The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-11-21

possible, that, if the Federal Government
had bought Cuba, and paid few hundred
millions for her, she might have seeded,
and taken the money with her; but as
Government did not buy her, it is quite
impossible for Cuba to play off any such
game. An argument which you viii
readily appreciate
From this second or seeding Conven-
ton, [ had, as you well remember, the
honor TO receive the nomination for the
Presidency. For this mark of their dis
tinguished consideration, [ was, of course,
duly grateful But, inasmuch as our
Party was divided, and l was a little du-
bious as 70 my success, / had some scrupics
about accepting the nomination. More
than this, the Convention had placed JOE
LANE on the ticket with me, and JOE be-
ing such horrible speIler, feared that
my connection with him would not improve
my chances But OLD Buck was deter
mined that I should run, and ever and
anon would come and playfnl.y slap me
on the back, and say: "Buliy for you,
Breck Tll bet my pile on you p Yet,
after all, | hesitated; and never did L
make up my mind to bear the brunt of the
campaign, until one day when l received
a copy of the Democrat Dc Sentinel, with
my name at its masthead, and containing
heavy leader, in which you assured the
world that / was the humble individual
who should receive your distinguished
support. The article was pen-marked,
else might not have seen ii, but its pc
rusal die my soul good. l felt then, that
ifhuman agency could accomplish anything
assure you that had been successful, you
would have been substantially remembered
in the shape of 3 mission to the Feejee
islands.
But, alas what a delusive thing is
hope! How vain are the expectations of
mortals here below! The day of election
came and went, and behold the electoral
figures: DOUGLAS had Missouri and New
jersey, II BELL had Kentucky. Tennes-
see and Virginia, 80; had Alabama, Ar
kansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Lou
isiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Car
olina, South Carolina and Texas, y;
while the "Old Rail-splitter" had the
balance Of the States, with total Of $50
thus giving the nasty Black Republi
cans clear majority of 81 votes over the
whole kit and kahoodle of Us / confess,
my inestimable Charles, that these figures
annoyed me not little. was especially
indignant at the fact that Kentucky, my
own state, went against me. And yet
there was something in the result which
plucked out the sting Of my defeat. If L
was beaten, | had the satisfaction of know
ing that the great Sovereign Squatter was
not elected and had, moreover, the hap
py reflection, that, in the elevation of Il
Black Republican to the Presidency, the
people of the South were furnished with
a splendid pretext for dissolving the In
ion
Strange as 1t may appear to many,
pretext had long been desired. For [
tell you, my Incompatible Charles, though
prefer that you keep it to yourself, the
idea of dissolution did not originate last
fall It has long been entertained in the
South. For myself, was always disposed
to be conservative, and had | been elected
to the Presidency, | could have saved the
Union four years more at least. This |
could have accomplished by giving all
the good Offices under my control, to the
people of the South, it being their great
forte to govern rather than to be governed.
And herein is the great secret of the
Southern revolt, it being understood that
after Old Abes election the rule was to be
reversed, and that they were to be govern
ed instead of being the governors
The work of secession, as you doubtless
remember, was begun by South Carolina,
that wonderful state having passed an or
dinance to that effect, and declared her
independence of the ''accursed Union,"
SO soon as she learned the result of the
election. Her senators and representatives
too promptly resigned their seats in Con-
gress, and went home. al of which
plainly showed the pluck of the state and