Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-01-10
The Secession Conspiracy dates Ba'
Over Ten Years

history OF the Southern Rebellion have
recently come to light in phamphIet pub
lished in review of the last speech of Johr
q. Breckenridge in the United States Sen
ate. They have been forwarded to US by
friend at Washington. They show
most conclus,vely that Secession was not
first thought of in the autumn of 1860.
nor consequent upon the election of Mr..
Lincoln. They are interesting items in
the history and record of pass ng events:
Secret but powerful efforts to dissolve
the Union have been made in the Gotten
States since 1851; but. on the 7th OF
May, lS49. under the instigation of Cal
houn, then the chief eonspiratcr, a meet
ing was held at jackson, Mississippi. when
the Secession party formally organized to
form Southern Confederaey upon the first
act of the General Government on which
they could base pretext. They there
laid down their programme, which the
conspirators of 80 and 81 have faithfully
acted out. eaa .s.t
after the death of Calhoun in 1850,
Senator Davis and bis confederates. in
both branches of Congress, agreed upon a
previsiona! act, skething a constitution for
Southern Confederacy. He managed
by intrigue, to have himsclf named as its
President! This document and the pro-
ceedings of the conspirators found its way
into the hands of Mr. Clay, but under
such circumstances as forbade any public
use of it.
''ln the morning debate in the United
States Senate. Mr. Clay made frequent
and pointed personal illusions to Davis, in
order to draw forth some remark which
would justify its public use but Da,s.
undoubtedly suspeciing the motive, studi-
ousy avoided giving him the opportunity.
That Constitution was similar to the one
the traitors have now adopted and it
specially provided for the acquisition of
Cuba. Mexico and all tropical America
"General Quitman, however, was the
recognized leader of the dsunion party,
and bis spondence. as Governor of
Mississippi, with the prominent conspira-
tors, especially in South Carolina, fully IL
lustrates that programme, and develops the
treason movement of tbis day,
Writing to Gen. seabrook, the 29th
of September of that year, (lS5O,) he
said:
"Withou' having fully digested pro-
gramme of measures which shall recon-
mend to the Legislature, 1t may be of SER
vice to you to know that propose to call
regular Convention to take into eonside-
ration our Federal relations, with full pow
ers to annul the Federal compact, establish
relations with other States, and adapt our
organic law to such new relations.
x i *
Having no hope of an efectual remedy
for existing and prospective evils but in
separation from the Northern States, my
view Of State action will look to .seces-
sion.
On the 28h September, Gov. M'Rea, of
Mississippi:
Il have not acted without first looking
at the ground before me, and [ take the
privilege of communicating to yo /. in con-
hdence. thus earl y. hasty programme of
our future movements First, then. I be-
lieve there is no effective remedy for the
evils before US. but Secession.
My idea is, that the Legislature should
call convention of delegates, elected by
the people. fully empowered to take into
consideration our Federal relations, and to
change or amend them, to adapt our or
game law to such relations as they might
establish, to provide for making compacts
Will utHeI OtdteS, anu AHdC III the mean
while an effective military system be es-
tablished, and patrol duties most rigidly
enforced.
In the meantime every patriot should
leave NO point untouched where his inhu-
enee can be exerted. Cheer on the faith
tul, strengthen the weak, disarm the sub
misslon:sts; send a fiery cross through the
land +: and send every gallant son of Mis-
sissipi to the rescue"
Gorernor Seabrook TO Qmtnaan, October
Esd October, 1850:
"Let me, however. relterats the assur-
ance that South Carolina is prepared to
second Mississippi or any other State in
any and every effort to arrest the career
OF corrupt and despotic majority. She
is ready and anxious for an immediate
separation from Union whose aim is tie
prostration of our political energies. May
! hope that Mississippi will begin the VA
triotic work, and allow the Palmetto BAN
ner place in the ranks"
On December II. 1850, Coz. .SeaBrooh to