Information Wanted.
It is announced that Mr. Wm. L. YANCEY is to address the public on the political issues of the day, this evening, at the Cooper Institute. We do not know that the announcement is authentic, but we have been assured that it is.
What Mr. YANCY’S special object may be in so doing, we have no means of knowing. Whether he intends to fortify the faith or speculators for a fall in stocks, and to encourage the hopes of political alarmists,—or to clear himself from the suspicion of being a Disunionist, we ave not aware. We cannot, however, forget the part he has played hitherto in political affairs. We cannot forget his organization of the Southern League, nor his advice to a colleague, that he should remain in the Democratic ranks for the purpose of so shaking its action that, “when the proper opportunity should arise, they might precipitate the Cotton States into revolution.” Nor can we forget the part he has recently taken in the disruption of the Democratic Party, and the advocacy of the Breckinridge ticket in the Southern States. And all these recollections lead us to watch his proceedings with a good deal of interest.
We are a little curious to know whether he will advocate fusion here. or urge his friends to vote the regular Breckinridge ticket. If he does the latter, we shall be warranted in inferring that he regards the election of LINCOLN by the people as affording a favorable opportunity for his “revolution.” If he urges fusion, for the purpose of defeating Lincoln, we shall infer that he considers a Presidential canvass in the House of Representatives as affording much the best chance.
There is one point on which his friends here will insist on having from him an explicit answer. Does he believe that the election of Lincoln, in advance of any act of injustice or aggression, would constitute a sufficient cause for secession? As a frank man he cannot well refuse to declare himself on this point,— nor can he fail to recognize its importance. He will speak here to a large commercial community, which has everything at stake on the preservation of the Union. Many of them are seeking to save it by defeating Lincoln;— others aim at the same result by preventing the election from going to the House of Representatives. But all are far the Union. And all will insist, after the election is over, and whatever may be the result, upon upholding the Constitution and maintaining the Confederacy inviolate. And they will all want to know whether Mr. Yancy is for or against them on this point of transcendent importance. We hope he will find it convenient to be perfectly explicit in regard to it.
