The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-18

OF pubic OPINION
..-1-=1.s----az-sz1=z-zas
novel has recently been reprinted which
originally appeared before the public in the year
1886. 1t was then entitled The Partisan Leader:
a Tale of the Future, by Edward William Sidney. |
Printed for the Publishers by James Caxton-
1856. 1t was published at a time when the press
was flooded with works of fiction, and having
only its own intrinsic merit to rest upon, the |
name of the author being fictitious; it lived its |
short life in common with many other similar |
works, and was laid upon the shelf and forgotten,
by the world, although still remembered by some
OF the active politicians Of the notification peri
cd. As it was originally written as o party
novel, so now it is republished for party purposes
This time, the title page bears the following III
scription-"A Key to the Disunion Conspiracy
The Partisan Leader--By Beverly Tucker, of Vir-
ginia-Secretly printed in Washington, lin the
year 1885, by Duff Green, for circulation in the
Southern States-But afterwards suppressed. -
Under these colors it is now heralded by all the
Northern journals as an undoubted confirmation
Of the existence of a vast conspiracy, among the
leading men Of the South, and as a key to the
great plot W hich has heen secretly ripening for
thirty years. 1t has convinced them. as a fact
beyond all doubt, that the secession of the Cotton
States and the establ shnlent of separate and
independent Confederacy was well digested and
long preconcerted plan. 1t has already been
repeatedly reviewed in the daily papers Of the
North, and is considered to contain most marvel
lous prophecies of the political occurrences of the
present day. Quotations are given at length. show
ing the wonderful exactness with which events have
been predicted and the action OF the South fore
Swallowed. That the condolences, in many re
poets, are curious, we do not for moment pre-
tend to dispute; but the Northern reviewers APP
pear to have entirely overlooked the fact that the
whole story is based upon the resistance
OF the South to the usurpaion of one
man. Mr.. TUCKER, then Professor OF Law
at William and Mary College, was an in
innate friend of MIR. CALHOUN, and an ardent
supporter Of States Rights doctrines. With the
rest Of that school he was, of course violent on
ponent of JACKSON and his party. The aim Of the
work was to ex5ose the tendency to despo ism,
which, the author judged, was then very mani
fest, and to assert and maintain the right Of
freemen to be free
IL
years IN advance. 1t assumed to portray events
that had occurred in 1S49. President Van Blu
rem after having served for three terms was acain
brought forward for nomination, bat nfor the
first time in twelve years the vote of Virginia was
recorded against the reelection of Martin Van
Buren, 10 the Presidential throne" Enough was
however, seen TO make it manifest that the power
and will of fixed majority in the North were
determined upon giving a master to the South;
and it was clear that Van Buren, had determined
to use the power obtained through the Lep1sla-
ture, which had been elected for his use, and to
administer the government solely with view to
the interest of that sectional faction hv which
he had been supported. Under these cir
cumstances the Southern States. forced TO see
that the day for decisive action had arrived. by
a movement nearly simultaneous, seeded from the
UNION and formed Southern Confederacy. The
ultimate accession Of Virginia was hoped for but
as it was deemed impruient to wait for her ac-
iion, the plan was executed and she was left to
follow. Virginia is spoken Of as the border State,
Maryland being entirely overlooked; and tie in
dlgnities TO which she was subjected by not hay
ing taken prompt and decisive measures, together
with the other Southern States, are particularly
dwelt upon. The action of President VAN BrRry
who is supposed to have assumed dic,atorial DOW
ers, and is spoken of as the 'Usurper," towards
Virginia, is portrayed at length. It's coincidence
with that Of the action of The Cabinet at Wash
lngton towards Maryland is, though overlooked
by the Northern critics, peculiarly remarkable
and quite as worthy of notice as any of the ex-
frgp Syyhin I how lr.,,
the Republican journals. The attempt 10 corrupt
and intmdate the State, so as to prevent the free
expression Of the will of her citizens is described
as follows:
1.-THE disposition of the usuper at first was to treat
them as reyoIted provinces; and take measures for
putting down. by force their resistance his authority
But circumstances, to be mentioned hereafter made II
impotic to resort to this But these did not
operate to prevent him from using the ecacious
means to prevent Virginia from following their examine
Though restrained from attacking them nothing pre-
vented him from affecting fear an attack fron1 tIam
This preteXt for raising troops and the poston of
Virginia, as the frontier State afforded an excuse for
statlohlnG them within her borders Under these pre-
fences, small corps established many of the dis
affected counties. Should the presence of these be
lneecu to secure the return Of delegates devoted to
the crown an ultimate security taken against the
action Of the Legislature Richmond the seat of govern
ment became the headquarters of the army of ohserv
ton as it called, and, surrounded by this the mock
Geiiberations OF the General Assembly be held
The money thus thrown into the country seduced The
corrupt, While terror subdued the timid"
The odous tariff is alluded to as having been
forced by the North upon the South. The evil of
submitting to the usurpation of unconstitutional
powers, and the danger consequent upon the es-
tablishment Of standing armies, are particularly
urged. The folly of the Northern cry of 'sUnon. 1"
| and of protection against the hostile movements
of the Southern Confederacy, are treated with rid
lcHle and contempt. The following extract is
taken from conversation between Mr.. BERylRp
Trevor and his nephew, DOUGLAS. Mr.. TREyoR
taxes DOUGLAS with pretending to support a con-
stitution by taking part, with those who tramnled
1T under foot against those who upheld if 80 lone
as there was hope; and after laughinrlv chorrinc
him with allegiance to King Martin the First
says:
"Disunion has come The question now is
whether you shall continue bear these wrongs or seal
the remedy afforded by invitation to Join the
Confederacy The evils of which you speak would GER
tainy not be increased by such step We might weaken
the North, but not ourselves. As to standing armies
| here we have one among u.s. The motive which that
danger presented is reversed in its operation While
we remain as the standing army is fastened unon
us By the proposed change shake it Off Then as to
assenslo there is no cause of war now there would
be none then Indeed the only would be removed
and it would be that both parties had every iDdnce
ment to peace Even in the present unnatural condition
you see that the separation having taken place
there remains nothing to quarrel about''
what, then" SAID Douglas, lis the meaning of all
this military array that see? no hostile
| apprehended from the Southern Conederacy p"
| Not at all They have such thought The talk
o. such things is nothing but pretent for Bzz!ng Vir.
ginid" "
How do you mean ?' asked Douglas
| gu VIII know if you attend the election in this
county tomorrow. You will then see that detach-
ment OF troops has been ordered here on the of the
election The ostensbe of it to aid in the
ton of smuggling in other words in the
of the odous tariff, and participation the
our Southern neghbors enjoy since they have shaken
off, But you will this force employed to brow
and intimdae the people, and to drive from the pols
such cannot be brought to vote in conformity to the
will of rulers. Go back to Richmond next winter
and you will the force stationed there increased to
what will be called army of observation In the midst
of this, the Legislature will hold its mock deliberations:
and you will find advanced posts arranged as to
the dsafected counties and prevent the people from
marching to the relief of their representatives By one
the other both of these operations Virginia 7UH be
prevented from expressing her H in the only legitimate
0dy and her who take up in her behalf will
be stgmazed as traitors not only to the United States
| but to herr
BALTIMORE AND ONO RAILRoAD.-Among the ex-
tracts which We published yesterday from the New
York papers, appeared a statement of the New
OK Tribune to the effect that the Baltimore and