, 1861-03-16

The Sober Second Thought of ftn
South,

LFrnm TIC n. I. Evening P0st.1
To show in what light some Of the best
minds Of the South regard the present politi-
cal echism, We give the material part of I.
letter received by Il gentleman in this city
from bis friend in Florida, STAKEHOLDER, but
no higot to slavery, philosopher and friend
Of the Union. It vii. be seen that lie looks
not to any device OF compromise, but to time
anu reflection, and the reaction OF common
sense against the madness Of tile hour, for tic
loyal aud the seeding States. This is one Of
those expressions Of opinion which will, We
think, become more frequent and emphatic
with the progress Of events:
-, Florida, March g, 1861.
II YVES glad to have your letter. Tie speech
Of Seward in the seDatc arrived at the same
time, which was sufficiently intclligible for ME
-.-containing, probably, rs much as he taithfnl-
II could say, ignorant OF what 1he state Of
things might be Wien the pregnant future had
presented ITSELF suppose that the fierce
strength Of this political storm passed over US
some weeks ago, aud, that after the Inaugural
ton We may be looking for continually incrcas-
ing calm. The South can conquer the South
in time, so that if only the offices are resumed
by little and little and these independencies
allowedto sustain themselves tor awbile-eve-
r. man being left to reflect by his wants and
necessltie5--We snail come to reasoning and to
aparty that will insist on referring tie Question
OF secession where the leaders Of these troub-
les with us lave never yet dared to trust it
to the people. The men for such purpose ex-
ist, though they have been swept oir from
their feet. The oftice-holdcrs die hard, and
many Of them, it is remarked, hold on and will
to the last moment, notwithstanding their la
tired to the Union, on account Of the salaries.
Some even hope to remain, because they think
none will dare to succeed them, and they shnlI
be Obliged, on that account, to hold oyer. If
the government shows st, ady, reliable hand
ind irIdf3 1fI,..T TT,,Sa.
pie were discouraged under Buchanan; indeed,
think we have been more than discountc1i-
aneed. The mail alone can nuke Babel a5 far
as its diseontinuauce reaches, and the extin-
punishment Of coast-'ights, with other emoar-
rassments to navigation, must raise the price
Of freight aud INSURANCE to a rate that must
be felt. The States (sorne Of them )cau poorly
bear thelr expenses, and some not at al. Per
haps it Nonld be well enough to make this
country--as there is Zone other beyond it to
be affected by whit she may be pleased to SUI
fer-an exemplar, use her as au experiment for
Immediate Illustration. Under what clrcgn-
stances hereafter are the pensioners in the Sc
ceding States to be paid-with oath of adhc-
sion, II any, is to he required of tAen2 Some
Of them: thsughtless]y, are in arms against the
United States.
II BELIEVE the most impassisc administra-
tion would now be the best. We all wish 10
find out something by means of this most for
tnnate]y bloodless revolution that otherwise
would have costvcry dear to consider; ,ye wish
to go to the bottom Of things and find out tic
moral for ourselves. What VIC shall thus learn
not By others teachiug-will be good for
something. Were the Chief Magistrate, I
would listen TO no reEuunstlance, representa-
tiou, commissioner or ambassador, ether from
the North or South, but tcait eneryczically with
the laws before zle-patiently, until the 3,eo-
pie again come nppermost, when, il nectssa-
r, the government should give the most en-
couraging assistance. The two or three years
hence that is proposed as the time for i m
tfona1 adjustment is the true plank; that will
carry more reason and might with it than arm
aments. Compromise is III excellent thing,
toward Which we may hasten slowly Nobody |
knows yet what he shonid ask for; time will
tell him all that is for the best Now if you
have had the patience to read this and what | |
once before wrote to you, you may very well 1
see what sort Of a President should have
made y