Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-14
An Important Secret Circular.
HUNTSVILLE, ALA, April 10, 1864.

AS the war progresses evidences accumu-
late Of an intention to bring about revolt
OF the slave States, under whatever c,r,un.
stances might arise. No matter what dis.
position the then incoming Administration
might exhibit towards Tie injurious mi.
nortty. No matter what disclaimers and
overturcs might be made to sooth and con.
citlate the South, there is every evidence
that tho leaders prepared in season to coun.
tcract It's elect ana plunge the country into
war.
have to-day come in possession Of q SO.
cret circular, issued at Charleston, five
months before the firing ON Sumter. Ths
document is genuine. 1t is signed by one
Of the wealthicst and ablest lawyers of South
Carolina, and the copy which l enclose to
the Tribune was addressed to one Of tho
most prominent and influential citizens of
Alabama-a Huntsville rtbl whom Go.
Logan ordered south OF our lines
Ii should he borne in mind that this cir.
cu!ar was issued before the meeting of tho
Congress Of lSGl-2-bclore the introduc.
tion Of the Crittenden rcsolutions--beiore
the Peace Congress. Yet now, after nearly
three years OF unparalleled war, you find
incompetent officers and unworthy citizel
proposing these same disclaimers and over
lures.
The italics in the following copy OF tho
circular are mine:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER" THE 1860 AssocIArroY"l
Charleston, 18th November, 1860.
In September last, several gentlemen Of
Charleston, met to confer in reference to tho
1,,gIti,.,, Of G.,,l, Il ., Al
accession OF Mr.. Lincoln and the Rcpubli-
can party to power This informal meet.
ing WAS the origin of the organization
known IN this community as The 1860 AS.
sociaton.'
The objects Of the Association are
lst To conduct correspondence with
leading men in the South, aud, by an inter
change Of information and views, prepare
the slave States to meet the impending cr.
sis.
ID To prepare, print and distribute in
the slave States, tracts, pamphlets &c. de.
signed TO awaken them TO a conviction of
their danger and to urge the necessity of
resisting Northern and Federal aggression.
Sd. To inquire into the deienses OF the
State and to collect and arrange intGrlna-
lion which may aid the Lcgsla ure to estab.
lish promptly, an effective military organi.
cation.
To effect these ol jects, brief and simple
Constitution was al ,pted, creating Presi.
dent, Il Secretary, and Treasurer, and an
Executive Committee, specially charged
with conducting the business of the Asso-
citation. 10000 pamphlets have been pub
lished. and demands for further supplies arc
received from every quarter. The Associa.
tion is now passing several of them through
q second and third edition
The Conventions in several of the South.
ern States will soon be elected The North
is prepared 10 So0tte and coaciLdte the South
By disclaimers and orer'ures The success Of
this policy rould be disastrous 10 the cause Of
Southern Union and Independence and II is
necessary 10 resist and detedt II. The AsSoci-
alton is preparing pamphlets ,cith his special
object Funds are necessary to enable it to
act promptly. The 1860 Association is
laboring for the South, and asks your aid.
am, very respectfully,
Your Obedient servant,
ROBERT n GoURpiS,
Chairman Of the Executive Committee.