Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-20
A Cheering letter.

When, on the 18th day of February 1856,
the PATRIOT assumed firm and decided posi-
ton against proposition, coming from South
ern political friends to ignore The slavery question
asa Party test, leading Americans, in every
section of the State, wrote TO us giving us
words of cheer, and declaring determination
to stand by US to the end. Amongst the let
tiers received, was one from gentleman, whom
we had ever regarded as a model of conserva-
tivism, whose devotion to the Union, and
high character for ability, honesty and integ-
rity, have won for him the confidence and es-
TEEN of both political friends and foes. If
we felt bouyant then, upon the receipt of his
and others commendatory letters, may we
not congratulate ourselves to know, that upon
the Kansas issues, he is also with us. We
give below an extract from long and very
interesting letter from him. 1t stirred our
hearts as the tones of trumpet stirs that of
the warrior, when summoned to the charge.
With such concentrations as this, We care not
whether the petty leader approves or disap-
proves, we shall have the stout hearts and
strong arms of the people with us:
10th, and sit down to thank you, heartily thank
you, for the manly, patriotic stand you have
taken.
1.-THE Kansas question is Of monsentous import
ance to the SOUTH Who can doubt that the
possibility of establishing sIaUery there has
created the great commotion in the North, and
through the country. Ii the struggle, l
would ask for nothing but what il a conStit,-
tonaI right-but if we suffer just and cOnstitu-
tional principles to be over-ridden and brok
en- down, or if we suffer wholesale SANDERS
and peryersions of fact Ito the prejudice of
the brave men who are standing up to our in
terests in Kansas) to be circulated broad cast
through the South, without contradction-in
order that the bigotted masses Of freesoilism
in the North may drive to the wall the pro-
slavery men, and keep Kansas out of the
Union because she is a slave State,-we are
unworthy sons of the South, and shall be de-
graded ourselves, even in the estimation of
the Free-soilized North If we do this, we
but take that first fatal step backward. which
imperils every thing vital to- the South.
This sLauery discussion involves the very beng
of the South-it involves merely theory with
the North. Though the existence of slavery
in Kansas is not, as in Louisiana, inseparable
I ON the prosperity of the State, yet, if Kan
sas is excluded because of slavery-if the re-
evolutionary, disorderly forces led by LANE, are
encouraged and humored 6eeause they side
with the anti-slavery masses of the North--if
in this border, and comparatively unimpor-
tant field, we suffer ourselves TO be bullied and
driven back, with all the points of the law and
all the guarantees of the constitution in our
favor, we will occupy the position of the
cotDard who begins to back under the first blows
of his adversary. and we will ultimately find
that the planting States ofthe South, which can
not survive, as prosperous States, without Az
rican slave labor, cannot hold their slaves but
at the mercy and caprice of the prejudiced
anti-slavery masses of the North, as ig-
norant of the necessities of this sort of
labor in the South. as thew are of the
constitutional guarantees which protect it.
With the vast Northern national preponder
ance now attained, and IN prospect, one of the
greatest dangers to the South is the cupidity or
ambition of some of her most powerful and
prominent politicians. The hope of the Pres
idency is a powerful allurement to side with
the stronger section! See WISE and Walker
AS to the smaller lucrative or other gains
a,tuating some of the men Of the South, IN
Kansas, / suspect Stanton, and others like him.
could tell much more than the public yet
know. But the wurpei men, looking 10 the Presi-
dency, are men of Uast influence, having thou
sands of friends who go with them, right or
wrong,-therefore, they, Of all Others, can do
us most fatal injury! 1t is time for every
patriot to think for himself-it is due that
every man, having strong convictions of his
own, and feeling sure that his convictions are
true to his country, should speak out the
truth plainly, temporarily, but decisively and
fearlessly."