Year: 1860

THE POSITION OF THE DEMOCRATS OF THE NORTHWEST


ON LIsUNIoN.


WAsHINGToN, Dec. U.-The Democrats from the
Northwest have had several conferences relative tc
the present condition of their political affairs
They generally take the position set forth in
Messrs. McClernand and Vallandngham's speeches
yesterday, viz: That the Union cannot be dissolv
ed peaceably; that the Northwest will, under NJ
circumstances, consent to be cut off from the Gul
of Mexico and the city of New York; that the Gov
ernment, whatever may be its faults is ofinestimable
value The leading idea is a Central Government,
embracing the Middle, Western and Border slave
States, but depending for its consummation on fu-
ture circumstances.


Lieutenant General Scott will arrive here to-
morrow.


STATE CONVENTION OF NEW JERSEY on THE PoLlrr-


CAL CRISIS.


TRENTON, Dec 1.-THE State Convention called
to consider the present dangers which threaten the
Union, which assembled here to-day, is largely at
tended. Col. VIM. G. Alexander was chosen Pre-
sident. Commodore Stockton chairman of the com.
mittee to prepare an address to the people, pre-
sented an address with resolutions, both of which
were adopted amidst much confusion.


The address declares that the North has commit.
ted great wrongs and must retrace her steps by the
repeal OF all laws preventing the execution of the
fugitive slave-laws allowing the citizens of the
Southern States to travel North with their property
The resolutions say, that all the South asks is
the acknowledgement of her clear cons titutional
rights. She looks not for indemnity for the past,
but security for the future.


The following committee appointed to con-
suit and advise with other States Com r. f
Stockton, r. NJ. Price, Peter d. Vroom, Benjamin
Williamson, Jos. F. Randolph and W. C. Alex
ander.


EXTRA SESSION LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE.


BATON RoUGE, Dec. 11.-The extra session of the
Louisiana Legislature met yesterday. The Cover
nor's Message exhorts calmness and deliberation.
He recommends the calling of State Convention,
and says Louisiana ought not to refuse to meet her
sister saveholding States in council, to demand of
the North the repeal of obnoxious legislation and
guarantees for the future. He says these questions
should be met before the Inauguration of Mr. Lin
coin, because the sefrespect and honor of the
State does not comport with her remaining under
the administration of Black Republican Presi.
dent.


The members of the Legislature are not disposed
to act hastily, but they favor the purchase CT
arms, and preparing for an emergency.


LETTER or SECRETARY COBB TO THE PEOPLE OF


GEORGIA.


The fact that Mr.. Cobb had written letter adj
dressed to the people of Georgia. has already been
announced. The document has appeared and we
make the following extracts:


After referring to the origin and purposes of the
republican party, hesays


Can there be a doubt in any intelligent mind that
the object which the black republican party has in
view is the ultimate extinction of slavery in the
United States? To doubt it is to cast the imputa-
tiCn of hypocrisy and imbeciity upon the major
ity of the people of every Northern State who have
stood by this party through all its trials and strug-
giles to its ultimate triumph in the election of Lin
coin. | am sure that no one can entertain
for them individually or collectively less personal
respect than | do, and yet | do give them
credit for more sincerity and intelligence than
is consistent with the idea that in obtaining
power they will refuse to exercise it for the
only purpose for which they professed to
seek it. l do believe that with all their meanness
and duplicity they do hate slavery and Shareholders
quite much as they say they do, and that no ar.
gument addressed to their hearts or judgments in
behalf of the constitutional rights of the South
would receive the slightest consideration. What
might be effected by appeal to their fears Gu
pidity will not now stop to discuss.


