Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-12-16
Progress. of the Di.union Sentiment.

The meeting of the Legislatures of various
Southern States the present fall and win
ter, has afforded an opportunity for an ex-
preston of the disunion sentiment which has
Tor several years been a characteristic OF
many Southern democratic leaders. Whilst
we have constantly warned our readers
against lending too willing ear TO these
sentiments, we have yet seen them progress
year by year, until they have " become fami-
liar as household words, f" and imminentiy por-
tend the too speedy contamination at which
they have systematically and deliberately
aimed. AS chroniclers of passing events and
opinions we have given extracts from the
Messages of the Governors of several of the
Southern States, and present below those OF
Gov. GIsT, of South Carolina, and Gov.
PERRY, of Florida. The former only follows
the line of unsafe precedent in that State
but the latter goes farther than any of his
predecessors towards the assertion of a neces-
sity for dissolution OF the Union, and the
establishment of Southern confederacy.
Gov. GIsT says:
"With an united South our course would
be clear, and our future glorious; we could
enforce equality in the Union, or maintain
our independence out of it, If, as solemnly
believe, we can no longer live in peace and
harmony in the Union-notwithstandin the
associations of the past, and the remembrance
of our common triumphs-(b being treated as
enemies and aliens, rather than brethren of
the same family, and heirs of the same inner
itance by the NOrth,) we can form confrde-
racy with ability TO protect itself against any
enemy, and command the respect and admi-
ration of the world. This proud position is
only to be obtained by a strict adherence to
law and duty; and while South Carolina in
siss on the other States carrying ont their
constitutional obligations, she should be care
full to do her whole duty, and carry out in
good faith all her obligations to her sister
States and the Federal Government, by dis
cOuraging all attempts to evade the laws,
under any pretense whatever. While in the
Union we should comply with all the laws of
Congress until they are pronounced uncon-
stitutional by the Supreme Court or our peo-
pie are released from their binding obliga-
tions by the constituted authorities of the
State, and it would be an arrogant assump-
ton on the part of individuals to set up their
opinions of the constitutiOnality of q law as
their rule of action. We should not initiate
the example of the North in setting up q
''higher law" but retain the proud position
we have always occupied, and il will give
self-satisfactiOn, and approving conscience,
and moral power to achieve victory.
In preparing for any emergency that NAV
arise, would respectively recommend you
at an early period to take such measures as
in yourkwisdom. you may deem proper and
expedient, TO obtain the cooperation of the
Southern States in concerted action in de-
Tense of our institutions whenever they may
be put in jeopardy by all the departments OF
Government passing into the hands of our
enemies. The election of a Black Republi-
can President will settle the question of our
safety in the Union, and although the forms
of the Constitution may be complied with, its
vital principle will be extiuguished, and the
South must consent to occupy an inferior and
degrading position, or seek new safeguards
for future security. Let South Carolina eX-
haust every means to get the cooperation of
the Southern States in this vital and impor-
tant movement, yielding every thing but
principle for that purpose, prepared to follow
any lead in resistance. but she should never
forget that she is sovereign and an equal
that by her sovereign act she created the re-
lationship of the State that now exists in the
Federal Union, and that she has a clear and
unquestionable right to resume her position
as sovereign in the family of nations.
RciyiEg confidently upon just God. who
has hitherto dealt so kindly with us as IL
State, to sustain US in trying emergency we
may be called to pass through, let us in all
sincerity invoke continuance of His favor
and support"