Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-24
Columbus, OAi
Rang kail

In view of these facts why do gentlemen speak of
an irrepressibie conflict. The Northern people are
told if you are not constantly on the alert If youare
not driving back the cncrOachments of the South
as an immovable rock resists the advancing waves,
the South, in very short time, will take possession
o. the rye fields of Massachusetts, and the wheat
fields of New York, and cultivate them with slave
labor. Is not that utopian: Is it not ldeal-mere
fancy. with truth no reality, in II: When touch'
ed and analysed, it vanshes into thin air.
But the Senator from New lOrk goes on, still IN
culcatn this idea in reference to the South the dis
solution of the Union and all that:
Iris tat they msaning fathers necessarily and
vi ely modified this policy Of freedom ny sl'ns y 20 ue
heir and their own pleasure IN
Sod tat dutv 10 Congress- and that they secured
while yet retaining the system OF slavery
hs repree on Of slaves in the Federal Government
until hav should nd able to r-nuuiS witt sey
Bat the very IA ure dcat fJrthes position
that the fathers knew that two ysems uld not endure win
in the n nd expect At W thin short period, slavery
Eoud i appear fry More vsr in order mOdfct
lions mig alt 'geher deta their grand drsg1 OF kpu9
lie msintnngu i've sal quality they provided that t"o 'hrds
Of the states mi hit amed the Constitution"
Three fnurths he should have SAID. Twothrds
NAV propose an amendment: twOthirds Of the States
can call convention three-fourths must ratfy the
amendment. But the idea is all we are after. lie
savs-and want To do the Senator justice, as he IS
not present; read more of his speech thar would
if he were here
s,pp enion # these States again universal
tie Constitution IN telds all he Ae'oIapd bed
He seems TO indulge the idea thai slavery is again
to become universal. See the sOphlstry OF 1t:
n the other haod willie DO conf IDy believe and hope
untry will Ian NJ universal freedom,
DO not Tpe N he AIDE 50 otherwise ian through The
action Of the several states rating with the Fe er Gov
eFnmt nd II acting In strict conformity with their respective
ms buttons"
Is there not an idea under that His language is
in strict conformity with their (Eleaning the Fed
era State Goyernments) respective Constitutions
He intimatcS that twOthrds Of the States amend
the Constitutions that the North TO go on IN conior
nifty with the Constitution until slavery shall be
narrowed down TO less than Onc-third or OnefOurth
Of the States and then amend the Constitution, and
Ubliterae tia once Is not that the plain nterpre
tauOn? Cannot we understand thar: GU talk about
southern men being alarmed. They are not alarm
ed but they the advances they see the encroach-
ing doctrine; they see the principles laid down by
which institution that IS dear TO them is to be up
rooted and botted out of existence. Then ought you
to think southern man violent, and call him rash
when he declares that he will not be willing to see
this man. some other man entertaining and adVo-
eating precisely tho same doctrines administer this
Government when it is 20 be administered TO the
destruction of the Constitution. and the destruction
Of the institution that IS most dear to hmi JAIL US
hre-eateTs an no fre-eater am not panc-strlck-
en-; but because | am neither. should be blind and
not sec the advance; should be deaf. and not hear
the roar of the approaching storm? Can we be mis-
taken? What is covered up there: You see hespeaks
of the idea OF consolidation He speaks Of the man
ner OF amending the Constitution. He refers to the
time when he believes that freedom will universally
prevail. Then what more does he say:
'svng spent my manhood, though my whole life,
free state Of kind much less an aristCeracy
Of SHAREHOLDERS, shall male the laws Of the land In which
shsd he co"en live Having seen thu society around me uni
sally ENGAGED in agriculture, features and trade which
and bsn,cent shall be denizen OF State
where and reared cattle, and bought and sold
merchandise
,,,I,, .I,o,.
looks to the consummation of these ends to be will
ing TO rule people under whose laws he says he
would not be content to live? And he says, too, if
this be the case, ''where liberty dwells there is
NV country Can we be mistaken in the meaning
Of all this Would not the promotion and elevation
of uen entertaining these doctrines, and who intend
TO carry out these principles, be contributing to the
destruction of the Constitution and of the Union
which is based upon it, ahd OF the institutions which
are secured and guaranteed To the South:
have already referred 10 John Quincy Adams
declaration that under the eaty-making power, IN
the event Of instruction Of tho slaves, and the
Federal Government should be called upon TO inter
pose. this Government could emancipate the slaves.
Then look at the doctrines OF the speech from which
| have lust quoted. Now bring into power man
entertaining these sentiments, and send some
more John Browns on their forays against the
south; let this Government in tic hands of such
man be called upon for force to put them down and
where shall we stand Are we prepared to submit
proclaimed by the elevation and installation into
mower of men entertaining such doctrines! do
not wish to be panic maker; do not wishto alarm
ANYBODY | do not suppose | could alarm any one
If were disposed to do so; but tell gentlemen %
the North aud of the South that there IS state of
things in the country that never existed before
There is no outburst there Is no passion but there
is deem decided feeling in the country and the idea
is obtaining too much currency that tins Inlon is to
be dissolved That seems almost TO be toregone
conclusion and thas got TO be- IN the minds OF many
a belief that it is simply question OF time
DO we not see what the inevitable result OIL press
ing such doctrines upon the country VIII De- IN this
state of the public feeling? For myself am no dis
solutionst, / am no madcap on this subject Be
cause we cannot get constitutional rights do
not intend to be one of those who VIII violate the
Constitution When the time Genes, u II ever does
come when it shall be neceSsary-and Ood torb |
that il ever should COME iltend tn place my feet
mon the Constitution which ! have sworn 10 sup
BORT and TO stand there and battle for all It's guar
utees; and if the the Cons tu On Is to he violated
f this Union is to be broken up II shall he done by
hose who are stealthily and insidously making er.
,roarhments upon its very foundation. lnteCd to
,tand mon the Constitution to the very last, and
eli tbe North it is with them; they have the Union
n their own hands and if it is broken up II VIII De
heir own work. not that of the Southi for all we