Year: 1860

HON CHARLES A. WICKLlFFE TO THE PEOPLE


OF KENTUCKl.-CALL FOR NO PARTY CON


YENTION-DANGER TO THE UNION POINTED


OUT, AND AN EXPRESSION OF OPINION SUG


GESTED.


Ne,srs. HARNEY, HuGmEs & Co Gentlemen It has
been my declared purpose for some months 20 soon as
the election over address you, and through your
Journal all other papers n the State, some remarks and
reflections upon the simpOrant subject Of the Union
aud the dangers which threaten its existence, in
sequence Of the election Of one Of the sectional cand
dates TO the Presidency.


The people have voted and the fearful probability is
that the Northern sectional candidate has been elected
In that event we have the evidence before us manifested
by Southern conventions legislative enactments aud the
published declarations of leading men, who claim the
privilege OF speaking for the masses that the Cotton
States four in number will be Immediately preciptated
into A revolution Southern Confederacy formed, and
this Union framed in matchess wisdom by our fathers,
ruthlcssly dissolved.


hope-hat in this diabolical design they will have the
synpahy if not the cooperation of the other savehod
ing States believe il this hope and this motive that
produced the secession of the Representatives of por
tion of the cotton States from the National Democratic
Convention.


IL has been declared substantially by Mr. Yancey and
others that so long the Democratic party remained
united North and South, any effort Of any Southern
State to secede would be unavaling


If that great and patriotic I'm party could be torn



ident chosen who admitted the right OF State to secede,
the formation Of Southern Coniederaoy would be eas-
ly and speedily accomplished II must be borne in mind
that it was proclaimed by the who led and contro-
ed the secession Charleston and at Baltimore, that
they succeeded in eectng their candidate they would de-
mand of the Congress Of the United States repeal Of
that portion of the compromise Of 1880 which
abolished the slave trads in the District Of Columbia
repeal Of the prohibiting the African slave trade and
of the act declaring that trade piracy and Of all other
4. .Is.k
neve initiated against the interests Of the South
This demand was TO be made, accompanied with the
declaration hatIii refused by Congress- then the Cotton
States would secede and establish separate confedeacy
This demand it is frankly admitted, even by the mad
men who made IT, riH Hsger Be granted will not eX-
tend this letter by citing proof o the facts above stated
They will not be controverted.


We are to have the question Of Secession thrust upoa
the nation no matter who is elected President for
above intimated the great archinsiga;Or aud CONTROL
ing spirit Of this movement has declared It as his belief
that the Congress will not yield these wild and unrea-
sonAble demands. Every intelligent man kHONs tha;
Congress will not And what pltriot would be willing
TO see the compromise Of 1850 disturbed p
What friend Of his country and Of Christian civilization
would be willing the African slave trade revived


Il was my purpose to embody in this letter my views
of the assumed right OF State 70 secede from the Union
but the able aud staesmauke letter of Judye Nicholas
published in your impression yesterday has anticipated
/ much that should otherwise have said. differ with
him upon one point He seems to entertain the opinion
that there no present danger Of attempt to secede
BY any State tell him, and say TO you he Is mistaken
These Southern know that General jackson is not
President They know that they have friends in the
present Cabinet and If they succeeded in eecng their
Southern sectional candidate they believed that this dec
rne Of secession would exercise controlling influence
| n the formation Of the new Cabinet


When in 1882, South Carolina threatened secession
and resistance 10 the laws Of the United States General
Jackson did not awaken the Executive in the South
but added to It's strength there Has this been done by
the present Executive!


Toe right Of peacesbe secession does not exist aud
orcibe resistance the execution Of tue laws Of the
United States by the citizens OF any State though act
ug in obedience to the authority osuch State treas
on in such persons. have deeply regretted that my
physical condition has been such to prevent me from
participating actively in the recent canvass felt anx
Gus 10 warn my felow-citizens Of the dangers which
threaten our beloved country. have been panied to
hear so many Of the promising young men of my native
Safe eontendiug that State had right to secede from
the Union aud to resist the authority OF the United
States within is limits form compacts and conclude
treaties with foreign States and with other States of the
| Union.


AN anxious that the people Of Kentucky shall speak
upon this sub ct and speak In tone and manner which