The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-05-08
FOR TIE LANCASTER LEDGER.
A LETTER.
To His Erceilency Abraham Lincoln, Pres.
idenf of The United States:

To His Erceiiency Abraham Lincoln, Pres.
ident Of The United States:
Suffer me 10 inquire, what is the design
OF your late military movements +; and are
you certain you have the ability Ia accom-
plish that object 1t is obvious, even to a
superficial observer, you and your counsel
lors have decided To initiate, aud vigorously
prosecute bloody and unrghieouS war
against your sister Republic in tie South
Now. although do not attribute to you a
very high grade Of intellect, nor n very ex
tensive acquaintance with that good Book
We all should respect yet ] reasonably
suppose you have respected that very Judi.
cious suggestion ia reference 10 The pfopric
ty of counting the cost before ginning 10
build tower and estimating your militia
~ strength and prospect of success before
initiating war against n formidable foe.
IL you have endeavored GAS you shuuiD
to profit by this very excellent advice lear
there are grave errors IN your arithmetic
and it is wise and imperative upon YOU tn
call in an expert, review the figures and
make the necessary corrections
One OF two things must he your design,
either the sutyugdtiOH or determination of
the SOuth-eilner OF which is certainly n
most hazardous experiment. The iorm,cr, a,
humnnely speaking. Is impossible. The Int
ter Ii possible, but not 81 all probable -
That Is, IL is not probable you and your
mercinaries will be able to effect il. The
spirit which animates our people never has
been subdued. Ii has existed in a long
line Of Hugenot, Covenenter, Dissenting
and Protesting worthless; and has long sur
vived II more powerful force than you are
able TO bring against il. Animated by this
invincible spirit of our ancestors, our peo-
pie will enter the field of sapRuinary CON
tiict resolved upon victel|<111p1pth, Re.
treat and surrender a<> ~ ~ f1ich have
no existence in their .ot1G 6a betnry-
The palladium Of th1jf a = Viii iri.
umphnntiy bear fro1u t10 q T. mor,ai
conflict or gloriousiy PEI = - deience.
The principles which aeti1&{6 Them, will
buoy them up, and sustain them in the hour
Of trial. You force upon them the ncces.
sity OF maintaining at the point Of the
sword the ark OF God and the covenant oi
political rights and like good old Eli they
wonld greatly prefer death TO the capture
OF these precious treasures.
Contrast for momeit the encourage
meDts Jour soldiers and ours will have in
the hour Of danger. Our principles social
moral, aud political are derived from the
Bible and are handed down from the Ia.
| ther 10 son with assiduous care and sacred
| veneTation. With US the Bible is the high
est law known, and the standard authority
in all things. But you acknow ledge and
practice n hig gher. .id,o, which rejects aud do
nounces the Bible il il does not square and
tally with your peculiar notions Of things
And to tins unscriptural and unlawful pm
ciple, you are indebted for your present ell
evated position---a position which, instead
OF rejecting honor upon yourself and fam
| lily, will, ] fear, result In disaster and dis
grace. Your people, instead Of contend.
ing earnestly and uncomprOmisingly for the
etei nal principles Of truth and right, have
retrograded and d-generated until your liz
| tie pretty Yankee Kingdom is invested and
pervaded by the endless isms OF inidelity
| which always expose u nation TO infam,
and defeat. With US, respect aud obedi
ence TO the lawfully constituted authorities
is a fundamental principle principle iba
Is incuicated aud required at every stay,
from the nursary and primary school room
to the University and ball Of Legislation
But either your Bible aud Statute Law az,
uampled under foot--mob law is euthron
ed, and popular feeling rules the bour.--
With Us l: is cardina! principle 10 confess
and deplore our many moral eriugs, an,
endeayor 10 make each successive day aI
improvement on the past. Your peopl,
vaiDgioriously boast Of their moral recli
tude, and thank God they are not delin
guent as others; and even arrogate to them
selves the high prerogatives Of Diety, ant
essay 10 furnish his subjects for alleged
crimes against his laws. Now when tn,
cannon is booming, the muskets are rat
Ting, the swords cIashIng and victims fal
ling whose principles will sustain him Ion
gesl and stoutesL Take heed you, whe
have drawn the sword, do not perish BY
your own weapon.