Year: 1860




distinguished gentleman whose name
heads this article, for publication. The
document speaks for itself We hope
all will give it an attentive perusal:
ALEXANDRIA, 10th Sept, 1860.
To Vim. NJ. Farmer, Secretary Breckinridge and
Lane Club, Hamilton, Ouachita:


DEAR SlR-l received to-day your let
ter Of lst inst, inviting me in cordial,
but far too flattering terms, to attend
and address the people at a barbecue to
he given by the Democratic party on the
22d inst, at Ouachita city, parish of
| Union.


My professional and private business
will not permit me to be absent from
here at that time, SO that with great re-
gret, | am compelled to decline the kind
invitation rendered me; besides, have
for several years given up public speak
ing on political subjects. would not,
however, wish to be understood as be-
ing at all uninterestcd, Or even luke
warm in the present contest. j believe
that if we really desire to continue
''united" nation, a strong and decisive
blow must be struck for the South.
| What is true of individuals, is quite as
true Of States-receive insult, without
resentment, sufferyou rights to be tres
passed upon without just cause or pro-
vocation, and what can one expect but
that insult will be added to insult right
after right will he invaded, till the man
sinks below the level of his race; just
so with States and Governments-if
from apprehension of the consequences,
or because the invasion is but tritling
one, or because the point insisted on is,
with honied phrases, represented to be
but "a mere abstraction" the weaker
shall be induced to succumb to the
stronger because it IS the stronger, then,
indeed, nationality fast Gibbs away, and
the knell of independence may be tolled
at once; therefore it is | say, if we Of
the South would be respected, if we
would maintain an alliance with the
Northern States, honorable to us as to
them, (and none other can be perma-
nent, if we would preserve this Union
and transmit it with its manifold and
countless blessings to those who are to
succeed us, We must say to the North,
in manner not to be misunderstood, by
which | mean, that we must show them
we are resolved to act up to what we
say, that come what may, we will to the
utmost resist the slightest infraction of
the Constitutional compact between US,
even should it but involve the destruc-
ton Of a right or privilege which we
might never choose to exercise We
must tell them, "as equals we entered
into the confederacy, and as equals alone
can we remain in it." Let no vague
fears of the future, no apprehension of
disunion and its consequences cause you
to swerve from the plain path of duty
God always protects the right. But no
such dark shadows rise before me, be-
cause l have an implicit confidence and
faith in the intelligence and the honest
wellmeaning of the masses; because |
know, as they know, that the broad
foundations OF National Union rest upon
justice and equality, and that the air
we breathe is not more necessary to our
physical existence, than is this Union to
our-common and general welfare and
because know that when the North
sees the bold and determined attitude of
the South, she will pause, and driving
from her high stations Of honor the fac
tious and restless demagogues who have
been "the fruitful source OF all our woes"
peace and brotherhood will be restored,
and "the Union," SO cherished by all,
will stand more securely than evcr-in
"a word, let the North understand that
we are in earnest, and the victory is won;
that victory which sooner or later com
mon sense must and will achieve over
mere sentimentality, rabid fanaticism or
sham patriotism. For all these reasons
was it more to be desired that at this,
than at any former election, the people
of the South should bave presented q |
front zone and indisisibfe." | had hoped |
that when the convention met at Charles
ton. it would have been so, and all good
mer looked eagerly for the unfurling of
~nat standard, (and which even yet |
hope UNITED SouTH will plant, which
once flung to the breeze, would be
warning, simple, but expressive to Abo-
litionists, Freesoilers and Republicans
that the equality of the States must and
should be preserved. The yaulting am
bition OF Mr.. Douglas has postponed for
a period this consummatien Foiled in
his avowed determination to force upon
the country his platform, he has bowed
himself between the pillars of the TEN
pie and sought to level all in one grand
destruction; partially has he succeeded,
That grand old party, whose history is
the record of this great country's unex
progress, that ever in good faith
has fought the battles of the Constitu-
ton and the Union, sees itself for the