Year: 1860

MISCELLANEOUS.


Patriotic Letter.


The leading merchants and politicians of
New Orleans addressed letter to Judge
Douglas requesting him to address their
citizcns on the present crisis in our politi-
cal affairs We predicted a few weeks
since that this able, much-abused statesman
would soon be called on by both sections to
roll back the tide of Disunion which is now
chilling the arteries Of commerce and the
hearts Of patriots in all portions of our
confcderacy. When Douglas reaches the
Senate, two weeks hence, those who have
be-slimcd him with their malignant false
hoods will see how proudly he will bear
himself as the Pacificator Of that Sectional
war which was got up by South and North
almost exclusively to destroy him.


Here is his noble letter to the New
Orleans invitation:


GEsTLEMEN-Y request to address the
citizens of New Orleans "on the present
condition of the affairs of our country"
has just been placed in my hands. An in
vitation so numerously signed by the most
eminent business men of this great COM
mercial city, implies a compliment which |
duly appreciate, and am exceedingly reluc-
tant to decline.


These are not the times for patriotic men
to affect Indifference, or to degenerate into
despondency, or to rush madly into violent
and extreme measures. just in proportion
as our common country is cnvironed with
peril, it becomes the imperative duty OF
every patriot in the land to increase his cf.
forts and exert his utmost powers and
energies to rescue the Republic from the
disasters which threaten its integrity.
No man in America regrets the election
Of Mr.. Lincoln more than | do; none made
more strenuous eXertions to defeat him
none differ with him more radically and
irreconcilably upon all the great issues in
volved in the contest No man living is
prepared to resist, by al the Legitimate
IN ans sanctioned by the Constitution and
laws Of our country, the aggressive policy
which he and his party are understood to
represent. But while | say this, | am
bound. as good citizen and law abiding
man, to declare my conscientious convic-
ton that the mere election of any man to
the Presidency by the American people, in
accordance with the Constitution and laws,
does not of itself furnish any just cause or
reasonable ground for dissolving the Federal
Union.


1t is not pretended, so far as am inform
ed, that any provision of the Constitution
has been violated in the recent clection.-
No act has been done which impairs or
destroys the constitutional rights of any
State or citizen. Nothing has yet occurred
TO release any citizen from his oath of fidcl.
ity to the Constitution OF the United States,
which is the supreme law Of every State
and Of every citizen. But while it is con-
ceded that no act has yet been done which
impairs the rights or endangcrs the peace
and safety of any portion OF our country,
it is dpprehended that the election of Mr..
Lincoln carries with it the assurance that
the policy and principles of tie party by
which he was elected will prevail, and be
carried into practical effect III every depart
mcnt of the Federal Government, and
thereby uiU cndanger the peace and safety
of the slaveholding States. Is this appre-
hCtiSioA Will iOuuoCt. po ttlC IGSllttS Vi
the recent election justify this apprchen.
| sion? The President can do nothing ex-
cept what the law authorizes. If he fails
to perform this duty he will soon find him
self a prisoner before the high court of i'm
parchment. Fortunately, that tribunal is
SO constituted as to command the conf
dence of the people of the entire South, as
well as Of the conservative men of the
North. We have this security that the
existing laws will be faithfully executed. |
have yet to learn that the people Of the
South complain of the acts OF Congress no,c
on the statue book, upon the subject OF
slavery, as applicable to the States or the
Territories, or to the District of Columbia.
These laws were enacted mainly, if not
entirely, by the joint 4 ton Of the conser-
vativc members of the North and South, in
opposition to the Abolitionists and Free Soil
ers, and have been acquicsccd IN by the
Southern people as well as by their Sena.
tors and Representatives, andcr the present
and preceding administrations Of the fede.
ral government. Consequently, it is fai,
to presume that the South, so far from de.
manding the repeal of the existing laws
upon the subject Of slavery as essential to
her safety and equality in the Union, will
insist upon their being retained upon the
statute book and faithfully executed. No,
are we permitted to infer that the Southern
people require any additional legislation by
Congress on this subject, for the reason
that the Southern Senators and Repre-
>entatives have not introduced and advo
Gated any changes in the existing Legislation
upon the slavery question under the pre-
sent administration and that Of Mr.. Pierce
when the Abolitionlsts and Free Soilcrs
were in the minority in both houses o.
Congress.


! Assuming therefore, that the Southern
! people and their Senators and Representa-
tives deem under their rights and insttu
tons entirely safe under the con>ttuon and
laws as they now stand, and only desire te
be let alone, without any interference BY
| (!opurnSc tpith thair domestic ,np,orpe <h<