Litchfield enquirer., 1863-04-02

direction of political matters to the few. This he called placing power in the head of society l Does the Senator uphold this doctrine to his hearers. and encourage them to yield up their cherished rights to the few Does he dare deny. thet these are the doctrines of the south ern leaders of the Rebellion? Does he tell them that Mr. R. H. Garnett of Virginia in a letter dated from the Virginia Convention, May Sd, 1881, addressed to w. H. Tresc ett 1 which is full to overdowing with reasonable sentiments. and in which he expresses the earnest hope that there would be separation of the States, and that the South would estab fish new .Jorm of government, that letter contains the following paragraph:
 "I must acknowledge, my dear sit, that look to the future with almost as much appre hens ion as hope. You seeu object to the term democrat. Democracy, ia its original philo- sophical sense $, indeed, incompatible scifh slaoery, and the sohole system cf Southe,n So ciety Yet. if we lock back, what change will you find made in any of our State constitutions, or in our legislation, in its gener- al course for the last fifty years, which was not in the direction of democracy? Do not it's principles and theories become daily more fixed in our practice, had almost said in the opinions of our people-did I not remember wi tn pleasure the great improvement of opin. ion in regard the abstract question of slavery. And if such is the case, what have we to hope for the future? I do hesitate to say that if the question is raised between Carolina and the Federal Government, and the latter prevails, the last hope of Republican government, and fear of Southern civilzatien, is gone. Russia will then be better government than ours"
 Will the Senator consent to read to his en- frightened audiences the following ex xtraets from debates in the Soul. Carolina Secession Con- vention, wherein it is shown most conclusively that Secession from the Union has been fla vorite project with the South for many long years before Abraham Lincoln or John c. Ere mont were ever thought of in connection with the Presidency, and even while Ministers of the Gospel in the North were apologizing for their institution from their pulpits. Let him tell his hearers what Southern Statesman thought of the Fugitive Slave Law :-
 "MR. PARKER. Mir. President, it appears to me, with great deference to the opinions tlat have been expressed, that the public mind is fully made up to the great occasion that now awaits us. It is no spasmodic effort that has come suddenly upon us, but it has been grad ually eliminating for a long series of years, until at last it has come to that point when we may say the matter is entirely right"
 "MR. INGL1s. Mir. President, if there is any gentleman present who wishes to debate this matter, of course this body will hear him but as to delay for the purpose of 8 discussion, l for one am opposed to it. As my friend Mir. Parker) has said, most of us have had this matter under consideration for the last twenty years, and presume we have by this time ar rived at decision upon the subject"
 "MR KEITT. Sir, we are performing a great act, which involves not ,ouly the stirring present, but embraces the whole great forcs of ages to come. l have been engaged in this movement ever sinca entered pelitical life. l am content with what has been done to-day, and content with what will take place to nor row. We have carried the body of this Union to its last resting place, and now we will drop the flag over its grave. After that is done, l am ready to adjourn and leave the remaining ceremonies for to-morrow."
 "MR RHErr The secession of South Car olina is not an event of day. It is not any thing produced by Mir. Lincoln's election. or by the non-election of the Fugitive Slave Law. It has been matter which has been gather ing head for thirty years. The election off Lincoln and Hamlin was the last straw on the back of the camel. But it was not the only one. The back was nearly broken before. The point upon which differ from my friend is this He says he thought it was expedient for us to put this great question before the world upon the simple matter of wrongs on the question of slavery, and that question turned upon the Fugitive Slave Law. Now, in regard to the Fugitive Slave Law, myself doubt its constituti onality. and doubted it on the floor of the Senate, when vas member of that body The States, acting in their sovereign capacity, should be responsible for the rend- tien of fugitive Slaves. That was our best securit,.'
 If the Senator will communicate hcse .facts to the people of his District. and desires still others of the same pnrport. we will furnish them. We will enable him t, show by doc un entary evidence, that the entire ocerthrosc of democratic institutions, is the object of the Shareholders Rebellion.
 17TH DIsTaIcT.