Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-04-27
NASHVILLE:
MONDAY. APRIL q. 1867.



clouded sky; as well search in the gamb-
ling room for christians or among pirates
for gentlemen, or for any other physical or
moral impossibility, as to expect or hope
for the preservation and safety of this great
confederacy upon any other basis than an
elevated nationality, and patriotic and
deep-felt sense of its value and Importance.
Hitherto this feeling has prevailed, and
the country has prospered So long as
the government pursued "the even tenor of
its way" within its original boundaries, all
was peace and harmony. But when our
necessities or inclinations as a nation, &C.
| casOned an extension of our domain the
question arose as to whether slavery should
or should not exist and be protected by
law, in the new territories which were, from
time to time, acquired. Upon this ques-
ton dissensions, as is painfully known to
all, sprang up between the slaveholding and
the non-slaveholdicg States. These disSen-
sions have grown and widened until the
worst and most unfriendly feelings have
been cngendered, and large party has
come into existence, having for the foun-
dation of its organization and action the
one idea of restricting slavery to its pre-
sent limits 1t has enlisted the strongest
passions, and with every succeeding discus
sion upon the admission of States or pro-
viding governments for the territories, these
bad feelings have been more and more in
famed, and the chances for a reconciliation
diminished. AS this animosity grows in
intensity and extends its baleful lnhuence
over greater masses of the people, either
North or South, that high-souled feeling OF
nationality, of concord and fraternity
which is so necessary to continued Union,
grows weaker and weaker. The one is at
war with the other; they are wholly incon-
sistent and incompatible, and cannot exist
in the same heart at the same time. The
inevitable tendency and result of this state
of things, unless it is checked, is to COM
petely sectionaize the country, and to
array one part of the Union in deadly hos
tility against the other. Against such
consummation, so disastrous and fraught
with incalcllable evil, every impulse of pat
riotism and every dictate of judgment in
stinctively revolt.
In answer to the question which is every
day anxiously repeated, how are we to
meet these fearful and alarming difficulties,
it has been proposed that the South dis
card all minor differences Of political opin-
ion, aud in one solid phalanx present our
opposition to the North; and so at the
North, it is not only proposed but actively
and zealously urged to unite upon what
they are pleased to call the paramount
question, and in the same way to meet the
South. These positions have been asSum-
ed by men who take high rank as states
men and profess to be lovers of their coun-
try and devoted to the interests and per-
petuty of the Union, both North and
South. But how is it possible that this
course should bring relief? Will it not ag-
gravate the disease an hundred fold, and
place cure beyond hope? Let us bestow
brief reflection upon this proposition.
What would be the condition of the South
in such contest2 At the last presden-
tial election the Southern States, excud-
ing South Carolina, polled an aggregate
vote of a small fraction over one million,
while the North polled something over
three millions, very nearly three TO
one. In any contest hereafter this dis
proportion will unquestionaby be increased.
Suppose then we adopt the proposition,
that we of the South shall unite as against
the North; it will be at once seen that we
place ourselves in the hands Of those upon
whose magnanimity we could, in that event,
have no claim. The disparity would be
so great that in any peaceful contest at
the ballot box, we would be dwarfed into
ridiculous minority. The constitution,
an instrument which is scoffed and spurn-
ed by the those with whom we are at war,
would be our only egis. But do these
counsellors of ours, entertain q hope that
we will be numerically stronger in 1860
than We were in 1856? Every probability
is that we will be proportiOnaly weaker
Here are Minnesota and Nebraska that
are springng into vigorous aud athletic
manhood, and will be imploring admission
as States before that date. Who has ever
thought that these would become Slave
States? There also, is Kansas, with rap
idly increasing population, which in the
opinion Of its present Governor, will deter
mine to exclude slavery. With these ac-
cretions to the strength Of the North, leav-
ing Kansas out Of the computation, the
South will stand in u much worse condi-
ton than she does at present These con-
siderations show that su,'h course, would,
instead of afIording a remedy, have the
effect to consummate and perfect the evil
of which we complain. There is perhaps
a contingency upon the happening of which,
the South would be justified in taking such
a course; but when it arises the day will
have passed for peaceful appeal to the
! ballot box. and onr GRIEVANCES will be sinh