Year: 1859

Speech of Hon. o. T.. Singleton, at
Vicksburg.
vIcksBUBd, August Cd, 1859.


EDITOR or MIssIssIPrIAN:-In pursuance
to notice previously given, Col Singleton adj
dressed the citizens Of this city last evening,
and as it is well enough that the people of the
State and District should Be kept informed Of
the whereabouts and yiews.of this disfin-
guished standard bearer of Democracy; and
as the speech itself. is well worthy Of atten-
ton, propose to give you brief synopsis 1
Of it. 60


He first gave an intelligent and unpretend-


ing account of the course he thought proper |
to pursue in Congress, dwelling somewhat at
length on his efforts to reduce the public ex-
penditures and the success which to some ex-
tent crowned his efforts, m saving the general
government over six hundred thousand dol
lars 100000 in the various items Of Public
Printing. He also dwelt - so1hs lsieth ON
the struggle in Congress over the Lecompton
Constitution, critising and denouncing in an
able and caustic manner the course pursued
by the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, during that
memorable crisis. He then proceeded to dis
cuss with an. ability and elearness seldom
| equaled, and never surpassed, the present
condition of Federal Affairs The South
had, at various times, entered into Compromi-
ses with the North for the purpose Of preserv-
ing intact the Union Of the States Those
Compromises, so-called, in which the South
surrendered much and the North little or
nothing-had ever been religiously observed
| on the part Of the South and invariably yio-
lated and disregarded on the. part of the
| North That the Abolition sentiment in the
North had with continually accelerated ra-
ito continued to gam strength for many years
past, until at the present juncture of affairs
the parties and factions which had heretofore
6ourished in the North have become lost and
merged in the overshadowing influence of an
unjust and .unholy fanatieism. That there
was no doubt but that the political theories Of
Seward and his followers were coincided in
by almost the entire -slayeholding States



less followers had rallied upon the platform


announced by that distinguished Abolition


Generalissimo, year or two since, as the
sheet anchor of their political faith, and had


forced with great distinctnsss and singleness


Of purpose, the issue upon u.s.. Fhat were we
disposed to avoid the mighty responsibility Of


meeting the great issue, we could not 1t
was already at our very doors staring US in
the face, and to meet it IN one way or another
was matter of irresistible and imperative ne
eessity1 After taking calm survey Of the /
present aspect Of political affairs and casting
an intelligent eye to the future, he saw no
reason to believe or hope that in the Union


the institutions of the South could be, for any
length Of time, preserved and gave il as his
mature and deliberate opinion that the present


was the time for the great southern pnblic to


Union in which the dearest rights of the


South have been basely violated, and m the fu-
ture of which, Judging from the unmistakea-
ble indications of the times, the South would
|
and degradation. Taking the hypothesis that
Ehe next presidential election woald result in
the triumph of the Black Republicans aud
; the elevation Of a man to the Presidency rad
ically inimical to the South, or II owing to va
rious combinations of parties in the South,
with the aid of the diminished influence we.
have yet left in some few Of the non-slavehold-
ing States, this result were postponed in 1860
the succeeding presidential struggle would
unquestionably terminate in our discontinue


and the election of an abolitionist, and that


rather than submit to a wrong SO Infamous


rather than see everything they hold dear
thus rudely annihilated, the South would
dissever the ties which now but weakly bind
the two sections together He proceeded to
depict the position and condition of the South
{ srn States when united under an Independent
and homogeneous government We would
advance in majestic and serene progressionto to
the pinnacle Of greatness and renown. His
eloquent remarks on this great question
, seemed to FIX themselves deeply on the minds
of all present. and elected the wsrmest enoo-
, miums and applause of the attentive and in
I telligent auditory to whom they we're ad-


dressed He next proceeded to1discuss the
: question of Cuban annexation, and forci-
, bly, pointed out the manifold advantages TO the
South from her acquisition His argument


was quite elaborate Her Importance to US in
commercial, military ana political points Of
, view we're severally argued to great length
: and with consummate ability. The dangers


and annoyances TO which we would be ex-
posed If our Government permitted the price
: less gem Of the wave to fall into the hungry
NAV of any of the great powers of Europe,
i who were 50 impatientIy waiting TO pounce
n upon prey so peerless and rich, were all
: pointed out with conciseness and ability
e The distinguished gentleman touched upon
: fmany other points Of interest, all Of which
: were treated by him with the same candor
: and holiness. His positions on al ques-
: tons of importance are tangible and
i well defined. His speech left the impress
a sion upon the minds Of all who were fortunatl
It enough to hear it that the distinguished speak
/ er possessed all the elements that Should EN-
o title apubiic man to respect, confidence ant
,e regard, and that the Fourth Congressiona
/ District Of the State of Mississippi, one Of tn
,s most intelligent in the land, had a worthy ex
o ponent and representative IN the august coun


cils of the nation. SARA.