Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-16
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY ls, 1855.
The Prospect OF Dt.unfon.

which sound statesmanship and correct logic
would hold justification for violent disrup-
tion of the bonds of this Union. Such an
event is impossible, SO long as the letter and
spirit of the Federal constitution are observed
and obeyed. In spite of the Vaccinations of
bid politicians, North and South, who seem to
have very little interest in the stability of
anything except as their personal aims are adj
svanced by it, if the issue were made to-day
upon anything which is past or at present be-
fore the American people, We should wall the
national degeneracy, if it were even probable
that they would agree to q dismemberment of
the Republic. But it is just now becoming
extremely fashionable for certain class Of
politicians, who oppose the admission of Kan
sas under the Lecompton constitution, to harp
on the idea of prospective disunion, in case Of
such admission. This is inexcussble timidity
or consummate humbuggery. Who would pro-
pose to dissolve in such an event T? and upon
what pretext1 The North, PROFESSIONALLY,
and because the constitution of Kansas tOle-
rates and protects the institution OF slavery.
Is there man in the government, who would
seriously affirm that this is sufficient cause for
dissolution? If so, he is already a traitor in
his heart, and an apostate from the faith of Ii
berty and equality, upon which the fabric of
our independence was constructed. But q
different pretext is relied upon, that major
ity of the people of Kansas did not partic-
pate in the formation of the constitution.
There is scarcely a man in the country unless
blinded by prejudice, who will deny that a
m jority might have been registered under
the law authorizing the convention, that being
so registered might have voted for delegates.
There is no man who will say that the entire
people might not have voted on the slavery
question on the 21st of December last, had
they chosen To do 80. They refused TO do so,
by the free act of their own volition. Now,
having placed themselves in this position,
there is not a patriot nor a respectable states
man in the land, who would hold that this
action on the part of a few thousand faction
lists in Kansas, would be sufficient
or even plausible ground for disunion
The Union among the States cannot be
broken upon so fmsy pretext; and he who
would raise his hand against it for such cause,
would go down to posterity as premeditated
and deliberate traitor to his country. And
We undertake to say further, if this Republic
can be swept from existence on such pretense.
it is too weak to last under any circumstances,
and is not worth preservation. If the strength
of the United States may be overcome by the
breath of few thousands of factious and re-
bellious citizens, it is splendid failure.
The truth is, the body of the Northern peo-
pie have little or no concern with slavery as
it exists in the Southern States If they are
conscientiously opposed to it, they are rid of
il, and they have no legitimate right to NEEDLE
with it in other sections. And the sober sense
or the Northern people has taught them this
fIct. 1t is true that evil men, mere politi-
clans, operating on the baser prejudices of
those people, have, for partizan purposes and
selfpromotion, excited widespread antipa-
thy against slavery; but it is groundless, and
is as the unstable tenure of vision. II has
produced agitation and may continue it, TO the
serious detriment of the country. But when
the practical issue of dissolution is presented,
and the practical sober second thought of the
Nortn shall expose the TACT that the people
have been on political wild-goose chase,
mere tools in the hands of designing men,
pipes for politicians to play upon, it is reason
able to suppose they will rise and crush their
false leaders.
Besides, we believe that there is too much
conservatism at the South, too much sense of
propriety and justice, for her to ever offer to
the North just cause for dissolution There
are certain leaders in the South, il is true
who impously pray for dissolution; but they
have met with failure-and the people have so
far refused to say amen to their prayers. If the
dissolution of the Union is ever to take place
the provocation will come from the North
and for it the North must be responsible Ii
is sublimated folly to hold that the North
would be justified in a violent disruption OF
the Union account .of the admission OF
Kansas, under the Lecompton constitution.
To hold or charge that such would follow that
event, is charging the Northern people in a
body as untrue to the Union and the consti-
tuition. We are not prepared TO go so far.