Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-11-14
The Federal Union-It Must be,Pre
served
From the Nashville Banner, 7th.


The Federal Union-It Must be, Pre-
served
From the Nashville Banner, 7th.
AS we write the great battle is be-
ing fought the issue of which so
deeply involves the perpetuity of cur
Government. While we have all along
had reason to fear the election of the
Northern sectional candidate, yet we
anxiously await the flash of the tele-
graph from the Empire StaUe, in the
hope that it will bring the glad tidings
that the people have again pushed
back the tide of secnonslism, and
saved the country from the disasters
which threaten it.
But il Lincoln is elected, what
then? This is the question which
every man in the South must ask and an
swer for himself, and its consideration
must be commenced at once. There
are men in the South-numerous,
enough to entitle them TO be called
party-who are advocating and who
will continue 10 advocste immediate
secession. We believe the friends
of the Union are vastly in the majority
all over the South-in the border
Slave States there can be no question
of this fact. We hardly deem it nee
essary here in Tennessee to,present the
overwhelming ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
based upon patriotism and self interest
which readily occur to calm think
ing man, against the wild and sense
less cry OF secession and separation.
The teaching of the wisest statesmen
of our country from Washington down
the teaching Of experience since the
foundation Of our Government-the
lessons Of yesterday and to .day--all
unite in convincing and unsnswerabe
arguments against the doctrine of dis
union in any event.
II the voice of q majority of the
American people shall be found rec
orded to-day ir favor of Abraham
Lincoln for President, it is the duty o.
every true American citizen to acqui
esce in the verdict. tits his dutyas acit'
izen-as party to the compact by which
our Government was established anC
under which no other Government OF
earth offers to its people. 1t is hi
duty as conservative man, VIII,
thought lie may believe that the ma
jority is aggressive. and threatens &
despoil him of his rights under th'
Constitution that he should prefer
Ito bear those ills we have,
Than hy to others that we know not Of.
1t is his duty TO society, to himself an,
his family and is demanded by tha
,; love of peace and good governmeu
whicls hould be inherent in the breas
, Of every son Of G olumbla.
The American citizen boasted 70
!. nearly a century that his was the bes
| government ever established by man
9 And yet we find among US restles
o and misguided spirits, ready to destro
that government, and for what? Nc
J because it has failed TO secure them a
+ the rights guaranteed by its Constitu
e ton, but because forsooth, there
70 danger that 1t wW because man ha
is been elected to the Chief Msgistrac
y (if he is elected) who holds opinion
= in regard to the institution of Slavery
10 which the people of the South beliey
y TO be inimical to their rights. If th
o. President Of the Uniten States were
ne despot, with power to make laws
ss accordance with his individual opir
e. ion, and enforce obedience to them,
or would be time enough TO rebel wht
be he attempted to use his power TO o.
or press the people. Certainly, then il
ur asmuch as the President is powerle
Z in this respect, and can do no act
this kind in opposition to other depsl
ments Of Government. the people
as the South need not be in hurry
uh stampede from the Union. II oI
re safeguard Of their rights is gone
l. the Executive DEPARTMENT they hs
still left the Legislative and judicial
To abandon the Government, with
its sacred history, us wealth. ana po
70 er and prestige, under such circul
's' 's stances, would be cowardly.
We hold that there is no evil {
=, ~ isting--no evil threatened, even in
~ p excited imagination Of these mad d
~ unionists--for which the remed
"1 secured to US by the Federal Un
el- and it's Constitutional guarantees,
oP. not fully adequate, and vastly to
IN I preferred, under all circumstances,
tn any remedy of secession or revoluti
ues As we said at the outset, we m
'iu' meet this question at once, if our fe
are realized by the announcement
.oin Lincoln's election. There are Z
ice spirits in the South determined
not precipitate the Gotten States inI
= revolution" Tennessee must mol
sla low its conservative strength in
olu- Union to lay dormant at such CT
:, to She must put herself upon the re-
Re- at once, in some form or other. ,
per- immsdists and direct reference to