Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-12-20

DellOn, lie was pOnUclan OF the
strictest Southern-rights school, a de-
fender OF every fillibustering conspiracy,
a professed believer in the doctrine OF
the Divine right of the stronger to en-
slave the weaker and an open advocate
of Southern Confederaey. He was
the intimate friend of Calhon and the
mostactive and untiring of the seoessi on
leaders. 1t is now over two yeaas since
his death, but the present and future
policy of the conspirators so far as can
be judged is exactly what he urged
Let me now read to you some important
extracts from few of the many letters
written and received by him more than
ten years ago. These letters speak for
themselves and develope fully the policy
of the conspirators. Gen. Quitman, on
the 2ath of September, 1850, only ls
days after the passage of the compro-
misses of that year, thus writes to ex-
Governor McRea, of Miss, then a mem
ber Of Congress:
have not acted without first looking at
the ground before me, and | take the priyil-
| ege oil communicating to you in confidence,
thus early, hasty programme of our future
movements First then, believe there is no
elective effective remedy for the evils before us; but
My idea is, that the Legislature should
call a convention of delegates elected by the
people, fully empowered to take into consid-
Grafton our federal relations, and to change or
annul them, to adopt one organic law to such
new relations as they might establish, to pro-
vide for making compacts with other States,
| and that in the meanwhile an effective militia
aysystem be established, and patrol duties most
| figidly enforced
I" In the meantime every patriot should leave
no point untouched where his influence can
be cxerted cheer on tie faithful strengthen
! tie tceak dts0Tn the subHltSSt0Rists; send fey1
cross through tie land; and every gallant son
of Mississippi to the rescue ..
You will see by this that while the
North was being humiliated and demor
allied by shamelessly surrendering tc
the demands of the shareholders, they
were secretly plotting for the overthrow
Of the nation.
On the 29th of September of that
that year, (only nineteen days after the
passage of the compromise measures
which we were told was to be the last,
and that the South would never again
exact any additional guarantees for sla.
very,) Gen. Quitman, in writing to Gov
/, Seabrook, of South Carolina, said
{ Without having fully digested programme
!, of measures which shall recommend to tn
! Legislature, it may be of service to you t
: know that Ipropose to call regular conven
ton, to take into consideration our federal rt
, lations, with fuH po1oers to anRm tie feolerl
anil adopt O"r oygdnic Inc to &ch neD yela
. | LfJj,ygsn = = = y
Having no hope of an efectual remed,
: for existing and prospective evils but in sepa
| ration from the Northern States my view O
State action will look to secession"
On the 18th of December, 1850, Gov
Seabrook, i'll answering Gen. Quitman
!, said:
g 81 candidly confess to you that am advo
eating the immediate action of the Legislature
in order to suggest the first Monday in De
! cember next for the time, and Montgomery
, AIdbamd, as the place of meeting of Congress
, am rejoiced that the House resolved to sug
: gest to our Southern States the propriety o
: meeting in Congress at Montgomery on tn
:, 2d of January, 1852
. "For arming the State S350O0O has bee
: put at the disposal of the Governor.
, 1 shall be happy to know that the time an
: place of the proposed Congress will be agree
/ able to Mississippi 3.
e IL our movement ne ScCOnueu Dy ler,
/. have good reason for the belief that Alabama
: Florida and Arkansas will soon follow tn
:, patriotic example"
. Gen. Quitman thus writes to Co
: John S. Preston of South Carolina Of
the 29th March, 1850:
"The /. an proposed by the address of the
, Central Committee which | have forwarded
4 4I,aN
forpast aggressions, and guarantees against flu
/. ture assaults upon our rights; and in til,
meantime to provide for meeting our sympa
thiZing sister States in Southern Congress
. The proposed redress is: r n .f
r 1st. A repeal of the law suppressing tn
D slave trade in the District of Columbia.
ID Opening of the Territories TO the ad
mission Of slaves.
Sd. The permission of slavery in Califor
9 MIA south of 360 80"
The guarantees to be amendments to th
. Constitution explicitly protecting slavery froI
1 hostile interference by CONGRESS OR STATES
: and to restore equal taxation direct and ind
: rect
D " In case the address and guarantees be re
e fused, the States to make formal proposition
to her Southern sisters for separate confede
racy, and to unite with any number of then
sufficient to secure national independsncen
=
t Z" L concur with you in the opinion that tn
political equality of the slaveholding States
;, incompatible with the present confederation
az construed and acted on by the majority ant
that the PRESENT UNION AND SLAVERY CAN
S NOT CO-RXIsT."
; Gov. Means, of South Carolina, thu
I writes to Gen. Quitman on the 10Th G
t May, 1851
d "There is now not the slightest doubt thu
q the next Legislature will call the conventio
3 together at period during the ensuing yet
! and when that convention meets the Stat
will seeede We are an1
! iOus for cooperation and also desire that som
e other State should take the lead, but from rt
$ cent developments, we are satisfied that S0ttt
& Caroliaa is the only State in which sufficien
unanimity exists to commence the movement
We will therefore lead of even if we are t
4 stand alone"
e Col. Gregg, of South Carolina, il
r writing to Gen. Quitman on the 10th O
! May, 1851, thus encourages the seces
| sion party who were straining ever,
nerve to elect Jefferson Davis Governo
2 Of Mississippi on the direct issue of Sc
+ cessiOn:
" Let them (the secessionists) contend man
G fully for success and if beaten in the election
they will form minority so powerful in MOI
al influence, that when South Carolina sc
I cedes the first drop Of blood that is shed vii
S cause an irresistible popular impulse in thei