Year: 1860

would unquestlonably use all the power OF
the government to enforce obedience. Mr..
B. admitted the right of peaceable secession.
but would resist notification. Every con-
sideration of duty, and patriotism and safety
demanded that we should secede He ia
vored separate State action each State had
right to Judge of the mode and measure of
redress no one State could commit any
other State to a line of policy. He would
be willing to consult with other States
every Southern State would probably, he
thought, unite with us; they might not all
20 as far at first as we would, but they
would stand with us rather than with the
North. He knew that the. border States
would resist and repel any and every attempt
to march men, (whether federal troops or
the lawless and fanatical ''wide-awakes'' of
the Northern States) over their soil, for the
purpose of subjugating any seeding South
ern State.


LETTER FROM GENERAL LANE.


In reply to communication addressed to
General Lane by committee appointed by
the Breckinridge and Lane Club of the city
of New York, asking the Generals views
in regard to the present crisis, the Senator
from Oregon has written the subjoined let
ler:


WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 20, 1860.
Gentlemen: Yours of the 18th inst. is
received. The address embodying the views
Of the committee, which you say was en-
closed, has not reached me- With your
request that sba2la make a<st. t:.:sselaasuggss-
tons as, IN MY Judgment, would tend to
preserve our institutions and our govern
ment," proceed briefly to comply.


Nothing is palmer than that ours is
government of limited powers-formed by
States equal in sovereignty, equal in dignity
and equal in rights. This equality, in all
respects and in all things, must be main
tanned. Any act by the people, or by any
branch or department of the government,
tending to impair this equality is an usur-
patton, and the destruction of that equality
is virtually a destruction of the Union
Have We not reached point in the history
of our government when it may be said with
truth that this equality has been seriously
menaced, if not impaired or destroyed?


Never was proposition more plainly put,
nor an issue more directly made, than that
upon which the people lately rendered their
verdict. Shall the people of all the States
possess and enjoy equal rights and privilege
in the aommon. territory of our common
country? By majority almost fabulous a
Northern sectional party have determined
that the people of the Southern States shall
not 60 into the common territory and carry
their property with them-that no more
States recognizing property in Slaves Gas
did twelve of the thirteen original States)
shall ever be admitted into the Union. Car
any man whose mind is capable Of discrimi-
mating between right and wrong say that
this is just and right, and in accordance
with the spirit or letter of the Constitution ?
To me it appears plain that the equal rights
under the Constitution of those States re-
cognising slavery have been violated by
their Northern neighbors in the verdict
| which they have rendered, to the effect that
the States are not equal, that the people of
fifteen sovereign States shall not 60 to the
territory with their property; that they are
interiors, and must submit not only to inc
quality, but degradation. Now, can the
Union be held together upon such terms?
If we would preserve the Union we must
maintain the Constitution and the equality
of the States, and be just and deal fairly by
every portion of our country.


In my judgment, the Northern people are
unjust and unwise in denying to the citizens
Of the Southern States the right to emigrate
to and settle in the Territories with their
slave property. They are wrong in holding
that no more slave States shall be, admitted
into the Union, for it is clearly tile right of
the people of a Territory, when their popu=
lation entities them to admission into the
Union, to form SUCH government as may
suit them. and, whether slave or free, it is
the duty Of Congress to admit them. And
they are wrong in permitting to remain up
on the statute-books laws obstructive Of the
faithful execution of the fugitive slave law
Let them speedily take steps to correct these
wrongs, and maintain good faith toward all
the States. as was maintained in the early
days of the Republic This is in their pow
er. and in no other way can they avert dis
solution for no one, in my opinion, who is
at all informed as to the framework of our
Government, can conclude that the Federal
Government has the constitutional power to
use force against State for resuming the
power which it delegated to the General
Government, when its rights have been in
fringed or equality refused or. if the Gov
ernment had the power. that it would be
wise or prudent to use it. The Union was
not formed by force, nor can it be maintain
ed by force. 1t was voluntary Union of
sovereign States, and whenever the rights of
any Of them shall be infringed, or equality
refused, and they find it necessary and shall
desire to part, there is no power that can
keep them together, or that should attemptit.
] am gentlemen, with much respect, your
obe't serv't, JOSEPH LANE


EE> Hon. Edward Everett voted, in Bos
ton. in the 7th ward, and on presenting him
self at the polls the cry was raised, by those
who were working as hard as they could
AGAINST him s.Thren hanrs for Mr. E,orntt