Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-08-11
THE DE MOOR AT
p. A. ROY, Editor.
Mr.. Charles O'Conor's Letter.

Il MT. CNaIleS y COuOT Letter. "
-
We are sure ours r{readers will rea,
with pleasure the manly and truthful
letter of Mr.. Charles O'Conor to. til.
late Democratic meeting held at thu
Cooper Institute, in New York:
" New York, July II, 1860.
5GENrLEMEN-Cordially approving the
nomination of John C. Breckenridge fo,
President and Joseph Lane for Vice
President of the United States, ! regret
that it will not be in my power to ad
dress the ratification meeting appointed
to be held to morrow evening at the
Cooper Institute. 81
However deeply it is to be deplored
that rival platforms and rival candidates
are presented to the Democratic party,
threatening to divide its strength and
deliver it over an easy prey into the
hands of its opponents, yet, such being
unhapplly the fact, the duty Of making
choice cannot be avoided.
The difference between these plat.
forms, like every political question of
the times, derives all its significance
from the subject of negro slavery. It's
relations to the territories and to the
mode of governing them is merely Incl,
dental; it is merely the form in which
this pcrpetually recurring subject is here
developed as All element of strife. The
controversy in all practical bearings, is
merely this: How is negro slavery to be
dealt with?
In its moral, political, legal, and eco
nomical aspects, my views on that gen
eral subject have been so distinctly and
so often expressed, that my position in
reference to the rival platforms now be-
fore us could not be doubtful.
The most fertile regions of the globe
cannot he so cultivated as fully to de-
velop their natural resources for the
benefit of mankind, except by negro
labor. Negro labor cannot be there en-
ployed except through the judicious COM
pulslon of superior race; and in no
way can so great measure of physical
enjoyment and moral improvement be
impaired to the negro as by his compul-
sorry servitude in these very regions.
From these undcniablc facts, written
in the great book of nature, proven by|
experience, and not without sanction
from revelation, my reason draws the in
ference that negro slavery is not repug-
nant to justice-is not Improbable to
the white man-is not oppressive to the
negro, and is not inexpedent as, mat
ter of social policy.
Let us apply these views to our own
republic negro slavery has ever been a
main pillar of our strength, an indis-
pensable element of our growth and pros
perity. 1t is now an integral part Of
our being as nation; to expel it by
fraud or tear it out by violence would be
a national suicide"
1t follows that "to vindicate it's es-
senti,l Justice and morality, in all
courts and places, before men and ma
tions, is the duty Of every American
A moral war has been made upon this
institution by infidels, and quasi re-
llgious crusade has been preached
against it by another class Hitherto,
at least in the North, no one has de-
Tended it, and its Southern advocates
have not been heard. The natural re-
suits have acknowledgement has passed
against it by default, and the idea that
it conflicts with natural justice and with
divine. law has taken possession of the
Northern mind ~
This state of things afforded a most
promising quarry for the industry Of po-
itical party makers, and they have
availed themselves of it They thus ar
yucd: "With the national conscience on
our side-with God and nature both on
our side, and against our antagonists
surely we must win" Accordingly this
bright idea has been industriously work
d into a political organization, and
lcre stands before us at the North the
Black Republican party, almost, if not
absolutely insincible.
Why has that party any strength?
Why does it now threaten to destroy
between the. North and the
South,sleading to disunion and disasters
leep and irreinmcdiable?
1t is simply because the false as,
of sAbolitionists that negro
'lavery is wicked and unjust, has been
to pass unrefutcd.
How is that destructive party to be
llorn of it's pernicious strength? There
$ but one method by which this object
:an be effected, and that is by denying
nd disprovihg the false position on
which it is founded.
We must, as a party, insist unquali-
edly that in the institution of negro
lavery there is nothing whatever which
alls for unfavorable action hy govern
nent; that the right of the white master
o the services Of his negro slave is in