Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-28
H,Hrrnnn Conn Dec Il IS


! GENTLEMEN Il have only time, before the depar-
of the next mail, to acknowledge the reception
/ 4 your note of Yesterday and to express regret
hat it is not in MY power to Join the great assem-
I lage of patriotic citizens who will thrOng the
/ academy of Music Monday evening
1t would be great relief to believe that you over
stimate the dangers which threaten the continued
InOn of these States and the urgenc" of the
which. to use your own language. calls upon us
20 sOlemnly pledge ourselves T. ON this hour, by
! ur influence our example our votes and by every
ther proper means, To discOuntenancc and oppose
ieciiOBdiSH in all its FORMS
Ii can hardly be necessary TO say, that to this no
/ Die resolve give my cordial approval and earnest
| support. Let us hope that those who profess to
owe the Union, whether present at your meeting q
Ibsen;, will unite with you in spirit, and WILL make
Iheir subsequent action prompt and manly response
/ % your declared sentiments and purposes. Thus
aud thus only may we re-cstabish with our South
ern brethren the relations which existed through so
many peaceful, happy and prosperous years between
their fathers and OurS,-reiations, Ub which, this
Union is ncOmparably above all earthly blessings,
and lcitbOH which, il cannot be preserved and,
may add would not he worth preserving Will an
Dvermasterins public opinion stronger than fanati
cism whether the latter aSSa the Constitution and
obedience 10 law from the pulpit, the platform or
The press assert and maintain in crisis like this,
he supremacy of its power and authority? The
Empire City and the Empire State have great re-
spOnsibilities involved in this question.
You surmount the cldSped hands over the public
call, which YOU enclose to me- with the words JUS
tice and fratcTnitv'-They are suggestive, signif-
cant and in the right order. Between political
munitics, as between individuals, th,re can be no
fraternity without Justice. But what does justice
cnjon. Clearly, that, If will enjoy the benefits
which the Constitution conters, must fulfill the
Obligations which it imposes.
How strange is it, that with truths SO obvious and
obligations SO undenablc large portion of our
people should practically and hahitually deny their
authority We cannot go on in this way. The pre-
sent status cannot he maintained The condition of
itairs must, OF necessity, soon become great deal
peIter or a great deal worse. The causes, which
ire stirring the hearts and minds of our country
men everywhere, are, at this moment instinct with
orce. and working with onted energy. IL NAV
De easy for those who have slept an hour the
less because treason was abroad, who have never
incurred a personal sacrifice nor encountered per-
sona danger for their country, TO of tran
luil security. But of what value such assurance
5 it not in vain TO avert our eyes from dangers
which are patent? Thoughtful men cannot do il if
hey would and in view Of the state of things no-y
resented TO them they ought not 10 desire TO patch
lp temporary pacfcG ton 10 be disturbed it may
e, by more serious cSuse under circumstances Of
Lore alarming nggravation
If we will enjoy IepOse and secI ritv ourselves, /
and if we will give repose and secHr others we
must return not merely TO the opinions and doctrines
of the Revolutionary fathers, of the North and Of
the South but we must cultivate their sentiments
emulate their comprehensive patriotism and initiate
heir inst and manly example They gave no couR- /
tenance 70 the heresies of Sectionalism They lent
no listening ear &c denunciaOns of the people and
institutions of onehaf of the states of the contcder
alton. They never turned aside, from curiosity or
from any motive less worthy 10 listen TO the preach
ing Of treason against the Constitution and Union
No Far from it. Having fought the battles OF In
ependence-having framed the Constitution and
secured its adoption they addressed themselves TO
1 duty, if possible, still higher. They obeyed the 1
cannlnn bond and they cherished the common broth
efhoOd.
is not such Bn example baptized in blood anu sig
nRlly blessed of God through those eighty years Of
our history one safe for us TO follow:
Your fellow-citizen and friend.
FRANKLIN PIRBCE. J