He closes as follows:


The facts and considerations which | have en-
deavored to bring to your view present the proDri-





election of Lincoln in very different light from the
question of resisting the election OF President
who has been chosen in the usual and constitutional
mode. 1t is not simply that a comparatively OBJ
scure abOlitOnist, who hates the institution of
the South has been elected President, and that
asked to live under the administration of a
man who commands neither respect nor conf
dence; that the South contemplates resistance even
to disunion. Wounded honor might tolerate the
outrage until by another vote of the people the
nuisance could be abated but the election of Mr.
Lincoln involves far higher considerations. IL
brings to the South the solemn Judgment of a ma.
ioritv of the people of every Northern State, with
a solitary exception in favor of doctrines and urn
ciples violative of her constitutional rights. hum
liatng to her pride, destructive of ber equality il
the Union, and fraught with the greatest danger tc
the peace and safety of her people. 1t can be re-
garded in other lig ght than declaration of the
purpose and intentions of the people Of the North
to continue, with the power of the Federal Go
vernment, the war already commenced by the
ten nullitying States of the North upon the
institution OF slavery and the constitutional
rights Of the South. To these acts of bad faith
the South has heretofore submitted, though con.
stituting ample justification for abandoning com.
pact which had been wantonly violated. The
question is now presented, whether longer submis-
sion to an increasing spirit and power of aggres'
sion is compatible either with her honor or her
safety. In my mind there is no room for doubt.
The issue must now be met or forever abandoned.
Equality and safety in the Union are at an end and
it only remains to be seen whether our manhood is
equal to the task of asserting and maintaining in
dependence out of it. The Union formed By our
fathers was one of equality, justice and frater.
nity. On the 4th of March it will be suppIanted
by a Union of sectionalsm and hatred. The one
was worthy of the support and devotion of freemen
the other can only continue at the cost of your
honor, your safety and your independence. Is there
remedy for this state of things but immediate Sc
cessiOn? one worthy your conservatism has been
suggested except recommendation of MIR. Buchan.
an, of new constitutional guarantees rather the
clear and explicit recognition of those that already
exist. This recommendation is the counsel of
patriotic statesman. 1t exhibits appreciation
of the evils that upon US, and at the same time
a devotion to the Constitution and its sacred guar
antees. 1t conforms to the record of Mr. Buchan.
ans life on this dstracting questionable record o.
a pure heart and wise head. 1t is the language oil
a man whose heart is overwhelmed with sense OF
the great wrong and injustice that has been done
the minority section, mingled with an ardent hope
and desire to preserve that Union to which he has
devoted the energies of a long and patriotic life
The difficulty is that there will be response
power to act. Black Republicanism is thc
ruling sentiment at the North, and by
the election Of Lincoln has pronounced in
the most formal and solemn manner against the
principles which are now commended to the cOun'
try for its safety and preservation. As a matter O
course they will spurn these words of wisdom and
patriotism, as they have before turned their back
upon all the teachings of the good and true men o
the land, or else they will play with us in their in
sidious warfare to deude the South into false
security, that they may the effectually rivet
their iron chains, and thereby put resistance in
the future beyond power. They have tram
pied upon the Constitution of Washington and
Madison and will prove equally faithless to their
pledges. You ought not, cannot, trust them. 1t il
not the Constitution and the laws of the United
States which need amendments, but the hearts o.
the Northern people. To effect the first would be
hopeless undertaking, whilst the latter is an i'm
possibility. If the appeal of the President wa!
made to brethren of the two sections of the
country, we might hope for different response
Unfortunately, however, Black Repubhcanism ha:
buried brotherhood in the grave with the
Constitution. We are no longer brethren dwelling
together in unity. The ruling spirits of the North
are Black Republicans, and between them and the
people of the South there is other feeling than
that of bitter and intense hatred Aliens in heart
no power on earth can keep them united. Nothing
now holds us together but the cold forma(ties of a
broken and violated Constitution. Heaven has
pronounced the decree of divorce, and it will be ac
cepted by the South as the only solution which
gives TO her any promise of future peace and safety
To part with our friends at the North who have
been true and faithful to the Constitution will cause
a pang in every Southern breast, for with them we
could live for ever peaeeablY, safely, happily
Honor and future security, however, demand the
separation, and in their hearts they will approve
though they may regret, the act.


Fellow citizens of Georgia, | have endeav ored
to place before you the facts of the in plain
and unimpassioned language and i should feel
that l had done injustice to my connections,
and been unfaithfu to you, if did not in conclu-
sion warn you against the dangers of delay, and
impress upon you the hopelessness of any remedy
for these evils short of secession. You have to
deal with shTewd heartless and Inscriptions
enemy, who in their extremity may promise any
thing, but in the end will do nothing. On the 4th
day of March 1861 the Federal government will
pass into the hands of the abolitionists. 1t will