Year: 1862

10 them. The effect of these measures
was foretold, and may now be seen in
the indurated state Of Southern feeling.


To these causes, Mr.. President, and
not to our omission to vote for the RESP.
lu,ion recommended byyou, we solemnly
believe we are to attribute the earnest
ness of those ia arms against the govern
ment and the continuance OF the war;
Nor do we (peimit us to say, Mr.. Presi'
dent, with all the respect for yon,) agree
that the institution of slavery is "the
lever Of their power" but we are of the
opinion that "the lever of their power"
is the apprehension that the powers of
common government, created for com.
mon aud equal protection to the inter.
ests Of all, will be welded against the
institutions of the Southern States.


There is one other idea in your ad.
dress we feel called on to notice. after
stating the fact of your reputation OF
Gea. Hunters proclamation, you add:


Yet, in rcpudiating it, gave dis.
satisfaction, il not offence, to many
whose support the country cannot all.
ord Ia loose. and this is not the end
of it. The pressure in this direction
is still upon me, and is increasing. by
conceding what | now ask you can re


ieve me. and much more, can relieve
the country in this Important point"


We have anxiously looked into this
passage to discover its true import, but
we are yet in painful uncertainty. How
can we, by conceding what you now ask,
relieve you and the cuntry from the in-
creasiug pressure to which you refer?-
We will not allow ourselves to think
that the proposition il, that we consent
to give up slavery, to the end that the
Hunter proclamation may be let loose on
the Southern people, for it is too well
known that we would not be parties to
any such measures, and we have too
much respect for you to imagine you
would propose IL. Can IT mean that
by sacrificing our interest in slavery we
appease the spirit that controls that
pressure, cause it TO be withdrawn, and
rid the country of the pcstilent agitation
Of the slavery question? We are forbid
den SD to think, for that spirit would
not be satisfied with the liberation of
seven hundred thousand slaves, and cease
its agitation of the thrse millions re-.
naming in bondage. Can it mean that
by abandoning slavery in our Ststes we
are removing the pressure from you and
the cou ntry, by preparing for separa-
alton Oh the line of the cotton Sta.es!-
6. a .nl, n
is known that We are and we believe that
you are, unalterably opposed to any di-
vision at all We would prefer to think
that you desire this concession as a
pledge of our support. and thus enable
you to withstand pressure which
weighs heavily on you and the country.
Mr.. President, no such sacrifice is neces-
sary to secure our support. Confinc
yourself to your constitutional authority;
conhne your subordinates within the
same limits; conduct this war solely for
for the purpose Of restoring the consti;u-
ton to the Legitimate authority; concede
to each State and its loyal citizens their
just rights, aud we are welded to you by
indissoluble ties Do this, Mr.. President.
and you touch the American heart and
invigorate it with new hope. You will,
as we solemnly believe, in due time re-
store peace to the country, lift it from
desondency to future glory; aud pre-
serve to your countrymen, their poster
ity, and man, the inestimable treasure
Of constitutional government.


NJ. D.o,;Joo, ana h.vo statod NTH
frankness and csndor the reasons on
which we forbode TO vote for the reso-


luton you have men tion ed; but you have
again presented this proposition, and ap.
pealed to us with earnestness and elo-
quence which have not failed to impress
us to consider it, and at the least to
commend it to the consideration Of our
States and people" Thus appealed to
by the Chief Magistrate of our beloved
country, in the hour of its greatest peril
we cannot wholly decline. We are will.
ing to trust every question relating to
their interest aud happiness to the con-
sideration and ultimate Judgment Of our
own people. While differing from you
az. To the necessity Of emancipating the
slaves Of our border States rs means
of putting down the rebellion, aud while
protesting against the propriety of an
extra territorial interference to induce
the people of our State to adopt any
particular line of policy on subject
which peculiarly and exclusively belongs
to them, yet when you and our brethren
of the loyal States sincerely believe that
the retention of slavery by us is an OBJ
stacle to peace aud national harmony,
and are at harmony, aud are willing to
contribute pecuniary aid to compensate
our States and people for the inconven-
iencies produced by such a change Of sys.
TEN, we are not unwilling that our peo-
pie shall consider the propriety of putting
il aside.


Bat we have already said that we reg.
arded this resolution a. the utterance OF a
sentiment and we had no confidence that
it would assume the shape of a tagible
practical proposition, which would yield
the fruits Of the sacrifice it required
Onr people are Influenced by the same
want of confidence, aud will not consider
the proposition in its present impalpable
form. The interest they are asked to
/ IL