The Oxford intelligencer., 1861-01-16
A voice from Missouri.

II A Voice from mfssourl. .,
"a rtnss has placed !. our disposal, for pub
lication, the following private letter, addressed
to him by an Intelligent gentleman of St Louis,
who is evidently web Informed ip regard to the
state Of things in that region. We are sure that
our readers viii thank US for laying such clear.
and able statement before the n.-ED. IsF 4
-, ,,,,-,-r~ kSr. Louis Jan. 6, 1861.
q NJ Dear Si,i.. 1 have often Thought of wri-
ting 10 you, both before and since the election,
but events have succeeded each other with such
raPidity, that soald scarcely compose my mind
Sufficiently to give calm expression of opinion
upon the all7absorbing topic of secession
We have looked with much anxiety to the ac-
ton Of tho cottonaStates, and our hopes and our
fears have alternately predominated, as different
accounts have reached US. The course Of
South Carolina we knew to be definitely deter
mined upon, and her action has not disappointed
our expectation. Calmly, yet deliberately, her
people have asserted their sovereignty and rein
vested themselves with the powers heretofore
delegated to the Federal Government. This
they have done, not with brayado and threaten
ing, but with such dignity and manliness as be-
comes free people--claiming nothing that is
not their right-wishing no evil to their late
confederates, but simply asking to pursue their
way in peace. "A demand so just so equitable
ought to be granted by people claiming to rep
resent par ereetLenee the freedom and enlghten-
ment Of the world yet such viii not be- "The
| Union must be preserved" Is the watchword
and cry of those who have so persistently pm-
sued a course to dissolve it. 1t is useless now
to talk of compromise, or even of a peaceable
separation War is to be waged against sece-
ding States, by the Federal Government. This
is inevitable, andw we must make up our minds to
it at once. The Southern States must unite in
resistance to such an unholy crusade. All mi
nor differences Of opinion must yield to the
common danger. If one Southern State be
conquered the freedom Of all is lost. We be-
come dependent provinces, and ruled by our
worst enemies. sincerely hope that the
Southern people will unite in this; but so great.
ly has public opinion changed in the Northern
States within the past few weeks, that begin to
have fears. At the time Of the meeting of Con
gress, scarce man could be found to advocate
coercion--the conservative masses of the North
were to a man opposed to it; and now what do
we secy The President Generals Scott and
Wool and majority of the lower House of
Congress- demanding that the laws be executed
at all hazards The right of South Carolina to
sccede is utterly repudiated, and we told that
the Union is to he. maintained at every cost 1!
Even in this city there has been a great change.
Respectable men, Bell and Everett and Douglas
men, are abusing South Carolina, and favoring
coercion. dare not think how far This feeling
extends into the State. Three weeks ago, this
county would have gone largely Southern To-
day. noone can tell what the feeling is. q
What has produced this changer 1t must be
the stagnation in trade, and general ruin that
threatens the commercial community. With a
Al uI.a
have succeeded in convincing great many that
all these troubles are caused by the South. An
other reason may be, that these people believe
that u the event of conflict, the North must
be victorious, and hence they are trying to get
on the strong side in time. God grant that but
few may be influenced by such ignoble motives
Persons too are beginning TO argue that the true
interests of Missouri lie with the North. Alb
surd as this may appear it is difficult to combat
it, when any attempt to argue the question is
met with storm of vituperation, about treason,
the glorious Union, &c.
But gloomy as the prospects are here, have
hopes of the State. Governor jackson in his
Inaugural Address takes strong Southern
ground, and recommends the call of a Conven-
tion This believe will be done, and then Mis-
souri, will take her position as honor requires,
and We will be enabled to drive the scoundrels
out of this city We have here now quite an
organization Of Minute Men, and the number is
constantly increasing If the issue can be made
soon, we are safe, but delays are dangerous.
The public mind becomes wearied of constant
talking and no action. Revolutions, to be sue.
cessful, must be carried by coup detat, and
not too much time allowed for calculation.
Wcare expecting daily to hear Of conflict at
Charleston, and then the issue is made.
If you have time please write to me- and tell
Inc the views Of your section. ] suppose you
are surfeited with politics, and SO Ill drop them.