Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-11-26
LErrER oF GEN. MEAnnrR-

A letter from this distinguished Irishman is
published in u Dublin Newspaper. The follow
ing passage furnishes additional evidence against
the authors oil the rebellion:
The month Of Augu st Immediately preceding
the election of Mr.. Lincoln, Mr.. Toombs and Mr..
Cobb of Georgia-both well and widely known
abroad as well as at home, as politicians of con-
siderable influence mud ability, and as accom-
plisbed gentlemen, occupying high social as well
rs high political position in the South-paid a
visit 10 New York. 4 day or 10 after their
arrival they dine1 with gentleman you are
familiar with, aud who Yields extraordinary
powerWhilst occupying snguarly conspicuous
position, as public man. give you his name
IN private note. For although he told me
the circumstances ! am now relating, without
any reservation whatever, and without ntim-
atng in the least that the information was con-
iidential, do not feel myself at liberty to in-
iroduce his name in this letter, which is dos.
tined to find its way in your columns, presume,
in case neither an iceburg nor an ron-clad
buccanier from Brkenhead oyefhauls it on the
ocean.
Well, at the dinner referred to, in reply to
the protests of this gentleman against the
avowed determination OF the South to secedc, in
the event of Mr., Lincoln being made President,
Mr.. Toomhs declared that the South should never
remain u day in the Union under q Republican
Administration, since tho acceptance of such an
Administration would kepubicanize the Slave
States.
"Why not wait for some new overt net of MIR.
Lincoln against the South, something positive
and tangible, to justify your assertions that it
will be Government of secliOnalism and en-
oronchment, and that it will disregard and set
at nought the obligations imposed upon it by
the Constitution I"
THAT" Mr. Tombs replied, sis what We can-
not afford to do 1t would be fatal to the South,
as political power based upon Slavery to per-
init the experiment Should we recognize Mr..
Lincoln MS our President, and suffer him to
exercise authority in the Slave States, he would
very soon build up in them q Republican party
by his dispcnsation of the Federal patronage.
He would, have, of course, to appoint, from
those who elected him, collectors of the port,
custom house officers, district attorneys, United
States marshals, postmasters, and mail agents,
and every one Of these officers would at once be-
come Republicans, if they we're not Republicans
before, and q multitude Of subordinates would
swell the list in no time. Thus the political
identity Of the South would be destroyed A
party more or less hostile to Slavery would grow
up aud spread itself amongst u.s. and the South
could never ngain hope 10 have the undivided
sway it had"
In other words the aristOorats Of the South
inc MasOnsi OoODs, hunters, bnuells, PreHt0nB
and breckenridge have to relinqush
their monopoly Of Washington, and take a fair
chance, in the contention for public honors and
the magistracy Of the nation, with their less
patrician fellow-citizens of the North and West.
Rather than submit to this, they must set up
Republic for themselves, in which they may rest
assured of an uudisturbed enjoyment OF official
power, and prolong far into the autumn of their
days their midsummer delights Of statesmanship
and diplomacy.
And for this to realize this selfish and insati-
ate ambition, they draw the sword across the
national domain, se.ze the national forts and
ships, plumber the custom houses, sub-treasuries,
and arseuas, reject and violate the national flag,
tear asuuder tho republic with violent hands,
and proceed to erect hostile government upon
Il fragment Of it, amid the cheers, of course Of
all their friends across the water. Think what
a catalogue of folly and selfshness, greediness
of notoriety and dominion, rapaoity, treachery,
irreyerenco and abandonment of all that was
sacred and imperative in the past, recklessness
OF all that was most promising and inspiring in
tho opening yistas OF the future, this Southern
coup d'etdt suiliced to publish to the world.