGG l1lilSlOns
Since a probability at least exists of tn
election Of Abraham Lincoln to the Presi
dency, speculation loves to indulge in con ec
lures respecting the character of his admin
i>tsation. Many ~thoushtless persons seem t.
imagine that if Lincoln should be successful
all sorts OF dire calamities will forthwith
betall the South ard that we might as wei
ma Ike up our mlnu at once to be ruined aht
undone. We need scarcely remind re!lectin4
men that all this Is mere pfnlIIe apprehen'
sion and that if Abe Lincoln were perfect
political ogle; the iucarnate tIend OF am
slavery; he would be unable to I"iurr the
So-th without the consent and concurrence
of the natiolai Legislature. At the same
time it is rot unintrrestiuy to gather the
opinions If those who claim to be- well
Informed in relation to the views and pun
poses of the Black Republican candidate.
should Providence permit the misfortune OF
his triumph.
Tue New York Herald of the goth pab-
fishes two very elaborate letters from a cor
respondent at Springfield, Illinois, where
Lincoln resides, in which reference is made
to his possible administration The writer
seems particularly anxious to impress upon
tie public mind the conviction that the poll
- " 80 LtIAoiu "a " liN' INV Va
pacific and conciiiatory that as a conserva-
tive Republican he will respect the constit,'-
tionaI Rights of the South, and will wage no
aggressive war against that sectiom-that his
platform is the one adopted i'll Chicago in
good faith, and that he will endeavor +
soothe the South into acqniescence, Instead
Of exasperatlng her into rebellion. We are
likewise assured that Lincoln,s Cabinet viii
be composed of Southern as well as Northern
men, and that his ministerial advisers Iroin
the South will be selected from such promI-
nent public men as Henry Winter Davis of
Maryland. John NJ. Bolts of Virginia. and
John A. GiImer of North Carolina. There
is much more to this effect. and We tiin<
it likely, in view of the publicity given to
the statements By the New York Heraid, that
they are put forth with the sanction OF Lin
coin, as f%eeler, intended to quiet Southern
apprehensions, and persuade the people OF
that quarter that the rail-splitter, after all.
is not SO terrible and truculent a foe as they
fancy him to be.
But whether the correspondent Of the
Herald is simply giving rein to his lmagina-
ton, or is really speaking by the card. is
practically Of little importance. Nothing
can prevent the South from regarding the
election Of Abraham Lincoln as a national
uiSdsscI. u = NtOSl dlutIl dllu UHtOU1pfOm. |
islng Unionists, and we claim to belong 10
class, will consider as a very grave mis-
fortune the Inauguration Of the recognized
and no pacific assurances by the
supporters of Lincoln, nor even his own au-
promises and pledges, would serve
to break the crushing force of so disastrous
an incident in our political history. 1t wall
be fruitful in evil and though it may not.
and We trust will not, disintegrate the Con-
Iederacy, it will assuredIy widen tn. breach
the North and the South which sec
.ional anlEnositIes have already created.
1t is certain, too. that even if Lincoln were
to do his utmost towards appeasing
southern dlsquietude and Indignation. he
would De bailied and thwarted by the incer-
liary elements which surround him, and
which would compel him in a great measure
Q shape his course by their direction. The
'Iolent anti-s'avery leaders of the Black Re.
faction would strain every nerve t.
match him away from those conservative an
Influences by which he might lie
ttracted. What would Lincoln accomplish
yainst the wishes and efforts of Seward.
nd Wilson, and Sumner. and Hale, and Ste
ems, and Lovejoy, and Giddlngs. and Covode,
nd Grow, and other fanatics who preach
he radical doctrine Of a higher law If he
we're to resist their vehement counsels, the
esult would be a schism and an irrepressibI-
ontlict in tie ranks Of the Black Rcpulli-
ans. We have no doubt whatever that
omethlng OF this sort would be the result OF
administration His camp follow
rs would inc vitably quarrel. equally on the
Obey OF his administrator and the division
t the spoils. and we truly believe that from
he moment of his Inauguration would be the
announcement of the do ynfall of his party.
However, after all, this is mere snrm;se.
abraham Lincoln is not yet elected Presi-
ent, and.if we do not greatly miscalculate
ne conservative strength OF the North, he
ever will be.