The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-02-13


statess Ny reply is simply the expression Of
my opinion. :.
If By war, you mean an invasion OF our TERRI
tory, you need have no apprehension II the
border States refuse to join us in new cOnied-
eracy, still we may so far feel assured Of their
sympathy, that their people will constitute no
part of the invading force; and, on the contra
nv. an army from the free States will never be
permitted to pass their territory. But II the
border States do join us, as they are bound to do
sooner or later, the question will then be which
confederacy constitutes the United States and
there will be no war, because the contest will be
too equal to promise sufficient advantage in any
! contingency
When left Washington, the Republican par
ty had no settled or fixed policy-like man
stunned by blow, they stood, not knowing
what to do 1t is quite possible they will virtu-
ally acknowledge our separation by discontin-
uancc of the mails: and it is evident our people
are not the only parties Interested in this pol
icy. If the people of the other States have no
business with us, we can afford to dispense with
their correspondence. 1t is quite possible ef-
forts will be made to blockade our ports, and III
terrupt our commerce. But Il is perfectly evil
dent that the world will need our products, and
the free States will need our markets little
more urgently than we shall need the articles of
production or manufacture made outside of our
limits The civilized world may find that We are
a little more necessary to them than they are to
us. Let us plant and manufacture with view
to our independence and our own supplies, and
we can afford to wait with our surplus products
on hand, till our customers come after them. In
my opinion, the Yankees will grow weary Of
blockade sooner than we will What we want
are the smiles Of Providence, in sending us good
seasons But when trade stops, manufacturers
dismiss their operatives, ships rot without en-
ployment, EXCHANGES wanting because the basis
on which it rests cannot be reached, and banks
fail andlcave commerce PROSTATE, the disposition
to raise the blockade will grow distressingly
moving.
But, my friends, Mississippi has acted; she
has resumed all the powers heretofore delegated
to the United States. She assumes now to he a
sovereign, independent State. She is now en-.
gagged with other seeded States in forming a
new couledeHcy. May God send her prosperity
and happiness. But suppose an effort should be
made to coercc Mississippi by force of arms to
return to her former position in the Union.
Suppose the question of African slavery should
be for the present waived, and the question
should be raised Of making slaves Of our white
men, by the sword and the bayonet! What
then is TO be your feeling, and purpose, and
mien2 / speak for myself and | believe you
will re-echo the sentiment, that sooner than
Mississippi should annul her late ordnance of
secession, and return to her former position in
the old Union at the mouth of the cannon, |
would prefer 20 see Mississippi, with all her
brave sons, and fair daughters, and her rich
fields, sunk to the bottom Of the deep sea, and
her name blotted frcm the map of the earth for
ever Enthusiastic appause.)