Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-01-10

| lIhe following letter was handed US Ior
publication by Kentucky gentlemen. 1t
is genuine document and valuable as
showing the state of things in Mississippi
CANTON, Miss, Dec. %. 1850.
Dear---I sincerely hope that this my
letter, will be the first to bear you intelli-
gence of the glorious state of affairs in
this region. South Carolina, you know,
has gone out of the Union nd and is now
an Independent Sovereignty; long may she
prosper. Now, while l am writing, church
bells are ringing, cannons firing, the mill
tary are on parade, the citizens sending up
loud huzzas in honor of the step of the
great old "South State" has taken. Eve
ry shout comes, too, from the heart and
tells of hatred as inveterate as ever slum-
bered in the bosom of an outraged people.
It speaks too, of firm determination to en-
dure no longer, but to take the helm in
their own hands in future, and if ruin is
the consequence to abide by il cheerfully,
rather than submit to the domineering par
ty of the Northern fanatics, whose policy
leads to inevitable ruin and degradation.
Nothing prevents my joining the hallelu-
jahs but a sprained ankle, which makes it
too painful to stir about much. So this
will account for my writing while such a ju-
bilee is on hand. -.s.
But 10 continue with the news, which !
again say, hope l will be the first to i'm
part, viz: Mississippi has voted herslf out
of the Union and determined to follow
South Carolina's example by between 55,
900 and 40, ,0O0.majority. The convention
meets on .be 7th of JAM, and on the 9th
goes out. The Alabama and Georgia con-
ventions meet on the same day and there
is no doubt they will "follow suit" Ar
kansas, Florida, Louisiana and Texas won't
be far behind; so you see we'll have
most glorious republic, the richest and
greatest resources of any country on the
globe. 1 know that you folks up in the
border States think that all this fuss down
South is hoax. But wait little while
and you will discover it to be of the
sternest quality and fixed fact in
the minds of the people. They already
cry no more concessions, no moro COM
promise in the Union. The conserva-
tive people of the North and border States
could not fix up guarantees sufficiently
strong to satisfy the South. The aversion
and hatred has worked too long, the dis
ease has become chronic and all the polit-
ical doctors on earth cannot cure the pa
tieni, it is too feverisb, and speedy disso-'
luton is inevitable. As for coercion, why
they laugh at it, and express an earnest de-
sire that such step may be taken toward
Carolina. Sit down for moment, and re-
fleet if the thing is possible. You see fif-
teen States of the same interest (and if
there is a war they will be united) with
white population of 100000 trained to
arms from their infancy, chivalrous and
high minded, whose valor is undoubted,
and then remember that four fiTths of the
male population could leave home upon
campaign with the assurance of being well
supplied with bread and money, by Slave
labor, flor let come what will the aohole
world is bound to have cotton and can get
it nowhere else but from the South.) Think
of these things and then say if you do not
think the idea of coercion ridiculous The
military spirit is raised to such pitch that
there are now four companies in this coun-
ty with not as many white people as Jessa-
mine. They drill every day and night and
these companies are composed of men of
education and the best families in the State
1t is thus all over the State. Wealthy
planters are subscribing from $3.50 to IS,
900 to arm the State if necessary. Mis-
sissippi could in 20 days have 10000 men
in the field and leave enough ID ut home to
raise bread and meat and protect the wo-
men and children. have been most anx-
iously watching old Kentucky to see what
stand she will take her position is in obedi-
ence to the Bible, tits true Il. e., if you are
smitten on one cheek turn the other.) But
here we do not intend to await the "overt
act" by going out of the Union peaceably
if We can, but by the force of arms if we
must. 1t is well enough and to the inter
est of the South for the border States to
stay in the Union and serve as "break-
water" for when slaves run away, twill be
easier to catch and claim them. But why
Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, Texas, Mis-
souri, and North Carolina possessing the
same interest with cotton States should
wish to remain with the North, can't see.
Have they not sense enough to know that
after eigh, States have withdrawn, the Re-
pubicans can abolish Slavery over their
heads by Constitutional majority and do
they for moment doubt their intention
when it's their resolve TO do so, and that
the Cotton States do intend to secede,
there can be no longer the shadow Of
doubt. Why stand ye idle.
l don't suppose that you are at all sur.
prised at my being "Fire-eater, IF you
are, let me tell you I am one of the rank
est sort, and glory in the name, for if Sc.
cession be "treason,'' am really proud of
being traitor. There is five here from old
Jessamine, viz: SIS, o. R, s
-,H-C--F-and myself, and
every one Of US are Secessionists and Fire
eaters. '''
Tell me how you stand. I have been
anxiously waiting to hear from some Of my
old schoolmates on this subject. But they
all seem so silent, that fear they are bro
ken spirited, and will have to denominate
them by the sobriquet we attach to Union
men in this country and call them "subs.'
Tell me yourself