Year: 1861

tenden's propositions Some Of the North
ern States have repealed their personal lib
erty bills, and others are preparing to do
so. Over a million and half nf votes
we're cast against Lincoln in the North at
the late election-more than the combined
vote of Bell Breckinridge and Douglas in
the whole South Thousands of men in
the North voted for Lincoln without any
reference To his aniislavery opinions 1t
I is thought the great State of pennsylvanis
was carried Cor him on the tariff question
10 view of these facts how can any man
undertake to say to the people Of the South,
that they ought to break up this Govern.
ment rather than wait to see whether the
people of the North will do us Justice. Is the
Government protecting the humblest citi.
zen in person, property and reputation, of
so little value to the people, that they will
not even give it a chance t1 survive the
storm that threatens it? The secessionists
tell us that Tennessee should go out Of the
Union by the 4,h Of March, if additional
guarantees are not given before that time


Why go out before the 4th of March 2 Can
we not 90 out as well after as before that
time We have never been able to per-
ceive the necessity for such hasty action


The question is constantly asked, "What
will we gain by waitng?" We respectfully
ask, what will we lose by reasonable de.
lay? We may gain the Union by wait.
| Iing-we certainly will lose it by precipi
lately rushing out of it. 1t cost our faith
ers much toll and blood and suffering to
form the Union. They thought they were
transmitting to us a Government worth
preserving-a Government which com.
mands respect abroad and secures peace
and prosperity at home. Yet we are told
in effect that this Union of our fathers is
of so little value that we ou ht not to wait
longer than the 4th of March next for its
preservation. Give the Union till the 4th
of March to live, and then if the dangers
that threaten its existence are not entirely
removed We must despatch it at once and
enter into Southern Confederacy, which
we are told will be far better than even our
present form of Government.


Fellow Citizens, such a proposition as
this, two months ago would have startled
you. Is it possible that you eau be in.
duced to break this Government up before
tn, 4th Of March, merely because selfish
politicians who nov coutrol the Federal
Government and the State Governments of
the Norsh, cannot be induced in the twink.
ling Of an eye to convert themselves into
patriots, and give the people Of the North
and the South an opprtunity to settle
their differences ? The destinies of this
great country should not be allowed to
depend upon the Black Republicans now
controlling Congress an1 the legislatures Of
the North. This Government belongs to the
people, it has blessed them. protected aud


nade them free and happy, and they should
now defend and preserve it. The people
made it-let none but the people unmake
liz. We know that d1ngers now surround
il: but the hour Of danger is not the hour
for brave men to desert wha every consid
GRAFTON of honor, interest ami safety should


mpel them to defend. Let us stand firm.
and pa iently ,oah until the people, not the
politicians ofthe North, have nm opportunity
to redress our grievances. We believe they
will do il. But they cannot do it before the
4th of March. Three millions and half
of men cannot be moved in minute. III
requies time to do it in the very nature of
the case. And if by the exercise of patient
irmness, we can save and transmit this
Government to our posterity, we shall have
achieved work for which generations yet
unborn will bless US. Let the great States
Of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina
Tennessee, kentucky and Missouri stand
frm in this demanding of the North
ern people what is right-su uniting to
nothing that is wrong, aud as God reigneth,
we believe that our glorious Uuion may
ha
ton devoutly TO be wished by every patriot
But, if our efforts should finally fall If our
reasonable expectations should be disap>
pointed, if the people of the North should
refuse US our rights, and we should have to
sever our connection with the North, each
one of us can feel amid the ruins Of this
fair fabric of human freedom, that he did
his whole duty to avert the catastrophe We
are sometimes told that Mr. Lincoln will
attempt to coerce the seeding States into
the Union. We cannot believe that he will
be guilty of such wickedness and folly
Coercion is nothing less than civil war in
the present aspect of our affairs And
whilst we cannot subscribe TO the doctrine
that State has the constitutional right to
secede, we are unalterabiy opposed to coer
cion, and any attempt on the part of Mr.
Lincoln to cocrce the Seeding States would
unite every border slave State in firm and
determined resistance,


Should we be eleeied as your delegates
we shall do everything in our power to pre-
serve the Union on basis of equll justice
to all its members. Those who have wit.
messed the quick succession of important
'and startling events can appreciate the din
Guilty of laying down programme of our
action ia detail Should we attempt this
subsequent evon,s might require change


But. we can say this TO Yon. We are friends