The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-11-02
Important Letter from Charles D Conor
ON Secession.

| ON Secession.
| NEW YoRK, Oct 90 1890
DsAR SR-Your invitation 10 address Union meeting
II New Rochelle the I'd Of November Il scuo
personal compliment and II would be accepted win
great pleasure but for the pressure other
All time and effort ct my disposal for public purposes are
faithfully so devoted 10 this city, where, in my own
Judgment, can serve most efficiently This oonsders.
tion alone compels me 10 decline
Our system Of government the best human skin has
ever framed but II was accepted BY wise and rejecting
men with more Of humble hope that under Divine pro.
lection II might long endure and bless our people, than
Of absolute confidence that It must necessarily hold them
together In unity and amity throughout all time II was
foreseen By Washington himself that attempts might
made 70 ALLEVIATE portions Of country from the
by eneeblng the sacred ties which link together the
that, however strongly patriotic emotions might 10
nuence US 70 I" frown upon" all such attempts
from tia, source
\ more Immediately TO our Interest," " Herer says
he, "every portion Of our country finds the most
manding motives for carefully guarding and preserving
the Union Of the whole" To this aspect OK affairs
| would In vite attention.
IL too the ordeal OF November for edectusl
argunest or adequate reflection upon any OF the religious
moral political or economical questions connected with
negro slavery the various opinions which now exist
nstuon-the necessity OF continuing It, the duty OF
suppressipg iwidely they conflict theless
belief within the brief space lies between the stream
q political events now flowing by doors, and tire
BRINK towards which It may be tending.
The interests OF tho South considered be inter
with the cont Of negro slavery Whether
1t be wise or an unwse view OF the subject such Is the
prevailing opinion In that section OF country
There has arren In the North party avowedly hostile
or a ssa peossd 70 u aud 70
the constitution does mot positively forbd-as
that instru understood interpreted by the
party and us leaders This the midest shape in which
ihe moral war now raging against the social arrange.
menis Of the South has been expressed by any one
IT. ~ Washington asserts, the promptngs OF self interest
be more commanding motives such occasions than
even patriotism, what may we apprehend when 10 den.
ance aad contempt OF all opposition and remonsrauoe
from the South the united North shall have a, one
man, thrown ts irresistible weight In Of that sec
total party, and invested IL with the supreme powerf
There can be but ore answer to this question sooner
later "the sacred ties which link together the North
and the South must be sundered. How closely the
evitabe effect will follow the may DO matter OF
speculation, but can only be question OF time When
those shah govern the corederacy south
ern life utter bariem aud deuounce "the sum OF all
villanies practice which that whole cton sustsins
ITSELF the South must secedc, secession be practicable
II Is practicable Ii capable OF accomplishment with
the utmost facility; and IL the extre ne Of folly 40
Northern men, who either from patriotism or selfine.
rest are avorse 70 IT, 70 deem distant improbable
Where no complete and independent power OF local
government exists In the discontented sections, reyou
TORS fraught with extreme immediate LANCER the
actors and demand much skil and capacity as well az
courage in conducting the preparatory and intiatory
steps. small band OF individuals obliged 10 con.
spire, AZ with baters their necss 10 some
secret place without color OF right their first pettngs
subsequent action. Their proceedings are Through
out In plain violation OF ali law, opposition 10 an
the existing constituted authorities. Men OF any pru
will long endure great evils before 10 yolylpg thorn
selves In the rers attendant such enterprises
the far different when In confederation like ours
the desire !, secede animates effective majority
In particular state. No secret conspiracy IL there
peeded. Troasonif treason II may be caled-needs no
marx to conceal its features, or secret hiding place
which 10 perfect It's designs The trat,rs-n traitors
they may be caled-have regularly sad lawfully COO.
sttuted government already In their hands and subject
is.ure, judiciary; they have an army. ars,n.s sua
arms; they have complete corps OF administrative Of
acers, nDs every department. IN due susordnasiou 70
their accustomed chief, the Governor. He, too holds
bis Office under state authority Alone The OF the
united Confcderacy mot found upon his commission.
