Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-01-10
From the Pres byterian Banner.
Letter to a Cabinet Minister

HoNoREp SIR:-In the Euening Chronicle
of December s. find your letter, addressed
as we are informed by the editor, to prom
inent clergyman of Pittsburgh. With the
spirit of the Introductory remarks of the edi-
tor, fully sympathize, while, at the same
time. elaina freeman's privilege to dissent
from some of your views.
l agree with you as to the probability that
South Carolina will soon lead the way in a
revolution in which she may be joined by
some, perhaps, by all the slave holding
States. But do not agree with you as to
the causes of this threatened revolution. You
say, conservative men have now no ground
to stand upon--no weapon to battle with
All has been swept from them by the guilty
agitations and infamous legislation of the
North" You add, do not anticipate with
any conf lence that thu North will act up to
the solemn responsibilities of the crisis, by
retraoiug those fatal steps which have con-
Quoted US to the very brink of perdiiion. po-
litically, morally, and financially.
1t would seem to be your opinion that the
sole cause of the present state of things is
wrong doing op the part of the North. That
such should lie your opinion strikes me with
surprise. That the masses at the South sho'd
believe that the trouble is owing to the ag,
gressions Of the North, | can easily und err
stand for it has been the policy of urprin-
cipled politicians to infiame them against the
North bu: that Cabinet officer, gentle
man of the high culture indicated by your
letter, should agree with the masses in that
opinion, is certainly surprising. You, hon-
ored sir, are acquainted with the history of
this Government. You know. that it has
been entirely under the control of the South
for more than half a century; You know
that it has been for the South to say who
should be President. and who should fill the
that the South dictated the annexation of
Texas, with its provisions for additional
slave States, the Mexican war, and the Res
peal OF Missouri Compromise. You know
that by means of an united South and divi-
ded North the Executive, Legislative. and
Judicial Departments, have been under the
control of the South. Now if the South has
any thing to complain of in regard to the ac-
ton of the National Government, they have
themselves only to complain of. The North
have never been able to defeat single act of
Southern policy-previous to the election of
Mr.. Lincoln.
Now, with all the power of the National
Government, the army, the navy, the treasu.
ry, at the command Of the South, can few
hundred or even a few thousand Northern
abolitionists, not fifty of whom ever set foot
on slave Territory, infict on the South an
injury SO grievous as to justify resort to
revolution? There have been, we admit, ir-
ritating and fanatical utterances at the
| North, and 80 there have been at the South.
The former have not dictated the policy of
the North the latter should not be allowed
to dictate the policy of the South.
You speak of the Infamous legislation of
the North" What are the factss Some of
the Free States have passed laws conflicting
more or less with the provisions of the Fugi-
tive Slave Law. That law, being Constitu-
tionally passed, became, "ihe supreme law
Of the land" and has been SO regarded by
the great majority Of the North. Its cnwise
provisions, designed to humiiate. the North,
caused the enactment of the "Personal I;h-
srty Bills" Had the Fugitive Slave Law
ssen designed solely to carry OUT the provi.
Eons Of the Constitution had ell its require