The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-01-12
Gen. WOOl's Letter.
The following is Gen. WOODS famous
coercion letter to a friend in Washington:


coercion letter to friend in Washington: :
Troy Dec. 81, 1850.
Nh Dear Sir South Carolina, after
% wears, Mr.. Rhett saws 80 years, of con-
slant and increasing efforts by her leaders
TO induce her to secede, has declared her,
self ent Of the Union, and this too without
the slightest wrong or injustice done her
people on the part of the Government of
the tritrh States. Although she may
have seized the revenue cutter, raise her
treasonabk. flag over the United States
Arsenal. the Custom House, Post Office,
Castle Pickney and Fort Moultrie. she is
not ont of the Cniois, Dor beyond the pale
of the United States. Before she can get
out OF their jurisdiction or control, recon-
struction of the Constitution must be had
or civil war cnsuc. In the latter case it
would require no prophet TO fUrtell the re-
suit
1t is reported that Mr.. Buchanan has re-
ccived informally the Commissioners APP
pointed by the rebels of South Carolina to
negotiate for the public property in the
harbor of Charleston AMI for other purpo-
Sos. 1t is also reported that the President
disapprovrd Of the conduct Of Major An
derson, who being satisfied that he would
not BE- able to defend Fort Moultrie with
the few men unde: his command wisely
took possession of Fort Sumter, where he
could protect himself and the country from
the disgrace which might have occurred
if he had remained in Fort Moultrle. Being
the commander in the harbor, he had the
right to occupy Fort Sumter, an act which
the safety of the Union demanded. 1t is
likewise stated that apprchcnsions are en-
tertained that Major Anderson will be re-
quircd to abandon Fort Sumter and re-oc-
cupv Fort Mouitrir. There can be no
foundation for such apprehensions, for
surely the Prcsid ut would not surrender
the citadel of the harbor of Charleston to
the rebels
Fort Sumter commands the entrance,
and in few hours could drmolish Forl
Moultrie. So long as the United States
keeps possession Of this fort, the indcpen-
dence of South Carolina will only be in
name and not in fact. If however it should
he surrendered to South Caroliua. which |
do not apprchcnd, the s,nothered mdigna-
tions of the free States would be reused
beyond control. 1t would not be- in the
power Of any one to restrain it. In twenty
two days 100000 men would be in readi-
ness to take vcn"rancr OF all who would
betray the L nion into the hands of its en-
cmics. BE assured that ! do not aggravate
the feelings of the people. They are al
ready sufficiently excited mt the attempt to
dissolve the Union, for no other reason
than that they cpnstiin'ionally exercised
the INST precious right conferred on them,
for the person whom they considered the
most worthy and best qualified TO fill the
office of President. Fort Sumter therefore,
ought not, and / presume will not, be de-
livcrcd over to South Carolina.
| am not, however, pleading for the
free States, for they are not in danger but
for the Union and the preservation of the
cotton States. Those who sow the wind
must expect to reap the whirl-wind. The
leaders OF South Carolina could not have
noticed that We live in an age of progress,
and that all clristendom is making rapid
strides in the mark Of civilization and free
dom. If they hal, they would have dis
covered that the announcement ofcvrry vie
tory obtained by the hero Of the 10, century
iarihaldi, III favor otthe oppressed in Italy
did not fail to clrctrify every American
heart with joy and gladncsS. "Where lib
; crtv dwclls there is my country" was thu
declaration of the illuStrious Franklin
This principle is too strongly implanted
in the heart and mind of every man in the
free States, to b. surrendered becaus,
South Carolina desires it i'll order to OK
tend the area of slavery.
With all chrstianizcd Europe anu near
, " all the civilized world opposed to slave
nv, are the Southern States prepared to SCI
aside the barriers which shield their III
s,ituti"ns under the United States Gov
eminent Would tn" separation of the
South from the North give greater security
! to slavery than it has now under the Con
sttutiom of the Union What security
would they have for the return OF runa
way slaves ! | apprchcnd none, whilst
, the number Of rInawavS would be- greatly
augmented, and the difficulties of whicl
Shareholders complain would be increased
to tcnfold. However much individual,
might condemn slavery. the free States
are prepared to sustain and defend it al
= guaranteed by the Constitution.
G I'm conclusion would avoid the blood,
and dcsolating example ofMcxican States
; | am now, and forever, in favor of tn
Union, its preservation, and the rigi,
T. maintenance Of the rights and interests q
: the States, individually a. well as collect
- lively.
Yours, etc, JOHN f.. WOOL.