His fciai visibility only TO the people OF his
State in their Of impescbmeuts internal order
viii exist pursuant TO the legislative will, and external
may be arranged a. the very instant . legis-
or ne '' eea. Or re ass1s s
found within the state must with their fellow citizens
rFo instantly into State prison The sderstve vooe
can no longer command within the State the Of
i..a,ns or carving legal process 10 only kaown asa
assang military force against the State, and which in
that event. TO be treated and ress,ed any o,aer
public enemy. Unt that foreign enemy shall sssA her
borders pcsce law and order reign In every portion OF
the state, precisely as II no change had occurred
scheme Ct government that State should be
cd urusty by the central power Indeed, think such
compact are violated the state has bu, 10 secsde and the
central government must recede nom its course Of OPP
precision.
THIS is manifest No state with tho facilities for self
protection thus desgredy afforded by our system, will
ever long submit to absolute injustice No other states
the Union vii consent 10 Did reluctant
by the coossnt pioymeut within its borders
q hostile military force Union held tosethcr by
force utterly reprgnant n our conceptions Of policy
would violate cardinal rule In that great unwritten code
Of political ethics from which existing federation
sraog people cannot rigntfull, be governed against
their viii Il intended that portion o.
country should b. iorciDy held within the Union by the
AIMED power q Toe rcs Toe "sacred Iuksp or anion
referred 70 by wssns,on were moi formed az yucanaa
metal nor were they designed 10 be held In their place
BY martial force Nniul affection, eemcnied by mutual
Interest, ID the only power tnat can keep us united
! 10 rot pretend that state my remain In the Union
and osooey lie authority; nor DO nasiae that state
LOOK upon admirable decorative govern ment theo
crazy In the right IL inviocible to work injasice, II
has no fcr tion; when Srong absolutely po rericss
me south bar cent for,a Us warning that /, will treat
Lnco ns election conclusive evidence that there
sxsis al the North liked ard unarrabse popular hos
ty 70 Southern interests; thai 1t will not Asan the
prlEtTAion u overt act This 10 caled threat and
"a tIea'sd with dcrision Herein is mlsconccption Of
which would dsabuse the Northern mind.
believe that The republican party composed Of tvo
c1.ss Fns, the ambitious leaders, VINO, without faith
la their own doctrines have counted upon attaining
power through disturbing appeals TO misIed public
science secondly, the hosess and conscientious op-
moral war srsins, our brethren Of the s5u,b intending
that its name sbal be qaenched the Instant the In
ssna,.ris. shah have ..'.asd poser rnsy i s.,
would seek 70 enjoy their power and pcK
in peace and security by course Of policy which, under
the ecumstsrcts, might well DC pronounced ueschcr
believe that within sir months after bis election,
Lincoln would bc hated by every honest aooiaiou
than any other fresdent hated OF than any
Of hsorresent competitors would be N elected but
south entertain this opinion the south would
recognise preference for Lnods, that Northern sen
tinert hostile 30 Southern interests and determined
later sacrifice these interests W remorse
f@ and destructive propaxandhm.
In spetner aspect the rcsttvcness q the south I'M
vfs~y treated Insignificant and noonsequentiA 10 ~
sAd that physical force vastly greaser than theirs
courage and resolution eqna 70 theirs, ADD
mai armed collision woud be bYies~oud bc fatal 10
south. For the OF the argument VIII admit all
THIS What would be the result Who viii depict ~
would Northern warriors, EtH bathing their
frsiesnn b,ocd, surn them into implements Of
husbandry-setae In their newly acquired territory and
employ themselves agriculture cotton and rice Plan
si0rsf Would they be whiting IA their condition,
10 support ~ poor coo 0cl Of their newly enamel
paied sud invnc5ly lrdolsnt negro feiow ctzenss II
not wbat else woule they do with toe desossed homes
toe suhiugsted southf
wh follow out the considerations connected wish