Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-08
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1868.
The Lecompton Constitution I'm Com


gress.
The constitution which was formed by the
people of Kansas, in convention at Lecomp-
ton. has been duly submitted to Congress; and
application is formally made for admission in
to the Union on an equal footing with the
other States. The issue is fairly and squarely
propounded, shall she be admitted? and there
upon "cones the tug of war; We have very
little doubt that the Senate will act affirma-
lively by a large majority-and the great and
heated work viii be left to the House of Rep
resentatives. In that body we may expect an
arduous, if not prolonged struggle. For the
quiet, repose and substantial good of the coun-
try. we could have wished that this contest
might have been avoided. But il is already
clear that there is strong, powerful party
in the North, determined at every hazard to
oppose the admission of any more States into
the Union, tolerating the institution of do
nestle Slavery party indeed blind to the
demands of justice and equality, that has
made unto itself law higher than the consti-
tuition, and that is prepared to let the Union
slide rather than permit another Slave State
to enter the confederacy. The object is, I'M
questionably, to reduce the slave-holding
States to a hopeless minority in Congress,
and so bring them to absolute dependence up
on the capricious will of a hostile majority
to make one portion of an equal and co-sove-
reign federation of States, a mere province,
to be held in subsection to the other portion.
Who denies these facts, has read the history of
the slavery agitation to little purpose, and
hat of the black republican party to much
less. 1t then becomes question with sim
cere and patriotic men everywhere, whether
such state of affairs should be permitted,
whether the great fundamental principle of
liberty and equality, upon which the Repub-
lie rests, shall be so undermined and broken;
and especially does it become grave question
whether the South will submit to it. The re-
lection of Kansas, although it would not con-
summate the aim, would be such a step in that
direction as would make others easy and next
to inevitable. Whatever may be said to the
contrary, the gravamen of the objection to
the admission of Kansas is, that the black re-
publicans did not have the formation of its
constitution, and that the one now presented
tolerates and protects slavery. There is nota
voice in all the opposition, which would be
raised against the constitution, if it had pro-
hibited slavery, and the black republicans
could have glded into undisputed power un-
der its operation. This is apparent from the
case of Oregon. This territory stands on
precisely the same principle, asking admission,
that Kansas does; and yet nobody objects to
the admission of Oregon.
The present struggle, therefore, on the adj
mission of Kansas, could :. only have been
avoided by the absolute aud unconditional
surrender and submission of the slaveholding
States. And inasmuch as this issue il appa-
rent and inevitable, it is as well now as ever.
In matters of expediency, may afford to
yield and compromise; but on questions af-
fecting the principles of justice. equality and
right, the substratum of liberty and indepen-
dence, and in themselves vital, there can be
no alternatives but dishonorable submits
s sSp n and manIT "p"aitinn Th" Sth
ers, until she preserves and maintains her
own selfrespect. We lay down, neither
for ourselves nor for the South, any spe-
cific uLtnaGt,un, at the present We can
consider, hereafter, whether the benefits of the
Union counterbalance the evils which may
spring out of the rejection of Kansas An is
sue is presented, and it is with that, we have
to deal 1t is the imperative duty of the men
of the South, as well all others who value
the glorious principles of true republcanism,
to meet it with all the calm iirmness that its
weight and gravity demands. 1t is not an is
sue for fiery defamation, and individual po-
lemic triumph. These but fan flames that
were better smothered. IL is an occasion for
the full play of wisdom and craftsmanship,
for deliberate, but resolute advocacy of right,
and a devotional defence of the Constitution
and the Republic. 1t is not a time for timid
men, or temporizing counsels, or ignoble con-
cessions. Right must vindicate itself The
South, if the North shall not, must stand fast
upon the Constitution, and in so doing defend
herself IL disruption ensue, Let others he re-
sponsible to history and posterity.
We anticipate n stormy time in the House
of Representatives at Washington-stormy,
not in the fiippant Specification of the term,
as qualifying n tempest in teapot but deep
ly and solemnly tempestuous. We trust there
is no man from the South, who will seek shell
ter from its violence, by II tr,achcrous sur
render. The darkly rolling Rubicon dashes
at our feet. Hesitation is doubt, doubt weak
ness, weakne IS defeat, defeat modification
and shame. Let the black food be deiied, and
crossed where we have come to it. The sold
Ter who bears the constitution will not seek
up and down for more convenient crossings
But while so, we trust there will be neither
confusion nor trepidation, but such determ-
nation and selfpossession, Us will make t easy
and graceful.
At present the indications are that the
friends of admission may fail in the House,
but this is no reason for refusing To defend
the right 1t will only nerve the courageous
heart to worthier deeds and nobler exertions
So let it be.
The BELL Resolutions.