Year: 1861

regardless of minor conditions, are en-
quiring how the dangers with which our
country is threatened can most eflectually
and speedily be avoided. II we would
all thus enquire and act in accordance
with our honest convictions, | can but
believe that the storm now portendng
ruin to all our best interests would soon
be allayed.


In some sections of the State, and
have no doubt in yours, a studied effort
| is being made to divert the attention of
the people from the real merits of the
present controversy. 1t is to be hoped
that such efforts will not be successful,
but on the contrary that the people with
out being led astray, by the cry Of party
OF no party or BY the hypocrtIcal objec.
tion to these resolutions or that, will grasp
the issue as IL is, and after giving to it
that consideration which its great impor-
tancc demands, SO vote as that their opin-
ions and feelings may be properly repre-
sented, and their most vital interests sub
served.


lfthe people of the South give credit to
the Republican press of the North they
must conclude that large body of our
people not only sympatbize with them in
their opposition to the Government, but
are actually prepared to give them aid
and comfort whenever the opportunity
shall offer. No one in his sober senses
/ living in the free States, believes for q
moment that those who conduct and con-
troll the press that are serious in making
such charges against their own fellow
citizens, or believe that such a state of
| things exist among us. Every man, who
is not led or driven, knows that such
charges are made for mere political consid
erations and party effect, generally with
tho hope Of influencing the action Of some,
but not unCrequently to crafty some an
cient malice. The serious effect of such
charges is in the influence they may have
upon the people of the South, in stimu-
lating them to prolong their opposition
to the Government, with the hope that
this suppressed sympathy in the North
may soon III manifest itself in some prac-
tical form.


1t may well be said that tho people of
the North are united in their determine
to support the Government and preserve
the Union. With some the object to be
accomplished is not very laudable, but
with the masses the object is pure and
single "to preSerre Tie Uatou for tie sake
fMe Union" And the great question
which we must so5erl y and candiily con
slider is How can this be done with the
least loss Of life and trcosuse and without
Il sacrifice OF honor?


In my letter accepting the nomination
for Governor, | endeavored to state brief
ly and distinctly my position as to our
duty in the premises. and the line of pol
icy which thought ought to be adopted.
In it said what | now repeat that "the
great body of the people in the South
care loyal the government thcir sym
"pathy is with it and for it, if the real
Controversy was fairly before them and
"they were permitted to act in accordance
"wth their own feelings and Judgments


Entertaining the belief that the masses
of the South were honest but deceived
that their present hostile attitude toward
the Government was not because they
preferred any other form Of Government
VI ht'l IbNb NiINii ''' 'i'hN VI
thcir fathers, but because they had been
led to believe that the people of the North
had adopted and cherished sentiments
and feelings hostile to them and their in
tcrcatt, and that their only security was
in Government to be administered by
themselves. IeXprcSscd the further opin-
ion, "that it was our duty in justice to
"them as well Us ourselves, for the sake
"oi our common country, for the sake of
humanity to undcccive them to invite
"thcm into National Convention where
owe might consult together for our com,
"mon good, and by wise measures
"providc against any and every line of
"policy whichif pcrscvered in must result
lin our common rum


In expressing these opinions and indi-
eating this line OF policy | made the dis
tinction between the people thus deceived
and ovcrpowcred and those who had prac-
ticed the deception, and are now leading
in tho rebellion or revolution intended to
be produced by it. and as against those
and shall ever insist that the Government
must be maintained and the Union pre-.
served.


Mr.. EwlNG (thc President Of the 9th of
| September Convention) n gentleman of
large experience any undouhcd putriot.
ism concurs in the opinion that the mass
/ of the people OF the South are, in scnti-
ment and feeling, loyal to tho Govern
mcnt that their present attitude is either
the result OF restraint or msrepresenta-
ton.


Col. Ton, the opposing candidate for
Governor, is still more emphatic in bear
ing testimony in favor of this opinion
lie says:


believing that the masses of the
South still love the Union, and would
"were they left untrammellod and un-
"forced, declare tomorrow their will for
"its continuance, utterly repudiatc the
"monstrous and wicked plea and
petition Of the iing-leaders of the
conspiracy, and would urge war etor-
"nally until they aro brought to condign
punishment, and their misguided fol-
"lowers restored to reason and brought
"back to a recognition of the true pur-
"poSes aud intentions of the Federal
"Government, from which by artiu cum
"ning and gross misrepresentation they
"huve been mised and blinded"


We then agree that the masses are
loyal we agree that they have been de-
| ceiyed wa apree that they have been led