Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-03-10


States and TO preserve our free Institutions through
many generations Convinced that lowe my cleo
ton to the Inherent love for the Constitution anu
the Union which still aninates the hearts oil tue
American people, let me earnestly ask their power
fol support in sustaining all just measures eaieas-
ted 10 psrpstuate these, the richest political oes
sings which Heaven has ever bestowed upon any
nation.
Having determined not to become a candidate
fro re- lection, shall have motive to influence
nv conduct iu administering the government except
the desire ably and f4ithfn ly to serve my country
and to live in the grateful memory OF my country
| men. We have recently passed through fres-
Dental contest in which the passions OF our fellow
| citizens were excited to the highest degree oy
| questions OF deep and vital importance; but When
! the people proclaimed their will, the tempest al
once subsidized, and all was calm. The voice oitne
majority speaking in the manner prescribed oy the
Consultation was heard, and instant submission TO-
lows.
Our own country could alone have exhibited
| go grand and striking a spectacle Of the CO
| pacity of man for self government. what a
happy conception, then, was it for Congress TO ap-
ply this simple rule, that the will OF the majority
shall govern the settlement Of the question oil 10
| nestle slavery in the Territories. Congress IS
neither to !egislate slavery into any Territory or
State nor to exclude it therefrom out TO leave the
people thereof perfectly free TO form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way, subject
/ only to the Constitution of the United States
| As natural consequence, Congress has also
prescribed that when the Territory of Kansas shall
! be admitted as Strife, it shall be received INTO
| the Union with or without slavery, as their con-
sttuton may prescribe at the time OF their aumis-
| sion.
4 A different opinion has arisen in regard to the
| time when the people of Territory shall decide
| this question for themselves. This Is happly
matter Of but little practical importance, and be-
sides, it is Judicial question, which legltlmatey
belongs to the Supreme Court OF the United states
before whom it is now pending, and VIII, II IS un-
derstood, be speedily and finally settled. To their
| decision in common with all good citizens, shall
cheerfuIly submit, whatever this may be- though 1t
has been my individual opinion that under the Ne
braska- Kansas act, the appropriate period VIII De
| when the number of actual residents IN the Terri
tory shall Justify ihs formation of constitution
with a view to its admission as state lnto the
Union; but be this as it may, IL is the imperative
and indispensable duty of the Government OF the
United States to secure to every resident inhabl-
tan. the free and independent expression Of his
opinion by his vote This sacred right of each in
| dividual must be preserved. This being accom-
plished, nothing can be fsirer than to leave the
people Of a Territory free from all foreign intl-
ence to decide their own destiny for themselves,
subject only to the Constitution of the United States.
The whole territorial question being thus settled,
upon the principle of popular sovereignty, prln-
ciple as ancient as free government ITSELF every
thing of practical value has been decided and no
other question remains for adjustment, because all
agree that under the Constitution, slavery in the
States is beyond the reach OF any human power ex-
cept of the respective States themselves wherein 1t
ex sts May we not then hope, that the long agi
tation this subject is approaching its end, and
that the geographical parties to which it has given
birth so much dreaded by the Father OF bis Coun-
try, will speedily become extinct. Most happy
will it be for the country when the public miud
shall be diverted from this question 10 others OF
more pressing and practical Importance.
Throughout the whole progress Of this agitation,
which has scarcely known intermission for more
than twenty years. while it has been productive of
no positive good to any human being it has been
the prolific Of great evils to the master, to
the slave, and to the whole country 1t has ali.
ed and estringed the people of the sister States
from each other and endangered the very exist nee
of the Union; nor has the danger yet entirely
| ed. Under our sy TEN there is remedy tor oil
| mere political evils in the sound sense and sob er
Judgment of the people. Time is great cOrrec-
tive.
The political subjects, which but few years
| ago excited and exasperated the public mind, have
passed away, and are now nearly forgotten. But
this question Of domestic slavery is OF far greater
|
cause should the agitation continue, it may event
ually endanger the personal safety OF large por-
ton of our countrymeu where the institution exist
In that event no form OF government, however adj
mirable in itself-however productive OF material
benefts-can compensate for the loss OF peace and
domestic security around the family altar Let ev-
cry Union-loving man, therefore, exert his best
influence to suppress the agitation which, since the
recent legislation of Congress- is without any egLi-
r. Ia saf he fpaa nat AN
have undertaken to calculate the mere material
value of the Union.
Recon estimates have been presented of the
| pecuniary profits aud local advantages which would
result to different States and sections from its dis
| solution; OF the comparative Injuries which such
an event would inict other States aud sections;
even descending to this low and narrow view Of
the mighty questions All such calculations are at
| fault The bare reference to a single cOnsidera-
ton will be conclusive on this point. We at pres
ent enjoy free trade throughout our extensive
and expansive country, such as the world never
/ witnessed. This trade is conducted on railroads
| and canals on the noble rivers and arms of the
sea, which bind together the North and the South,
the East and the West Of our Confederacy.
Annihilate this trade, arrest its free progress by
geographical lines of jealous and hostile States,
and you destroy the prosperity and on
ward march of the whole aud every part, and ill.,
| volve all ia one common ruin. But such consider
atoms, important they are in themselves, sinkn-
| TO insigniicance when we reflect the terrific
evils which would result from disunion, 10 every
| portion of the Confederacy-to the North not more
than TO the South, TO the East not more than 10
the West. These shall not attempt to portray,
because feel an humble confidence that The kind
Providence which inspired our fathers With wis
dom 10 frame the most perfect form OF governments
and union ever devised BY man, will not suffer il to
perish until it shall have been peacefully instru-
mental by its example, in the extension OF civil and
! religious iber,y throughout the world.
| Next in importance to the maintenance OF the
Constitution aud the Uuion Is the duty Of preserv
ing gov rnment free from the faint or suspi-
cion OF corruption. Public virtue Is the vital spirit
of Republics, and history proves that when this has
decayed, aud the love OF money has usuIped its
place, although the forms Of free government may
remain for season, the substance has departed
for ever. Our present financial condition is without
I parallel Ia history. No nation has ever before
been embarrassed from too large a surplus In its
treasury. This almost necessarily gives birth to
extravAgant legislation 1t produces wild schemes
Of expenditures, and begets race OF spectators
and iobbers, WHOSE ingenuity is eKerted in conlri-
wing and promoting eIpsdients 20 obtain the Pubhe
money.
Party, through It's Official agents. whether right.
fully wrongfGy is snsp, cted and the character Of
the government suffers in the estimation of the
people. This is in itself very great evil. The
national mode Of r. lief from embarrassment, is to
appropriate she surplus ia the Treasury to great
liOnal objects for which clear warrant can be
found in the Consultation. Among these might
mention the extingaishment Of the puolic dett, and
a reasonabls increase of the Navy, which is pres
ent inadequate TO the protection of vast ton.
mage aAOal, greater than tina, Of any other ma
tion, as vel as the defense of our extended sea
eJas'.
Ii is beyond all question the true prime pie that
no more revenue ought 90 DO collected from tie
peopl-, tAan the amount necessary % drfrsy the
expenses Of wise, economical, aud efficient al
mlnistration Of the 1oyeramenL 10 rescn this, it