Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-08

in its tendency. The policy of both tends
strongly to stir up internal strife in the
Southern States, TO excite discussions and in
snrrections among the slaves, to- produce
alarm and sense ofinsecurity both as to life
and property, among the white population
of every Southern State, and finally to infu-
ence the whole South to revolt against the
Government. The degree and extent of the
mischief which the Republican party may be
able to inf1ict by its anti-slavery policy, for
reasons which I need not state, it will be
readily acknowledged, will be ten-fold great
CT than any which the Abolition Societies
have it in their power to infict. -
That do not unjustly change the Repnb-
lican party with having adopted policy
which, in its character, tendency and practi-
cal operation, is in conflict with the spirit, if
not the letter, of the Constitution, can be
made manifest in very few words: One of
the important objects TO be accomplished by
the adoption of the Constitution. as declared
ia the preamble, was to ENSURE domestic
tranquility" and the power was expressly
given to the Federal Government by that in
strument, to suppress instructions" The
simple announcement to the public that a
great party at the North, opposed to slavery,
has succeeded in electing its candidate for
the Presidency. disguise it as we may, is
well calculated to raise expectations among
the slaves, and might lead to servile insur-
rections in the Southern States. If such an
event, which is more than possible, should
really happen. it might become the duty of
Mr.. Lincoln to restore the tranquility which
the policy of his party had disturbed, and
to suppress an instruction which the same
policy had excited.
In stating the exceptions which may be
fairly taken by the South to the election OF
Mr.. Lincoln, have purposely presented, IN
the strongest light, the dangers to which
Southern rights and interests are exposed,
that it may not be supposed that l had not
considered or comprehended the full extent
of the injurious consequences which may re-
suit from the present menacing attitude OF
the North upon the slavery question, before
[ formed an opinion upon the grave question,
whether the election of Mr.. Lincoln, in all
its bearings, together with all the precedent
grievances of which the South have right
to complain, furnish any sufficient cause to
Justify the surrender by the Southern States
of their interest in the rich and glorious
heritage of the Union, and to seek safety and
the undisturbed enjoyment of their rights
in Southern Confederacy. With this ex-
PLANTATION, am now prepared to say, unhesi-
tatingly and unequivocally, that it would
not; and the confidence feel in the solidity
of the grounds upon which 1 give this an
swer will be justified by the following con-
LIST. Mr.. Lincoln, it is well known, does
not hold extreme opinions on the subject OF
slavery. 1t is certain that he has expressed
a decided opinion that the South has con-
stitutional right to demand the faithful exc
cution of the Fugitive Slave Law; and that
under certain circumstances he would feel 1t
his duty not to oppose the admission of a new
slave State into the Union. His declaration
on this point is little satisfactory to the
South: but neither that declaration, nor the
opinion expressed by him on the subject of
the Fugitive Slave Law, is at all satisfactory
to the extremists of his own party.
Upon the whole, if Mr.. Lincoln's public
declarations on the subject of slavery are TO
be considered as the true opponents OF his
future policy, and if he possesses the moral
courage to adhere to them in opposition to
the counsels of the extreme men of his party
land it is just and fair to presume that he
does possess that virtue,) no serious mischief
need be appreheuded during his administra-
lion, except the usual evils attending the
perpetual agitation of the slavery issues.
2. But it is assumed by some that Mr.. Lin
coin has disguised his true sentiments that his.
true character has not been understood ; and
that he will be under the control of the worst
men of his party. do not think so. have
every confidence that his future policy will
be found to be in strict conformity with his
past declarat IONS. But apart from this, it is
now generally known that he will be power
less for mischief. except to very limited
extent, during the first two years of his adj
unless the Southern Senators
and Representatives elected to the next Con-
gress should rashly, and, as l think, inexeus-
ABLY resign their seats or retire from Con-
gress. and thus voluntarily surrender the
control in both Houses to the Republican
party, which surely they will not do. With
both Houses opposed to him, Mr.. Lincoln
cannot appoint his Cabinet ministers or fill
any offices of high grade without the assent
of the Senate, or indeed of any inferior grade
above that of a Clerk or petty deputy post
master. He will be able to carry no measure
connected with the subject of slavery which
does not commend itselfto the South and the
members from the North.
8. As to any apprehensions that the Re-
publican party, encouraged and stimulated
TO further efforts by their late success, may
be so strengthened in the result of the cleo
ton of Senators and Representatives, in the
mean time, as to obtain majority in both
Houses of the 3sth Congress, that is, during
the last two years of Mr.. Lincoln's admins
tration:-while it may be well to regard such
an event as possible, the strongest reasons
exist fer the confident belief that no such un
fortunate result will attend the elections In
the North, which are to decide the complex
ion OF the 3Sth Congress.
OF the whole number OF votes cast for Mr..
Lincoln in the recent election. from my own
personal knowledge, and from information
received from other sources, of the senti
ments of the South, and especially of those
of the Middle States, and the States North
of the Ohio, / am sure 1 hazardilnothing in
stating that large number--at least one
third-are devoted TO the Union, and, al
though opposed to slavery in the abstract,
have but little sympathy with the Republi-