Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-21
Idle Threats.

tisan and sectional violence as recently
evoked into new activity. finds con- olation
in the fortunate fact" proved by frequent
experience, that the people of the United
States "can bear more political excitement
than any other people on the face of the
globe. and that too without changing one
item of their constitutional law or policy"
1t is undoubtedly true. as our contemporary
intimates. that much OF the political vehe-
mpnce which periodically convulses the coun-
try is as spasmodic in duration as il is often
Fictitious in the causes which give it birth,
but we think it will be none the less admit
ed that the ferceness of our political excite
ments has come to exert a most unwhole-
some influence on the public mind. II seems
to be faBcied by some that the spirit IF par
ty, which has been tbe bane of all Republics
in the past, nay be INDUCED with impunty
under the popular institutions received from
our wise-and patriotic fathers. We know not
by what dispensation it is expected that the
Providence which has thus far guided us in
our career of greatness will save the people
of the Unitrd States from The consequences
of their national sins and follies when We
are in the almost daily habit OF stalking the
issues of civil peace and union upon the pal
try hazards Of some electioneering contest.
Ii should not be expected that the palladium
of our liberties can be periodically dragged
through the mire OF political and sectional
strife without losing that sanctity in which
it was previously clothed by the reverence of
the nation, and as in morals a truth neglect
ed SOON brcomes truth rejected. so in po-
litics blessing despised may become in the
end a blessing forfeited and lost.
1t Is known that we are not OF those who
habiually despair of the Republic, and we
see nothing in the signs of the prescott time
which should call for unmanly f,-ars and de-
lection, but we do much that calls for
I. Il
political contests. AS these are now waged
thy dtspnil our popular liberties OF all the
grace and beauty which might otherwise
comm nd them to the acceptance OF the ma
tions. and, inst, ad of being an enviable ex-
annie to the rest of mankind, we are in
positive danger of being held up as signif-
cant warning to all who in other parts OF
the world are struggling for institutions
like our own. and which in our hands have
seemed little better than a garland rent
aud sOiled by the grasp OF popular fury.
We have recently had frequent occasion
TO remark on one of the must unhealthy
symptoms of the present day as found in
the language of menace and insult so con-
stantly poured like food from the partisan
press, as represented in different sections OF
the country. AS though the spirit of sec
tiOnal hatred were not already sufficiently
deep and intense, we meet with constant
utterances which, whether so designed or not,
| can have no other effect than to minister
fresh fuel to the fires of discord. AS an ex-
ample OF this needlcssly irritating form of
speech We may cite with greet the suhjoin-
cd remarks OF a leading Republican Journal,
the New York Courier and Enquirer:
Let the South now understand that if
any portion of this great Conf deracy,
whether il be the East or the West. til" North
or the South, attempts withdraw from the
Union. it will be promptly tchlPped-aye,
uhippea into suhjection 1t is all idle to
mince the matter. The fiat has gone forth
and will be enforced; let Washington, Ore
gon and California. at the Northwest. or
Maine. New Hampshire and Massachusetts,.
at the Northeast. or the agricultural States
of the North and Centre, or the slave States
Of the South and Southwest-let any one of
them or any combination of them raise the
banner of rebellion against the American
Union we care not what their pretense for
treason as certainly as there is "A God above,
So certain it thai the offending States will
be lrhipped into obedience, and the traitors
who encouraged rebellion terminate their Ca
rcer on the gallows.
The North, the Centre and the West-thc
great heart aud most efficient limbs OF the
Confedcracv-a all true to The Union and
the Constitution and should disunion raise
its head at the South, John Brown has taught
the world how much opposition from that
quarter is really worth. If seventeen fanat-
les, led on hy n madman, could hold in sub
J"ction a town containing two thousand Vir-
ginians, and keep at bay whole regiments Of
Virginia militia. who even under the eve of
their Governor dare not attack their Inva-
drrs. but TODD by and saw twelve United
States ma.ines make the assault and capture
in ten minuteS-what would those same
boaatful roldiers do when confron ted by North
ern valor. banded together under the COnsti-
tuton and bearing alOfl the banner of the
Union? Why, our venth Regiment alone
in such a cause.-The cause of the Union and
the Constitution.-aid as it would he by the
good men of the Slave States. wOnld prompt
ly overrun every rebellions State of the
Sonth. und compel them TO return to their
allegiance"
As the political antecedents of the Courier
and Enquirer forbid the presumption that it
would "illingly promote spirit of schism
and revolt in the Conltderacy we are led to
interpret this language only part aud par
eel of The current dialect in which nearly all
our political discussion has of late wears
found expression. without perhaps being in
splrcd by any positive sentiment Of personal
hostility towards citizens Off common cOun-
try because residing in diff rent sections and
holding opposite political opinions But it
Is idle To suppose that such tauuts and sn"ers
can be freely INDUCED in without leaving
behind them ranking wound. and nothing
perhaps could sooner precipitate deed Of
madness and dcsp Ration like that upon
which he Enquirer comments than lust such
language OF menace. should il ever come to
be regarded at the South as the deliberate
expression of Northern sentiment and deter
mination
1t ofcourse is not necessary for ms to say
that in the event Of any rupture hrtwnen the
Northern and the Southern States. all at
tempts at the coercion ard reSuhiugation of
the recusant members Ofa broken Confetl. ra-
cy would be found to involve difficulties
and prrils before which any combination Of
STATES might shrink in dismay, if not from
the magnitude Of the task. ut least from the
iratrcdal strife through which alone it could
he accomplished. The hippancy with which
II Is common TO invoke a dissolution of the
Uuion nj the South can only he rqualled in
. folly by the fippancy of those at the North
who would avert ii by appealing 10 no higher
sentiment than craven fear. We have all
faith in III" stability Of our civil system. but
il is Il faith founded not only on thu politi-
cal nee ssity which ordains it. but also on
the popular sentiment by which il is upheld
in the hearts Of the nation. They who would
undermine the supports which the Union
finds in the affections of the people are sap
ping The structure ut its cornerstone, and. If
unable to disturb the broad foundation on
which il rests. may still do much to mar the
peace and repose of those whom it Shelters
National L,rteiigencsr.
From ~ ashington.