Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1861-01-09

1hO1, Cunuay, Dec oU, looU.
My DEAR SIR: South Carolipa. AZ
ter twenty-seven years, Mr.. Rhett says
thirty years, of constant and increas-
ing efforts by her leaders to induce
her to secede, has declared herself out
of the Union; and this, too, without
the slightest wrong or injustice done
her people on the part Of the Govern.
ment of the United States. Although
she may have seized the revenue cut
ter, and her reasonable Palmetto fac
over the United States Arsenal. the
Cnstom House, Post Office, Castle
Pinckney and Fort MouItrie, she is
not out of the Union, nor beyond the
pale ofthe United States. Before she
can get ont of their jurisdiction or con-
troll, a reconstruction of the Constitu-
tuition must be had or civil war ensue.
In the later case. it would require no
prophet to foretell the result: 20
1t is reported that Mr.. Buchanan
has received informally the commits
sioners appointed by the rebels of
South Carolina TO negotiate for the
public property IN the harbor of Char
lesion, and for other purposes. II is
also reported that the President dis
approved the conduct of Major An
derson, who being satisfied that he
would not be able TO defend Fort
Moultrie with the few men under his
command, wisely took possession of
Fort Sumpter, where he could defend
himself and the country from the dis
grace which might have occurred. If
he had remained in Fort Moultrie.
Being the commander in the harbor,
ne had the right to occupy Fort unp-
ter, an act which the safety of The Un-
ion, as well as his own honor, deman-
ded. 1t is likewise stated that sppre-
tensions are entertained that Major
Anderson will be required to abandon
Fort Sumter, and re-occupy Fort
Moultrie. There can be no founda-
ton for such apprehensions, for surely
the President would not surrender the
citadel of tte harbor of Charleston to
rebels. Fort Sumter commands the
entrance, and in few hours could de-
molish FoIt Moultrie. So long as the
United States keeps possession ofthis
fort, the independence of south Caro-
lima will only be in name, and not in
fact. Ii, however, it should be sur
rendered to South Carolina, which l
do not apprehend, the smothered iu-
dignation of the Free States would be
reused beyond control 1t would not
be In the power of any one to restrain
it. In twenty days two hundred
thousand men would be in readiness
to take vengeance on all who wonld be-
tray the Union into the hands IF its
enemies - $50 a-.i-A -1t- lttN
Be assured that / do not exaggerate
the feelings of the people. They are
already sufficiently excited at the at
tempt to dissolve the Union for no
other reason than that they constitu-
tlonally exercised the most precious
right conferred upon them, of voting
for the person whom they considered
the most worthy and qualified to fill
the office of President. Fort Sumter,
therefore, ought not, and / presume
will not, be delivered over to South
Carolina. Goa
lam not, however, pleading for the
Free States for they are not
in danger, but for Union and
the preservation of the Cotton States.
Those who sow the wind must expect
to reap the whirlwind. The leaders
of South Carolina could not have
noticed that We live in an age of prog
ress, and that all Christendom is max
ingrapid strides in the march of civil
izatIon and freedom. If they had,
they would have discovered that the
; announcement of every victory OBJ
ta;ned by the hero of the nineteenth
century, Garibaldi, in favor of the op-
pressed of Italy, did not fail 10 cleo
trify every American heart with Joy
and gladness. "Where liberty dwells
there is my country" was the declar-
alton of the illustrious Franklin. This
principle is too strongly implanted in
the heart and mind of every man in
the Free States to be surrendered be-
cause South Carolina desires it in or
der to extend the area of Slavery
With all Christianized Europe and
nearly all the civilized world opposed
, to Slavery, are the Southern States
, prepared to set aside the barriers
. which shield aud protect their insti-
, tutions under the United States Gov
ernmenl? Would the separation ol
the South from the North, give great
er security to Slavery than 1t has now
under the Constitution of the Union:
What security woull they have for the
return of runaway slaves? L appre-
! bend none, whilst the number of runa.
ways would be greatly augmented
and the difficulties of which slsyehol-
ders complain would be increased ten
: fold. However much individuals
: might condemn Slavery, the Free
States are prepared to sustain and de.
{ iend IT, as guaranteed by the Consti-
tuition:
In conclusion, l would avoid the
bloody and desolating example of the
Mexican States. | am now, and for
ever, in favor ofthe Union, its preser
vation, and the rigid maintenance o