Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-18
~ MONDAY, APRIL Is, 1859.
The Disunion sentiment.

Sometime since we referred to the fact that
certain leading Democratic organs at the
South are zealously laboring TO prepare the
hearts of the Southern people for disunion.
We quoted from the JfississiPpidn the interro-
gAtory: .Wil the Senators and Representa-
tivea of the Southern States participate in the
ceremony Of inaugurating" Republican
administration should that party succeed at
the next Presidential election? and added
at is .rnanifcstithat there il deep and con
tinually widening current among the South
ern Democracy which is setting strongly
towards disunion'" Inreply, the Mssissippian
among other things, says:
Instead of defining the position or describ-
lug the acts Of other journals, would it not
have been more manly in the Patriot to have
Informed the public where it intends to stand
in the event of the election Of Black Re
publican to the Presidency?
Does it mean to say that the danger OF
such result il not imminent?
The party to which il processes allegiance
is without place whereon to rest its foot, as
ii is without name.
In the Northern States. it has been com
pletely swallowed up by the Abolition
organization. Here and there an individual
member of the old Wing party, or the new
American may be found; and his lugubrious
wall isoccasionally heard amidst the wrecks
of those organizations, but his melancholy
notes serve only to illustrate the complete
meas of the destruction, and gloominess or the
Wastes around him.
In the Southern States, their strength has
departed; and in the national councils they
have furnished but meagre assistance to the
Democracy in defending the Constitution
&C. H.. .u,,Is NJ ne taDa
II the Patriot believes, therefore, that the
preparations towhich it refers are premature,
il relies not upon the miserable pretence OF
the nameless party to which 1t belongs; but
upon the Democracy, for whose overthrow, IN
RECITATION of the title under which it addresses
the public, II Is striving. ... -
The Mississiptdn, no doubt would prefer
that. instead of defining its position. the PAT
RIOT would join 1t i'll preparing the hearts OF
the Southern people Tor disunion. But we are
striving for the attainment of a precisely
opposite end. II is our desire that the feel
ing which the MissisaPPidn and its coadIutors
are striving to create, shall be suppressed
that the sentiment of disregard for the Union
in All sections, shall give place to sound
conservative, nationol, UniOn-living sentl-
ment. having for it's basis the constitution
aud laws. The paramount question with us
is not what we should do in the event OF the
election of Black Republican to the Presi-
dency, but how we shall preuerat that event
We give the MssiSsipidn credit for too much
sagacity, not to know that the course 1t is
pursuing does not tend 10 direct and imme-
diate contest between the North and the
o. IA 4, hat tha
suit OF such a contest at the ballot box would
result in the defeat of the South.
The position of the Mssisappian, then, and
of those other Democratic organs that stand
by its side, is that the South should pursue
that course which will most certainly lead 10
the election of a Black Republican President;
and upon the occurrence of that event, the
South should dissolve its political union with
the North. What holder or palmer exposi-
ton OF the designs and aims of the leaders of
the Southern Democracy is desired by the
Southern people. The MiSsisappiGn asserts
roundIy that the party to which we are at
tached lis without place to rest Its foot"
"in the Northern States it has been complete
ly swallowed up" and ''in the Southern
States its strength has departed" If the
result Of the pending elections should show
this to be true. what hope can be reasonably
entertained that the contest in 1860 will not be
narrowed down to a conflict between the
North and the South? Does the Mssisslppian
desire this
The question which we are now proposing
10 solve is. whether there Is sufficient nation
al, conservative, notwithstanding and
law-obscrving sentiment In the Republic TO
avert the calamity of she struggle which our
Mississippi contemporary seems to desire.
We are striving To arouse this feeling. and To
obtain It's assertion and test of it, strength.
II IL shall turn out that those who cherish
this feeling are in hopeless minority-that
the fanatics and the enemies of the Union,
North and South. have the power and will to
put All nd 10 1t, then il must be so. But we
require that the test shall be fairly made be-
fore we shall countenance the REASONABLE
work
The lMssissiprsaH asks. II we mean to say
that the danger of the election of a Black Re
publican IL not imminents We mean TO say
that III danger is imminent; and that the
DANCE, proceeds from the course which these
organ which we have charged with preach
ing perpetual sermons OF secession to the
Southern people, are pursuing. No paper
South his made equal efforts with the Ms
sissiypian to drive Joudge DoUGIAs and his
friends ia the North from the Democratic
party Ito reduce the Presidents northern adj
herens 20 an Insignificant hand-full-and
hence.to destroy the boasted nationality of
the party. Let our contemporary at once
p'ac. itself in lis true position by avowing
its d sign "a destroy the Union as il un-
qaestianably is. aud let the people eompre-
bend the questions we have proPonnded. and
the issue they are called upon 10 decide.