Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-04-29
THE sHRIEKERs AND THE CROAKERs.

WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 20, 1857.
THE sHRIEKERs AND THE CROAKERs.
It is the misfortune of the country at the present
moment to be subjected to the noisy and senseIess
vociferatons, Of freedom shriekers in the North,
and croakers in the South. The former insist that
liberty for the African must be secured though it
results in the overthrow Of freedom for the white,
while the latter complain bitterly Of any attempt to
combine the Southern people, in resistance to the
ensroachment upon her constitutional rights
Against the former we can contend in open field,
because in the enuneatiOu Of their public doctrines
they boldly proclaim their purpose. They declare
that slavery is an evil great that even the eonst-
tutional guarantees which our forefathers threw
around it, should be regarded as a nullity They
proelaim it sin SO heinous, that they will not re-
cognise its upholders as men who can make them
selves worthy to be saved from PerditiOn in the last
day. They pronounce 1t 50 baleful in its influence
upon the morals, that association with its supper
tiers would amount to pollution. So hateful does it
appear to them that they deny to the inhabitants Of
The Territories the privilege Of deciding for them
selves the principles of the constitution under which
they are to live lest in the exercise Of an unre-
strained liberty, they allow the introduction Of sla-
very.
However formidable in point of numbers and in
fuence such party may be at any given moment
we can confront them face to face. We can proclaim
our rights and successfully defend them, and in the
end we must triumph. Let them shrek ever so
loud for the overthrow Of the rights Of the South,
we can calmly meet the storm, because we can stand
upon the defence Of our glorious consututiOn-We
stand upon the defence Of our equality under the
censtitution-we stand upon the rock Of TRUTH while
our adversaries in the very act Of demanding free
dom for the slave, propose to make slaves Of free
men. They deny the equal rights of the white
race in quizotc crusade to elevate the black to an
equality with the white.
But while we can see our way clear when we come
in contact with this party formidable though it be,
we could never comprehend the motives or purposes
Of the croakers They admit that the objects Of the
shrekers are hostile to the rights and interests Of
the slave States and that the end they propose to
accomplish is the subverson of the constitution and
the virtual ensavement Of the South; yet they rem-
bic in the presence of the enemy, and with bated
breath ask us not to combine together for our own
protection They fear that the united opposition Of
the South, to the schemes of the abOlitiOnists will
produce similar combination in the North, to rob
US Of our constitutional rights.
We fear no such combination, brought about from
the operation of such cause. 1t is not against the
North that we contend but against particular par
ty in the North-against a party which denies the
binding force Of the constituuon-aganst party
which declares that the sovereign people Of Kansas
may adopt for their own government the consItu-
ton Of Massachusetts,, but presumptuously denies
them the privilege of adopting the constitution Of
Tennessee. If as the croakers seem to fear, com
bination Of the whole South, in resistance to the
political supremacy of such party, would lose us
the support and countenance of the conservative
people Of the North we cannot procrastinate the
evil day by tame submission to the wrong. If the
simple defence Of our rights under the constitution,
be- in the estimation Of the Northern people, Of
fence which they must punish by combination for
our subsection there is time more suspicious for
the development Of such purpose than the pres
ent The very argument used by the croakers TO
deter the Southern people from a united effort to
keep in check the aggressons Of this party, is one
which Of all others should produce amongst US that
very union which they so deprecate. We know they
have the will TO rob us of our constitutional rights,
and If the croakers are to be believed they have the
power. What stronger incentive could be urged to
stimulate us to united effort in our defence.
If the hypothesis of the croakers is correct, then
indeed are we upon the eve Of revolution, and no
trucking subserviency or timid fawning can avert
the dire calamity united South is eur only safe
guard. We ask nothing which we have not the right
by the laws Of God and the constitution Of our
country to demand-perfect equality with all other
citizens OF the Republic. To stand up unfinching-
" in defence Of our rights, may secure the asss-
lance as IL surely viii the respect of the conserva-
tive people Of the North, while tame submission
to eneroachments, may lose US their support, and
will certainly win for us their contempt.
We are not responsible for the agitation Of this
question any more than the citizen who defends his
house when assailed by mob, is irresponsible for the
blood he may shed in his defence. The man who is
assaulted must defend himself or give himself up a
prey to his enemy, and when the rights Of Peo-
pie are invaded, they can only hope to maintain,
by defending them. Let the croakers in the South
ponder these truths and instead Of giving aid and
comfort to the common enemy by preaching submits
sion TO their arrogant demands let them unite with
others in fighting for the right and rely for ultimate
success upon the justice of cause, and not upon
the forbearance Of our adversary.