Year: 1861

party in the slaveholding states bad la


bored more than once to declare himsel


devoted friend of the Union. Willis


on the other hand the distrust in him in


spired by the character of his principa


advocates had the effect Of alternating


from him numbers even in bis own state


who preferred the security offered tc


them by the friends of another candidate


brought forward exclusively as the up


holder of the Union, of the constitution


and the enforcement Of the laws. The


slaveholdng states were thus divided be-


tween these two influences, aeither o.


venturing before the people to whisper


the theory Of disunion. A very large


minority Of the aggregated voters sus-


tanned the most thoroughly pledged can
didate, whilst Tennessee and Kentucky
gave him their electoral votes, and even
the Old Dominion, never before known
to wayer in the course marked out by


her acknowledged and ancient leaders,


was seen to transfer her votes to the


more loyal side. All these events were
mot the natural forerunners of premedi-


tsted disafection to the constitutional
government. They can only be accoun-


ted for by pIesuming a fund of honest


attachment to it at bottom. And the in


ference which | draw is that the feelings


of majority of well-disposed persons


have been suddenly carried away by
sympathy with their warmer and more


violent friends IN South Carolina, so that
they have not stopped calmly to weigh
the probable consequences Of their own
precipitation.


If | were to need more evidence to
prove to me the absence of deliberate in
tent, outside of South Carolina, to set
aside an election regularly made, I thinl.
l could find it in the earnestness with
which other causes have been set up in
Justification Of resistance. 1t has been
alleged that various grievances have been
suffered, much oppression has been en-
iure1, aud certain outrages have been
committed upon the people of the slave
holding states, which render their longer
stay in the Union impossible, unless con-
hdence can be inspired that some rene
dies may be applied to stop the evils in
future. They aver that their rights are
40 longer secure in remaining with us,
and that the alternative left Is to with
iraw themseiyes before acquiescence shall
nave prepared them for ultimate subju-
cation. They come to us and demand
hat these complaints shall be listened to,
md these apprehensions allayed, before
hey can consent to further abide under
he authority of a common head.


And here some Of my friends on the
light reply with equal warmth aud not
ess reason, that they are unconscious of
laving done wrong in electing a pgesi- !
lent according to the constitution that
hey are not aware Of any real grievan-
.es that demand redress, and that they
eel disincined to enter upon any exper-
ment to quiet any apprehensions which
ire in their opinion either artificial or i'm
.ginary. What they appeal to is the
as it is-and If obedience to /
IS acquisitions be not voluntarily render
d in any quarter, the only proper rem
.dy is coercion.


] should p,-hapa be disposed to con
ur in this view were this a case of de-
iberate and wilfnl con piracy to subvert
he government. am not sure that !
would not apply the doctrine to the peo-
lie Of South Carolina, who have long
.een known to be generally disafected. |
They neither demand nor expect anyre-
ress or even consideration Of their griev-
noes. They declare themselves only to
e executing reasonable project they
ave been meditating for twenty years,
They have Therefore put themselves with
ut the pale OF negotiation. There is not
ven a minority of the citizens who re-
lonstrate. The case is otherwise with /
be other states. There is evident hesi-
alton and reluctance in adopting the ir-
evocable policy Of disunion. There is


lingering desire to receive assurances
bat this step is not absolutely needed.
Jow, for one am not ready yet to take
be responsibility of absolutely closing
be door to reconciliation. cannot per-
ait myself to forget the warnings that
ave descended to US from many of the
'isest and best statesmen and patriots Of
Il time against this rigid and naughty
lode of treating great popular discon-
snts. l cannot overlook the fact that in
be days of our fathers the imperious
pirit of Chatham did not feel himself as
lcrifeing any of his proud dignity, by
roposinr 10 listen TO their grievances