Year: 1860

out of the Union, it would all amount to
little except to Inconvenience the people of
that State, 80 long as the State did not in
terfere with the collection of the revenue on
the seaboard. The people in other portions
of the Union would not be in the least in
commoded. What is the South Carolina
army to do when raised? Whom is it to
fight? Manifestly, if it commences war
on the United States officers engaged in
collecting the revenue, it becomes the ag-
gressor.


This would be revolution and making
war without cause, for South Carolina
makes no complaint against the present
revenue laws. Is she prepared for this?
To become the aggressor? The only use I
can see Tor her minute men, is that they will
enable the people more readily to suppress
any uprisings in their midst, which their
Misrepresentation of purposes may have
encouraged. She complains that the Fugi-
tive Slave Law is not executed in some of
the States. This, if true, the whole country
knows to be sham so far as South Caro-
lima is concerned She is so situated that
no slave can escape from her limits into free
States. However much cause the border
States may have to complain of the escape
of their negroes into the free States, it is
clear that South Carolina can have no such
complaint. In her resolves, she PROCESSES
to be preparing to defend herself against
encroacbments on her rights. Let her ad-
here to this policy, and not attempt to
dictate to other States what they shall do,
and no collision will occur, for no encroach-
ments will be made.


The disunion feeling in the South is doubt
less greatly exaggerated. A sort of terror
ism seems to prseail in some places, which
for the time appears to have crushed out any
manifestation of Union sentiment; but as
the causes for this excitement are oil imag-
mary, the election of a Republican Presi>
dent, in the constitutional mode, certainly
affordiDg no excuse for it. it is reasonable to
suppose that reaction will soon take place
among the Southern people themselves
which will overthrow the disunionists at
home.


1t is great mistake to class the sup
pOrters of Mr.. Breckenridge as disunionists.
Some few of them may be, but Mr.. Breck-
inridge himself and bis supporters as class
are, doubt not, as sincerely attached to
the Union as many of those who, for politi-
cal purposes during the recent excited con-
test, sought to fasten upon them the stigma
of disunion.


Should the conservative and Union men
in any particular locality be unable to cope
with their advocates, and South Carolina
or any other State, under the lead OF nulli-
tiers and disunioDists, who have for years
been seeking a pretext for breaking up the
government, plunge into rebellion, and,
without cause, assail by force of arms the
constitutional authorities of the Union,
there will be but one sentiment among the
great mass Of the people of all parties and
in all parts OF the country, and that will be,
that " the Union, it must and shall be pre-
served" and woe to the traitors who are
marshaled against it.


Should any Republican inquire what has
been gained by the triumph of Republicans
ism, answer much. We have gained
decision of the people in favor of Pacific
railroad, homestead policy, judicious
tariff. the admission into the Union OF Kan
sas as free State. reform in the financial
department of the government, and more
important than all, the verdict of the peo.
pie, the source of power, and from whose de.
cision there is no appeal, that the constitu-
tion is not slavery extending instrument.
No more Dred Scott decisions will now be
made. Freemen both OF the North and
the South will hereafter be protected iu all
their constitutional rights. The policy of
the government, as of old, will now set in
favor of freedom, and not for the suprema-
cy of slavery, as has been the case for the
last six years. Freedom will henceforth be
the law of the territories, because the peo-
pile in their majesty have so decided, and
neither courts or congresses will be able to
thwart their will.