Year: 1860

| Abolition party, must inevitably endanger ouI


safety, by throwing the weight Of the Gov


ernment in the scale against us, and by encour-
aging q renewal of the attacks upon us, and
should be prevented by all means yet the
election of President acceptable to the South
| would not permanently remove or modify
the evils under which we suffer. Mr.. Buc-
hanan and his predecessor were both ac-
cepted by the slave States-though did not
vote Gor either of them. Let it be conceded
that they sincerely and earnestly avowed and
maintained the principles which the slave
States deem essential to their safety-yet it is
not to be denied that the Abolition party grew
stronger, bolder, more menacing and danger
Gus under their administrations.


Political parties lack the moral weight me-
cessary to exert solid and permanent influ-
ence on the social enmity which has given rise
| to the disturbing question we are now brought
to consider. 1t lies beyond the sphere Of par


ty platforms. 1t is an antagonism between
people living under different social systems
Our system is offensive to the people Of the
free States as a mass, and they are determin-
ed, not only to deny to US plain provision Of
the constitution in our favor, but to interfere
directly and indirectly with our domestic con-
Germs. We must therefore meet them as q
sovereign people and sovereign State, and
not as Wings or Democrats. The Abolitionists
are not warning upon us because we are Dem
ocrats, Wings or Americans, but because we
are shareholders and citizens of the slave
States, and as citizens of the slave States we
must act. We should not be frightened from
the plain path which duty and loyalty point
out in the present emergency, by the whis-
pered charge that we seek to affiliate" with
this party or that We should all resolve to
unite our eff rts to those of others to whatso-
ever party they may belong, who are earnest
ly en@ged in opposing an enemy which men
aces all men Of all parties in the slave States.


| can preserve my identity as the advocate
Of certain principles in the administration of
the government and yet labor with any man
or any party to avert the threatened calamity
which involves us all. / am willing to accept
the remedy it matters not from what source
the suggestion may come.


am not to be turned away from my pur-
pose by the accusation of being disunionist
l am resolved to meet the emergency which
threatens the annihilation of State sovereign
ty and equality-which threatens the peace
and safety Of Mississippi and her sister slave
States-by adopting that remedy which |
seems to be demanded, and to take its risk |
and its consequences | venerate the Union |
the American confederacy as it stood at |
one time, confedemcy of friendly States
united for mutual safety, and for the per-
petuation Of republican liberty. But when
our cOnfederates prove themselves to be our
most persevering and relentless enemies, and
having obtained the power manifest the will to
convert the bonds Of the Union into letters to
bind US in suhjugation to their will, do not
forget that the Union was designed to secure
peace and protection, and the Constitution es-
Lablished to guarantee the sovereignty, inde-
Dendence and equality of the States; and do
cot hesitate to adopt the most effectual meas
IRE Of resistance or redress because it may
possibly endanger the continuance of the
Union. The highest obligation which rests
Upon me as citizen is to preserve the inde-
pendence Of my State. 1t is alleged that there
S conservatism in the free States, which
nay still be relied on, to re-establish our
induces me to hope that this conservatism will
manifest itself in some actual effort. The
lave States, however should confer together
low and mature plan of action. They
hould meet as States and resolve upon some
lecisive steps to place our relations with the
rec States upon a different footing. If need
'e invite the free States to meet US in conyen-
ion. To remain silent and inactive now
eould be fatal bIunder It vsouId haSs@a
ad influence on the people Of the free States 4
nd more fatal influence on our own. As a
eople they have shown that they are our en-
mics. They place men in power whose on
7 merit is IN intense hatred of US, and they
Ontinue them there to insult and threaten us.
heir language is hostile and their legislation '
hostile to US. Such demonstrations of un- 1
1endly disposition towards US leaves us no
Iternatiye. We must treat them as enemies.
he spirit of the people is now up to the point 8
taking manly and decisive STEP and to ad- I
ise them to halt or temporize is to commit !
tai and irretrievable blunder.


With great respect


Your obedient sery't,


A. NJ. WEST. c
o Messrs. Neill and others of the Senate q