Year: 1862

OUR BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENCE.


BMnxoRs, Feb. 20, 1862.
The Union Feeling al the So-ls Extent and Precedence


RosO IL Can be Made Available in Bringing tie Reuoaed


States Back to Their Auegiance-7ne Aboliioniaso Of Ms


North the Only Obstacles in the Way Of a Perfect Re-


union, dc.


The conditions under which tho Union feeling at tho
South exists matter of the greatest onsequence
Tho fact that there is such feeling existing is beyond
dispute But IL is of the highest importance ascertain
where exists, what is the extent OF the feeling, and
whether 1t be mado available bringing back into
the Union any Of the States which compose the
Southern confederacy The facts OF the case far
have been able to collect them after dgsnt research
foows-Tho people OF all the Southern States
divided into two great classes which, for the sake Of dis
snction, may be called Union and state rights
The former willing TO lay down their and return
thor allegiance only under certain conditions and OK
press stipulatons. Tho latter undsmayed by the re-
reverses determined to yield fght
until they extorminated until their independence
Is achieved The entire population OF the States of South
Carolina Mississippi, Louisiana Florida, Toxas and Ala.
bams belongs to this class and large majority Of tho
people OF Georgia. North Carolina Arkansas ana vrginis
east Of the Allegheny Mountains.


yhc Union feeling exists and Union men are found in
largo numbers at Richmond at Manchester at Norfolk at
Lynchburg oil along the Upper and Lower Potomac and
along Chesapeake Bay, in many parts Of Georgia and
North Carolina, and In the north Of Alabama In Ten
nessee the Union constitute nearly half Of the
population.
There are two objections In the minds Of tho Southern
Union men to laying down their arms and returning TO
the Union The FIRST Is the belief their part amount
ng TO absolute convicton that the aboltionists and
radical republicans have such control Of the
that they will prevent them from eentsring the Union
on footing Of perfect equality with tho other States but
will impose upon them such disabilities will practical
ly reduce them far below the degree Of sovereign States
and make them mere Territories. They say that il the
principles Of the compromise OF 1850 had been faithfully
observed by the North they would have left tho
Unon and that they would now gladly return to their
allegiance they could be assured that all national egisa
regard to them should Be based upon those prnc
Pies They declare that Systematic and deter
republican party which caused the Southern States to
secede, and that nothing but want Of confidence in
the men whom nsy Sssyo g 90 n poT:r % a Washing
Chandler and Lovey that keeps the Southern States out
of the Union.


Tho second objection which they entertain is this: Tba.
II they to lay down their arms now rather give
them up and be received back into the Union
OF nominal equality with the other states these abo


tonists and The radical republicans would ct once lnau
guratc series Of legislation aimed directly at the de-
structon Of the institutions Of the South and would
until they had abolished slavery at the South 80 far
that could be done by legal that the


tonists would impose upon them disability after
DeCOme
grevous be borno and they would forced to fly to
again. that If reunion did take place would
be hollow and insincere because the sbotonists and
radical republicans would never rest until they had
eeeded in repeating the Fugitive Slave law and passing
act Of Congress- aboshng slavery in all the States
where IL now exists.


II the Southern Union men could be convinced that
these views Of theirs erroneous; that tho abolition
Congress powerlesa for evil that intsitu
would be respected and that they would be left
unmoested in the enjoyment Of their own customs and
modes OF e and If they could be assured that all ma
tonal legislation towards them would be based upon the
principles OF tho compromise measures Of 1880 moro


than half Of the Southern States would lay down their
arms 1T and return TO their allegiance


The Sate rights people at Richmond very much d.
vidsd sentiment in regard 10 the ability of the present
Confederate administration and the wisdom Of the defen
svo war policy Of the government. The administration
Of JEFF Davis has many warm partsans who strenuousy
defend both. But there is large and rapidly growing
party embracing many Of talent and influence who
do hesitate TO denounce both in the
terms They declare and argue that the at the
head Of the government are totally unit for that position
and that the defensive policy heretofore pursued has
brought the South to the brink Of They insist that
the latter least shall be changed and that armies be
at raised to carry the war into Pennsylvania and
Ohio.