Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-11

somwhat of the spirit of New England and
could be spared for a while, II SO disposed
Mississippi. Georgia, Alabama, Florida
whal of tbemf They appear to have forgot
ten their country and the common welfare in
view of wrongs which afflict-not themselves
materially-but the border States, which
still care for both. Tired of stars and stripes,
they faunt in ''eoekades.n RESPONSIVENESS
to pause awhile and reflect are silenced. a
nations signs are UNDECIDED. The rantings
of fanatics, dignifed to Hinsrlts,n receive
marked attention, and are passed like fire.
brands to kindle passion. They rebuff with
cold cheer their wisest and best statesmen
who counsel moderation; while they take
into confidence and favor those who deny
not the proof of having planned the disrup..
ton of our Gonfederacy, and who, there is
good cause to believe, have toiled zealously,
not for the removal, but for the elimination
of offences in order to ''precipitate" this re-
suit. They appear restless and distrustfnl
at the idea of meeting their sister SoutherE
States for calm deliberation in common
cause. If they cannot wen trust themselves,
nor us, in the old Confederacy, how can
we trust them as the managers of our future
welfare in the new Some.hing, which they pro
pose to construct. IF they win leave US
we must only act our part the more nobly
without them. ~
Texas too, would seem to be taking the
contagion, anxious to try it "alone" once
mere. If she thinks she came in too soon, it
may be we'll enough TO go back and take
more time. But it is hoped Texas will after
all conclude to stay.
Ny remarks here are based upon what ap-
pears to be the existing state of things. There
may possibly be counter-currents at work
unseen beneath the agitated surface. They
may or may not exist. If we cannot always
judge correctly from appearances, yet
these appearances must be noted and we
have to act according to their suggestions
till CONGRATULATIONS reveal themselves. I
aspect of affairs. 90 -i---D Obi - q e d
1t is believed some ofthe disaffected States
enumerated would remain with us in the
Union, under the mutual pledge to stand by
the Constitution, as expounded by the Su-
preme Court, and that the others would con-
si1er and come back. The considerations
would be too powerful to admit ofpermanent
resistance. But if it were otherwise, if all
these States, or even more went out, and
staid out forever, we should still preserve or
country, Qopped it's true of some territory but
not more than has been ceded to the original
States by purchase, &c., in its great essen
tials; stable government, our republican
institutions, State rights, laws for the secure
ment of property; land of liberty, an
asylum for the oppressed of other lands, an
enlightened and progressive nation, digniied
in the eyes of the world, and powerful
enough to secure us against invasion of ter
Iitory or infraction of rights, whether from
adjacent or foreign States. ..-
Let the people of the Middle States men
toned, and all others that choose to do SO,
determine their will on this subject. Let the
question "for" or against" the Union and
Constitution" be squarely put TO popu-
lar vote, uncomplicated with any side issue,
and uninfuenced by considerations of favor
lite parties or leaders. In this way the peo-
pie themselves, without interfering with the
prosecution of other measures of adjustment
in Congress or elsewhere, may make provis-
ion against the evil day of failure by other
means. r.
1 am not without hope that some satisfac-
tory reconciliation of all the States will yet
be brought about. believe If the true mo
tives which influence the effective masses in
either section were fairly represented and
caudidly considered in the other, il would re-
store a fraternity and unanimity of feeling to
defy the assaults of fanatical agitators and
plotting politicians. But as this is not to be
looked for in these times of bitterness and
excitement we have to act as though the
great body of the American people were
really in each section what the dominant
opinion in the other assumes them to be-
But in justice and charity to all, our troubles |
hinge really on this, that the conservative |
and most numerous portion of either side do |
not understand each other well enough, while
the extremists of both understand each other |
but too well. -EEH s EQUITY.
NASHVILLE, Dec. 6, 1860.