Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-29
rnURsDAY, DECEMBER a0r 1850.

The issues between the North and the South
unop the slavery question practical issues anu
need 8 practical solution. Such solution can new
er be hsd in the adoption of mere temporary expe-
dents. resulting from an oyerweening anxiety upon
the part of timil conservatives to postpone inc
danger that imperils us or coneeiEedla the Wis u
aUnion-ssvins hemagogues, who may use II as
kind of patent patriotism to commend themselves
% DoDnlar favor. and thus enable them to crawl
into the high pIsc S of the government The Amer
ica, people in their Just appreciation Of the bles-
sings which oar republican institutions have con
ferred upon them and upon The world, are natural
" alarmed and anxious whenever there IS a threat
eued rupture Of tie government; and we fear In |
the intensity Of their anxiety they have looked TOO
much for immediate relief and too little for per
manent cure. We think that the logic OF events
has now demonstrated that compromises y have
done the government more harm than they have
done IL rood and that the country would have been
,ter served If no such word had ever been introdu-
ced into our political vocabulary Practically there
have been no COMPROMISES so far as the North Is
concerned for she has in no instance regarded
then, save where she would have been willing TO
have pursued the same course without /" coTnpro-
nise" The result has been that all pretended
settlements have been settlements, in fact, but
mere blinds to the South.
We are in the midst of another crisis. The patient
is again sick with a recurrence Of the same old
Inaady ana we are all like anxious walters at the
bedside. seriously alarmed and seeking for some
remedy that will remove the disease and give the
patient health and activity again. What shall we
do? In our anxiety and fear, shall we resort to
the old expedient Of salyng over, for present re-
lief these running ulcers upon the body polite, and
delude ourselves with the belief that it is perma-
nent cure or shall we, with decent cOmposure
look danger in the face and insist upon such prse-
lice a. will reach the seat of the disease and entire
Nv eradicate it, however painful and difficult the la
bOr2 This is a stubborn question, and yet one that
must be answered. We trust that it will address
itself TO those Of our friends at the North who
anfesting their anxiety for the preservation of the
Union. through their meetings and otherwise. Let
them not be deceived as to the nature of the evils
which they will have to remedy. Let them not
suppose that they have merely to rebuke sny
senument that looks TO a dismemberment of the
States, under any contingency; and to cultivate in
its stead higher appreciation Of the value OF the
Union. There are but few if any, Disunionists per
Sc. After all the unjust and scandalous misrepre-
sensations that for party ends, have been made Of
Southern men and Southern sentiment. We have
never known citizen of the South, however e.
IRENE, who desired ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Con-
federacv, only us a remedy against the unjust and
unconstitutional demands Of the North, and from q
conviction that sooner later the aggressive and
tyranncal spirit Of fanatciqm there will force upon
Us this alternative or worse We do not believe
there is so much as handful of men at the South
-. IL. a,-tr.a VIII
would not feel patriotic pride in seeing the UniOr
placed upon an enduring basis whenever il can b.
done by perpetuatng the constitution with it, in al
of its perfection and fullness so as 10 preserve IL
violate the guaranteed rights of the States, and thu
liberty and equality of the people. Let the North
ern people understand this let their minds be dis
abused as 10 the character Of dsunion sentiment
the South; let them learn that the only dsnge
10 the Union is the threatened subversion OF tn
constitution; and that the only permanent safet!
for the one is to be found in q strict and faithful
observance of the other. Let tine honest public mel
Of that section go forth to their people and LAUD TIL
Constitution! Let them speak of its sacred guar
autios-of its great wisdom and excellence as
chart of Hberty-cf its Importance as the founda
tion-stone Of s. great temple erected 10 freedom-o
the sublime principles embodied in it, which, If car
Fied out will not only make ours the happiest pee
pie upon the globe but will constitute the light uT
on hill by which all the nations of the earth sha
he directed in the glorious work of good govern
nent TO
Ii those who are moving in the Union meetings 8
the North stop short of this it were better for theI
and for us that they had never commenced. The
will have accomplished no good, hut may have don
positive harm in so far as they create in the publ
mind fancicd security that has no real eXlstenc
The questions OF Constitutional right between II
dominant party al the North and the people at II
South have 10 lie settled. nj whatever cost and Il
sooner the better The best friends TO Constitution
liberty. if not to a fathess Union are those who al
ready to come boldly up and demand a settlement
these issues stating, as did our foretathers to Il
demands of tyranny the only grounds upon whiC
harmony and concord can be preserved. The mo
dangerous men 10 the liberties and honor Of Il
country if not the preservation OF the Cmon' al
those who, from fear, from short-slghtedness,
from hopes of political preferment, counsel ten
porizing policy with the dangerous distemper of Il
times; Pleading for the Union, in seeming forgeuu
ness of the Constitution. the only terms upon wm'
the Union is worth preserving. An open enemy
seldom 10 he feared; but the bad counselor, VIII
from fear or otherwise, is ever ready to strike
compromise between wee and virtue between rig
and wrong. between justice and injustice betwe
liberty and oppression. if needed. will prove IN
end the deadliest foe that ever conspired to betr
the liberties of people.
Let the people think of this. Government Is I
work of human agency. and by human agency
blessings must be perpetuated, or its purposes Pc
yertsd to the mere service of ambitious men,
made the footstool of despotic power.