The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-02-14
LETTER FROM GUSTAVUS
e A. HENRY.
From the Clarksville Chronicle.

;,
nv consent that my name should be
nut in nomination, as candidate for
. seat in the lower branch of the
State Legislature at its ensuing ses.
sion. | do not know what questions
of high political moment will he pre-.
sented to the consideration Of the next
General Assembly Of the State. unless
it should be deemed important, by the
friends of the Union, that Tennessee
should throw the immense weight of
her moral and political influence in
favor of the constitution. the laws. and
the Union. This, to my mind at east
is matter Of vast importance at the
present time. and may have salutary
bearing on the future. need not
inform YOU that am wing, that |
have so lived, and shall die in the
faith; above all. however. am for the
union of these States, under our pres.
ent glorious constitution. with all the
guarantees which were thrown around
it BY the foresight and wisdom of our
fathers. For its preservation | am
prepared, now, or at any time. to
pledge nv life. my fortune, and my
sacred honor" | regard it as the
source of all our political blessings.
and the fountain Of all our national
prosperity and true glory. Having
this opinion Of its value. should look
upon its overthrow and downfall, as
the greatest public calamity that has
ever befaI|en mankind The friends
of liberty at home and abroad would
have good cause to mourn, it it should
be arrested in its grand career, by
foIlv and fanaticism; ere it has half
fulfilled its high mission in behalf of
the rights and liberties of man. ]
therefore deprcratc the mischief
which Wigs and democrats have both
perpctratcd ut the north. by counting
the aid and cooperation of an other.
wise contemplate minority and dc,es'
table faction, for the purpose OF gain
ing party ascendancy and temporary
triumph.
For myself. ! feel that the Union,
perhaps because it is. or has been in
danger. is dearcr to me than the prin.
cipIes Of any party; for without the
Union. no policy of any party would
be able 10 confer peace upon the coun.
try. and the security life, liberty and
property upon the citizen. The union.
therefore. looking to the present and
the future, is in my estimation para.
mount to every thing else, aud swal.
lows up all other questions. rs con.
tribu,ing to its prosperity. | was and
am decidedly in favor Of the Compro.
mise measures passed at the last SEES.
sion of the present Congress. That
compromise ought to be faithfully
carried out North and South. East and
West. and all Of its various measures
should be rlgiL'y enforced to the letter;
and in its spirit. | would engraft it
upon the constitution, or at least make
il as inviolable as a part thereof
Under all the circumstances that
surround the country. it is compro
mise that should satisfy the North.
that should satisfy the South. and
tranquiizc the public mind every
where. 1t seems to me to be obvious
TO all men, that the Union cannot be
preserved. without the utmost fidelity
in enforcing the compromise at the
north. A great responsibility rests
upon that portion Of our countrymen;
thew hold The fate Of the union in their
hands, and they must know that the
repeal of the fugitive slave law would
he the knell Of the union; any material
mo LITIGATION oft which would weaken
in the slightest degree the right OF the
owner to reclaim his fugitive Save.
would have the same effect and pro.
ducc the same melancholy doom..-
Our northern brethren ought to know
this fact, and if they do drive the
country on to its destruction. the sin
will lie at their door My belief is,
the law will not be repealed by Con-
gress, and that it will be enforced at
the north.
The disunion movements at the
South are receiving. trust. as little
favor in the eyes of all true lovers OF
their country as the slavery agitation
at the north. Both are wrong. Ten.
ncssee. standing between the two ex.
tremes. may be able TO give wise and
conciliatory counsel TO both. and her
warning. voice ought TO command re.
spect.
AS an individual, ! am resolved to
give nv vote and influence, however
small il may be, to no man for any
Office, from the Presidency down TO
the Justice Of the peace, who is in
favor Of disturbing the compromise.
or who is not in favor Of its faithful
execution.
By way Of response to the call upon
me TO suffer my name to be put in