Why They Nominated Breckinridge.- It is now scarcely doubted by any one that the South Carolinians, Mississippians, Georgians, Alabamians, Floridians, Texans, and Arkansians, who confederated together at Charleston to break up the Democratic party and destroy its national organization, did so solely with the intention of dissolving the Union. Mr. ex-Speaker Orr, in the letter of his which we laid before ouor readers some days since, frankly confessed that the bolters had no just ground for secession; that so far as the nomination of Douglas was concerned, as the convention was constituted, it could not take place, and that, therefore, their whole proceedings were an irreparable blunder in prematurely and isolatedly presenting the disunion issue, instead of reaching it more circuitously through the only political organisation having nationality and vitality to effect it. Mr. Orr seems to be more circumspect and wary than his co-conspirators and dis-union accociates, but we may be allowed to doubt whether even his scheme would have fared any better than the one put to the test, had it been tried. Be this as it may, Orr and the others engaged in the same adventure with him came to similar conclusions; first, that the election of an Abolitionist to the presidency would naturally give great umbrage, and cause great discontent to the South; and, second, that the true way to bring this about was to disrupt the democratic party, run a bogus democratic ticket, and thus indirectly produce the contingency which should, in Yancey’s phrase, precipitate the cotton States into revolution, namely: the election of Lincoln, the Abolitionist, to the presidency. But the conspirators to produce this unfortunate result forgot that…
“The best of plans of mice and men gang aft agley;” and that there was serious danger of the engineer being hoisted by his own petard. However, they thought there was nothing like trying, and there is now a fair prospect of their being gratified to their hearts’ content. That our readers may fully comprehend their plans, we shall, from time to time, place them, and with this object invite attention to the following extract of a letter written by Mr. William W. Boyce, a leading South Carolinian, who says he “never gave unwise counsels.” Whether Louisianans, will coincide with the gentleman in his complacent notions of his own sapiency or not, we shall not undertake to determine, but we make no apologies for submitting the following specimen of his statesmanship for the instruction of amusement of the public.
Sabine Farm, Aug. 3, 1860
Gentlemen: My high respect for you induces me to hasten a reply to your note.
If Lincoln be elected, I think the Southern States should withdraw from the Union; all, if not all, then as many as will, and if no other, South Carolina alone, in the promptest manner and by the most direct means…
…If the South acquiesces in a Republican Administration, I think the question of negro equality is settled against us, and emancipation only a question of time. I have regarded this question in the same light for years, and I have considered the success of the Republican party in the Presidential election as involving the necessity of revolution. So regarding it, I have thought the great paramount object of our policy was to let this Republican party in the Presidential election as involving the necessity of revolution. So regarding it, I have thought the great paramount object of our policy was to let this Republican success occur, if it most occur, under the most suspicious circumstances for a disruption, and those suspicious circumstances I thought would consist principally in the largest attainable sympathy Norht, and the greatest unity South. These conditions I thought were most likely to be reached by a wise and prudent moderation on the part of the South. And I accordingly advised and acted in that direction, and I am satisfied I never gave unwise counsels.
I said to my constituents last summer that we must act with the most consummate prudence then, in order to profit by the most desperate boldness, if it became necessary- prudence, to give no pretext for the election of a Republican; boldness, to relieve ourselves from such election, if it must take place. My policy was a consistent policy- prudence might be advantageous; boldness, when nothing else was left. The time is now approaching when, in my opinion, the only alternative will be boldness. If the Republican party triumph in the Presidential election, our State has no choice but to immediately withdraw from the Union. Nor is this so hazardous an undertaking as might be conceived at first sight.
Suppose we have done this- then only two courses remain to our enemies: first, they must let us alone; secondly, they must attempt to coerce us. Either alternative will accomplish our purpose.
Suppose they let us alone- very good. We will have free trade with Europe, and get along very well in our happy mediocrity; far better than as a degraded satellite of a gorgeous system, whose glories would be for other- whose shame for us alone. We would not have to pay any taxes, direct or indirect, to northern Abolitionist- that would be some consolation.
Suppose they undertake to coerce us. Then the southern States are compelled to make common cause with us, and we will wake up some morning and find the flag of Southern Confederacy floating over us. That would be a great deal better than paying tribute to the John Brown sympathizers.
The South still has splendid cards in here hands if she will only play them. The constitution of northern society is artificial in the extreme. A few are richer than the Kings of the East; the multitude labor for their daily bread; much of this wealth is breath- the breath of credit. A civil convulsion will bring their paper system of credit tumbling about their ears. The first gun fired in civil war will cost them five hundred million dollars, and strikes will not be confined to the shoemakers, but will become epidemic. If Lincoln is elected, let us put them at defiance, and if they incline to try the last argument of Kings against us- very well. When, in sixty days, they have lost five hundred million dollars, and hear the curses of their unemployed mob demanding bread or blood, perhaps the doctrine of negro equality will not be quite so popular, and the beginning of powerful reaction may take place- the harbinger of long years of peace and fraternity. But if no reaction takes place, and our northern tyrants persist in putting us to our mettle- very well. If nothing will do them but the sword, be it so.
Let us show that we can grasp the sword as well as they can; that we are not degenerate descendant of those glorious heroes from whom we draw our lineage. If the worst comes to worst, we can but fail, sword in hand, fighting for all that can make like desirable- justice, equality, and our country. But I have no fear as to the result if it comes to a question of arms. We can give blows as well as receive them, and we are as apt to have our winter quarters in the city of New York as they are in New Orleans.
