Year: 1860




advantage. He says:


The probability is that the Black Re.


publican candidate will be elected Presi,


dent Of the United States 1t is a criev-


ols misfortune, and one to be deeply Ia,


mentea by every citizen Of the South


But it must be remembered that the Sou


thern States will have brought this misior-


tune, gricyous as it may be, on themselves,


by their own divisions and party strife


Nothing can be more clearly shown. 1t


was predicted at the time, and the South


torewarned Of the impending danger.


If the seeding members of the Charles
ton Convention had retained their seats in
that body, Breckenridge and Lane, or 9th
ers equally acceptable to the Southern


States, would have been the nominees of
the Democratic party for President and


Vice President 1t was well ascertain
ed fact that Douglas could not, under any
contingency, get the two-thirds vote req
usitc to nomination. After number
of ballotings the friends of Judge Douglas
would have cast their votes for Hunter,
Brcckinridgc, Dickinson, or some one else
acceptable to the South. But after the
withdrawal Of Il portion Of the Southern
delegates they became excited and more
/ disposed to adhere to their candidate.
! The adjournment to Baltimore WAS for the
purpose Of giving the friends Of Judge
Douglas, in the seeding States, an oppor-
tunity Of sending delegates in place Of
those who Withdrew. This fact know.


judging from the course pursued by
other Presidents, and that policy which
usually governs politicians whilst in pow
cr, instead of doing any rash, violent or
unconstitutional act to injure or offend
those opposed to Kim, it is likely Lincoln
will pursue a very cautious, polite and
wise course towards the South. 1t can
not be in the nature of any man elevated
to the Presidency to wish to see the Gov
crnmcnt broken up under the Admins
tration, the Republic dismembercd and
the country plunged in 4 civil war. Very
likely his great effort will be to acquire
popularity in the Southern States, and ap-
pease their opposition by rigid adher-
cnce to the Constitution and respect for
the rights of the South. 1t is not at all
improbable that the South may find more
favcrs under the administration of Lincoln
than they have under any Democratic ad
ministration. 1t may be that "Old Abe
will 20 out of Office quite a fayorite with
the Southern people. At least We should
give him a trial


The election Of President in confor-
nifty with the Federal Constitution, is no
ground whatever for breaking up the Re
public, no matter how bitterly opposed to
him We may be. We must wait and dc
eide on his acts and measures nothing
less will justify Us in the eyes Of the
world, or in the opinion Of our own peo-
pie To inculcate the notion that por- (
ton of the citizens Of 4 Republic may
break up and rcvolutionize their Govern
mcnt, because they have been defeated in
their choice of Chief Magistrate, is the !
of the first principles Of Re
publicanism, and sanctioning that which
leads inevitably to lawless despotism.





II may be that | am mistaken in sup
posing slavery to be out of the reach Of
the assaults Of its foes, and if so will be
as ready as any one to defend it at the
sacrifice Of the Union itself as much as
value the Union. But am not willing
10 act prcmaturely when there is no dan
ger. As to dissolving the Union on a
mere abstraction, the right to carry slaves
wherever Shareholders desire to carry
hem, and where they would be worthless
f carried, | am opposed to it now and
orever, and shall endeavcr to defend the
lights Of the South in the Union where
think they have been heretofore proper
Y defended, and may still be defended, if
he South is true to herself and united in
hat defence +
To consummate this folly, it proposed, :
pr South Carolina TO march out of the
MON solitary and alone. That if left
lone We shall do very well, and if an at
,mpt is made TO force us back, the South
ill rally to tho rescue. We had better
2t be l./i alone, II ace oppose the collection
fduties We may withdraw our MEM
FRS of Congress, and no one will disturb I
;. In 1851, President Fillmore did not
anifcst any disposition to let Us alone.
e sent troops to Charleston. General Il
ackson did the same in 1881. We must :,
It, therefore, expect to be let alone, q
i'll the other Southern States rally to T
II assistance in doing that which they :,
emselvcs think it advisable not to doy +
ould it not be more prudent to get =,
EN- to unite with us beforehand? And o.
they will not unite in our action, for us =,