Year: 1861

tI0S 10 AiuCOlu/s AumluistE


A friend having asked the intrepid editor
of the Knoxville Wing whether, since six
States have seeded from the Union, he is
willing 10 risk himself and State under
the administration of Mr.. Lincoln, he
thus replies:


1 am willing to risk myself and State
under the Administration of Mr.. Lincoln.
am not, however, willing to submit to
the outrages the fre-eaters of the South
allege that Mr.. Lincoln intends to commit
on the South. l do not believe that he
will medde with the institution Of slavery
where it is, or seek to deprive the South o:
any right she holds under the Constitution.
And l believe that he will enforce the
Constitution and laws of the United States,
as bis oath of Office requires him to do,
anDas justice to the various sections of the
Union demands at his hands.


If am mistaken in the estimate l have
put upon the integrity and patriotism of
the President elect, and be shall seek to op-
press any one of the States of this Con-
federacy, South or North, l shall readily
Join the other States in seeking to punish
him, and in resisting his administration
But want to see the evidence of this be-
fore l begin the work of resistance;l want
other proof of the bad faith in which Mr..
Lincoln's intends TO act, than the predic-
tions of his enemies. l have submitted
to the administration of James Buchanan
for four years, and my State has done so,
without murmur, aud hold that Lincoln
could not afford the country more corrupt,
partial and infamous administration if he
were to try! Lincoln was elected under
the forms prescribed by our Constitution
and laws, and without fraud at the ballot
box, and it is the duty of all good citizens
10 give him fair test before they condemn
him.


l went into the contest against Lincoln,
as did also my State, knowing him to be a
sectional candidate, upon a sectional plat,
form, and as we were fairly beaten, l feel
bound in honor 10 abide 10y our defeat four
years to come. The regn of Lincoln for
twenty years, even upon the Chicago plat
form, is preferable to the breaking up OF
this Government. Secession is no RENE
DIV for an evil that may arise in our Gov
ernment, and deny its right. The right
of revolution | admit, but l deny that
such remedy is called for in the present
crisis in our affairs l will be told of the
many grievances we of the South have
suffered at the hands of the North. !
have considered the nature of these grev
ances, and their effects upon the commerce
trade and religion of the South, and they
may be expressed in the following words
Tie Democracy of the South hare tos
tie Offices Of the Government and its ins
nae,ese patronage! And large majority
of the free and independent people OF Ten
nessee, taking this veiw of the subject
thsv will refuse to 90 out of the Union.


Having thus fully and frankly answered
the questions propounded, | might here
close my remarks ;but choose to 60 further
and TO say even more. There is scared J
a man of talent and character living, even
at the North, under whose administration
of the General Government l would no
prefer to live, rather than live in South
ern Confederacy, controlled and governed
by the traitors and villains who have .or
iginated and carried out this wicked, dar
ing and damnable scheme of secession.-
The Senators of seven States nave beeI
sitting 10 their seates as Senators, swori
to support Tie Constitution of the United
States, and to act as the privy counsel o
President, aud at the same time they ar
holding secret meetings, plotting the over
throw Of The Government and ConsIitu
ton they had sworn to sustain and support


l consider Benedict Arnold ard Aaro,
Burr patriots and honest men, compared
with these traitors and peJured Williams
| certainly have no desire to live unde
any Government organized by such corrupt
wicked, and hel-deserving men as these
This whole scheme for dssolving this Un
ion was originated and carried out by sucl
men as these. Corrupt, designing, ant
disappointed Southern politicians. who
failing to control the government, resolved
upon its ruin. There are better men ii
hell, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire
than the Southern leaders in this secession
movement. This l say as Southern man
one born and raised here. And all this


will continue TO say as long as have breat
10 speak, or strength TO write.