Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-01


pS~ Every threatened infraetiOn Of the constitu-
ton by Northern AbolitiOnists and the consequent
irritation Of the Southern people, brings to the sur
face in the slave States set Of Unien oroakers Who
are as regular in the sounding Of their monotOnous
note, and as senseless too as frogs in marsh upon
a rainy dsv. The recent Kansas excitement in
Congress has again put them to croakng. The
struggles Of the revolution the lsbors Of early
fathers. and our greatness and splendOr nation
all imperiled by Southern ultraists are again re-
hearsed and sung 70 the same old tune. Against
this senseless tEsdde there should be some remon-
STRANGE as it lends to encourage the false idea at
the North that the people Of the South win consent
to a surrender Of the Constitution and all Of its
sacred guarantees if needs be, to preserve worth
less Union Of the States
Where is the occasion for this constant crosking
at the SOUTH Where is there Southern State that
could be induced to leave the Union SO long as they
are permitted to remain in it under the guarantees
Of the Constitution and upon an equality with her
sister States3 Where is there Southern State
whose citizens have not struggled hard to protect
the Constitution and hold 70 it as the sheet anchor
Of the Union? Where is the Southern State that
in order to have pretext for dissolying it Where
is the Southern State that, with the Constitution
has not fought for the Union, and by every other
means contributed to its success and preservation
There are none such, and history bears witness the
fact There are no people more loyal than the peO-
pie Of the South, none more just and true. Even
the extremests-those Whe have gone to extent
that is thought radical and unwise by the more con-
sentative Of our peOple-hsve been aggravated it
by repeated wrongs until they have honestly though
perhaps too hastily, abandoned all hope of preserv
ing the equality Of the States and Of making the
Union answer the purposes Of its creation. Let the
aggrasating causes be Withdrawn and who would
question their fidelity to the Union, or fight for it
more readily on the field OF in the forum.
Our early fathers used to commemorate the Declar
ation Of Independence whose sublime principles
were fought for and established by the revolution,
but the Union was but an incident to this. Il
achieved nothing, it fixed nothing Independence
had been declared and won before the Union was
talked of, and might possibly have been preserved
if the Union had never been formed. The Union
did not make our people nation, consolidated
government, but mere COnfederaoy Of seperate,
independent and sovereign States in order to give
greater protection and security to the seperate and
distinct rights Of each which had already been
tabshed and recognised.
The terms and conditions upon which it was
based we're set forth like any other contract in a
written Constitution determining the limit and eK-
tent Of the Federal power The Union is, there
FORE only valuable far it answers these ends,
and worse than valueless where it fails to answer
them. With the Constitution, we believe it still
suited to the interests Of the States, and therefore
VIC earnestly desire its preservatiOn-but without
the Constitution, we should regard it valueless
an empty bubble, cheat a fraud, means for
injustice and oppression, and such should treatit
Let US preserve the Union, but not as the Adolf
tionists would have it preserved; not upon terms
that Southern croakers would submit to-but let US
preserve it 5y holding on 10 the Constitution and not
without the Constitution. If there are any who
seriously value the Union and earnestly desire its
preservation, we appeal to them to stand by the
CONSTITUTION make that the object of their attach
ment and the altar Of their political devOtons upon
which to offer their daily sacrifices Insist upon a
strict construction Of its provisions and permit no
violation of so sacred an instrument, to accom-
plish any purpose however desirable. FrOWn down
those who disregard that instrument as men who
break their faith who hold not to their allegiance,
who are unjust and reckless, and who would sub
vert the government Instead of clarifying the
Union, glorify the Constitution. Instead Of wasting
your auathemas on indiscreet persons who talk Of
going out Of the Union, reclaim them from their
error by debasing those who, while holding to the
Union, would subvert the Constitution. There is
no danger to the Union so long the Constitution
is preserved Be sure that nothing can preserve it
when the Constitution is gone. Free government
might possibly exist without Union Of the various
States-but without the guarantees of the COnsti-
tuition it never can.