But we do not desire war. We wish peace and fraternity in the Union, if possible; but one thing there is which we are determined to have, in the Union or out of it- equality. Woe to those who would rob us of this, for they will bring great calamities on their country, themselves and humanity.
William W. Boyce.
Messrs. D. L. Provence, W. S. Lyles.
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Later From Europe- Mails By the Steam Ship Africa.- England (long political news article about England- Garibladi’s object is to raise an English battalion of eight hundred men. (for service in Italy). France (long news article on politics in France (2000 volunteers had been recruited in Greece for Garibaldi). “We are upon the eve of great events, that will change the face of Europe, and sweep away many vestiges of absolutism and tyranny. That great suffering and misery will be the immediate consequences none can doubt; but the world will have been rid of a great evil, and returning health and strength will show that society has gained by individual suffering, and rulers and nations will learn that no power can stya the advance of progress and civilization.”
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The Telegraph between America and France.- (long article of the proposals of linking an underwater telegraph between France and the United States)
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Trade of Richmond with Brazil.- …It is a matter of congratulation to our citizens, that of such trade as is now carried on between the United States and Brazil, the city of Richmond has a large and increasing share. We have now a fleet of ten or eleven handsome barks, owned in this city, and trading between this port and Rio de Janeiro….
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Business Prospects for 1860.- Shippers of cotton in this country are beginning to assume a guarded business demeanor toward their English correspondents. There were in August last 500,000 pounds less cotton on hand in England than in the same month a year ago. During 1859, as is well known, the cotton merchants on the other side of the Atlantic did not meet their engagements very punctually, for the alleged reason that, although the raw material used could not have been done with, the money for the manufactured article did not return form the consumer as promptly as was expected…The extraordinary taxes that are being daily added to the financial burden of the people have a tendency to depress and injure business. “The last straw” has been added to John Bull’s back so often that it is a mystery how he has maintained his equilibrium up to this time. Then war-clouds gather thick and fast in the European horizon. The Frenchman, the German, the Italian, buckle on the livery of the field every day; even Mr. Bull himself has been seized with the military mania, and, unprepossessing though he appears in his regimentals, has not hesitated to become a temporary bold soldier boy….(taxes, taxes)….so caution is the American trader’s best policy with Great Britain for the present.
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From Central America.- We learn from Capt. Harrison, of the schooner Isaac Toucey, that on the 23d ult. a rumor reached the Ruatan that a force of about 900 Hondurians were before Truxillo, for the purpose of attacking Gen. Walker. New reached Ruatan on the 24th, just previous to the sailing of the Toucey, that cannonading was heard from 3 o’clock a.m. up to noon that day. A British man-of-war steamer arrived at Truxillo on the 19th, for the purpose of protecting the citizens of Honduras.
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A vessel was brought into the port of Norfolk on the 28th, which was captured on the coast of Africa by the U. S. steamer Mystic,on suspicion of being a slaver. She is believed to be the brig Triton, though her name is not definitely known. She is said to have cleared from New Orleans in March last, and to have changed her captain and crew in Cuba. Her crew will be detained as witnesses.
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Movements of Filibusters on Mexico.- According to the Norfolk Day Book, the “Knights of the Golden Circle,” who have been so long getting ready to march into Mexico and take possession of the whole country, are at last on the move. A company, commanded by a competent Virginia officer, was to embark at Hampton, Va., on the 30th ult., for Texas, from whence they will march into Mexico…
That the object of this organization is to change the political and social principles of the country to which they go there is little doubt, for they avow this their purpose; but they do not go unlawfully armed, at least from here; they profess to go as peaceful citizens, and will revolutionize that unhappy country, not by fire and sword, but by settling in sufficient numbers within it s borders, and changing and making wholesome laws, and seeing that they are enforced. They are going to introduce Anglo Saxon energy and American prudence among a people who have heretofore been incapable of self-government, and who are actually inviting them to come and teach them how to live and be happy. The movement of these men toward the Rio Grande is pregnant with much importance to the South, and is the commencement of a grand programme that has been preparing for several years.
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The Zouave Fever.- New York organizes their own company.
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A Machine For Milking Cows.- …the machine is simple, and easily worked by children as well as by adults…twelve quarts of milk can be taken from a cow in two minutes…
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Yellow Fever Cases and Deaths- (Havana, Cuba) city reports..to be of a mild character. Since the 1st of this day (29th), the total number of cases have been 424, and only 61 deaths, which gives an average of little more than two deaths per day. This is sufficient to prove that the yellow fever is far from being epidemic even in this, the worst season of the year, and after a succession rainy spells.
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Arrival of the Santa Fe Mail.- Independence Mo.,…No hostile Indians are to be found along the route… The fifth and seventh regiments of infantry had arrived at Santa Fe from the territory of Utah, in good health. The former is stationed at Fort Defiance, and the latter at Fort Buchanan.
The campaign against the Navajo Indians will be made in Autumn. The citizens are raising one thousand volunteers for that purpose.
The first regiment of cavalry, under the command of Captain Carr, fought the Indians near Smoky Hill, and killed thirty of their number.
The growing crops are suffering greatly for the want of rain. Commerce in the plains is rapidly augmenting.
A large band of Arapahoe Indians are in a starving condition.
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Washington.-…As we drove from the depot, a lady in the omnibus espied the great unfinished dome of the capitol, (which don’t look much like a dome at present,) and said innocently, “I suppose those are the gas works?” “Yes, madam, for the nation,” was the reply of a fellow passenger.
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David Upton