Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-17

tbrongb tbis naper. by Gen. Pillow The latter ap-
pears 10 lay great stress upon public meeting IN
this city, whilst the former gives US no particular
or definite suggestion In estimation the great
demand for something practical, and anything to
be so must embody the true sentiments Of the PEo-
PIE of the State, and must be established as the
stand and policy of the State. We believe the peo-
pie should speak for Themselves; and therefore
have objection to public meetings. We are, there
FORE willing to public meetingin this city, and
in every town and county in the State. We rely
upon the people, and willing TO trust them. But
ali such meetings should rise above party-net
Yesge of past party rancor should be permitted to
come into them. 1t was, therefore, that we desired
TO have full expression from our neighbor, the
UNION AND AMERICAN on this subject.
We believe that it is important, also, that the Le
gslature of the State should be convened in extra
session. In this way the people would have fur
Their opportunity Of giving expression TO their will
and wish, through their representatives who would
come together fresh from consultations with them.
In this way alone can their will be made authorIta
tive and effective. They only thus take stand,
andfpaugurate State policy.
Like the Patriot we, too, "rey upon the people,
aad willing to trust them" In another particu-
lar most cordially concur with our contemporary.
We believe that mot yestge Of past party rancOr'
should be permitted to mipgle with question Of
such high and fearful import, and that, as we must
all meet one common destiny, we should earnestly
seek one path of safety from the common danger
that threatens us. He that would now go about our
streets and vex the public with the grievances
of his party or endeavor to array those party an
imosities that ought be forgotten atleast until the
Republic and the rights Of its citizens are rescued
from threatened disaster, can only be compared to
Hook, of Revolutionary memory, who Is described
by PATRICK HENRY as going about the American
camp in the midst of the privaton and peril Of the
American sOldiery, crying out beef! beefw The
party Ratchet should now, most assuredy, be bur
led and every Southern patriot should prepare to
smoke the calumet of peace around our council
fires 1t is no time listen to the clamors Of petty
spoilsmen and small politicians, whose highest reach
of intellect and loftiest aspiration is to turn the
thrilling events of the day to account, for the
next campaign 1t is, in truth, time for the peo-
pie of every class and condition earnestly to con-
sider and firmly to act for their own safety
and honor. The responsibilities Of government
have fallen upon the individual shoulders
Of each citizen. and it behOyes him to wear
it with all the dignity, forethought and frmness
that he can command. If he would save his cOun
try and rescue the rights of the people from destruc
ton he must cultivate harmony and friendly feel
ing and he must discard epithets, denunciatOn and
infammatory appeals. There are some whose poll
teal creed seems summed up in menaces of hang
ing disunionists and traitors they pleased
TO term those who have determined to their
State from the consequences of Black Republican
laws teachings and threats, that the North has
united as section TO carry out their doctrines. We
would kindly admonish such impulsiye gentlemen
that in the Southern States HAYNAU has yet been
permitted TO prosecute his execrable profession
as the agent of Black Republican power,
nor has any JEFFRIEs ever disgraced the
bench as the minister Of Judicial murder, and that
when that Inflated day arrives the day when South
ern citizens are compelled to resort to ropes or
bayonets, for the coercion of States into a Unicn
whose power has been prostituted to sectional
domination it may be fearful day for all who
take hand in it. We believe, however, that those
who speak in this manner do from the indiscreet
zeal of the moment and that they will see the folly
and im2rudence of thus arousing passions, which.
when fairly awakened, are difficult to arrest The
true position of Tennessee at present is calm and
decided assertion of her rights moderation among
ourselves, consultation and interchange of thought
and if we have any Indignation that cannot
be restrained let be directed against those fanat
cal prosecutors of the South who have goaded
southern brethren to madness. Let kindness friend
illness and earnestness mark our councils and let
not act until we are united in our plans and have
some practical proposition to suggest.
We do not think that meetings Of the people at
present would effect any good. They might even eff
feet evil by promoting antagonsms Ofopinion, which
are naturally engendered by the heat Of discussion
and pride of opinion before correct information
has been disseminated with reference to the action
of other States and before the most intelligent
and patriotic minds have maturcd opinion.
There are few, if any, who are prepared to
urge an Giimgtua now for the consideration Of the
Southern people. We believe that the people Of
Tennessee are devoted to the Federal Union and
will endeavor 70 maintain it if any constitutional
project can be suggested and adopted by the North
that will afford satisfactory guarantees to the South
ern States for their future safety and peace. Moth
ing short of this will suffice to calm the agitation and
restore the status that has formerly existed. The cleo
tion of Mr. LINCOLN has demonstrated well-settled
purpose on the part of the Northern States to pro
naoate among us Abolition theories and Abolition
practices. The legislation of the Northern States
and the practices and opinions Of Northern citizens
have rendered II certain that their ann Is TO destroy
our institutions by every instrumentshty they can
command. and they are determined now to construe
DEMONSTRATION for themselves. They repudiate in
then, PLATFORM the bred Scott decision and declare
through their organs Of opinion that once IN power
they can organize the Supreme Court for them
selves. Shall Tennessee wait and see these meshes
GRADUALLY. but surely. narrowing the circle OF her
independence without manfully and earnestly Joln-
ing her sister States in demanding the most ample
guarantees for her future protection and for the free
and uninterrupted enjoyment of her property
Shall she stand bv and, instead Of endeavoring to
appease South Carolina Indignation. by offering
something that may prove salve for her wounded
honor and a protection for her assalled
rights only Initiatives. and. like schOolboys add
fuel to the flame of her excitement by haunting
her chivarous sons with the false charge of trea-
SON when the traitors are those who have assailed
her in the North. If she does not we tell those
who advocate this ruinous policy that they will
never save the Union by such course, but will
thereby hasten its destruction, The time has pass
Cd for inhammatory treatment Of this disease.
palliatives must be applied to South Carolina feel
inrs and those Of Georgia and Alabama. The North
must recede from her outrageous and long-con
tnued assailmcnt of the South, not by DECLARATIONS
of individuals for these viii now be taken Tor hypo
crisy, but by organized action. And the North wa
recedc if the South is firm. Panic already prevails
in her commercial cities The banks are on the eve
suspension. and She leaders Of the Black Repuoll
cans, though they laugh at the action that Sou'l
Carolina has taken are themselves agonized VIII
fear at the consequences Of their own acts. lie
Tennessee be firm, then. il she would pass thus
crisis most easily. and when the opinions of her PEG
pie are matured, LET them act promptly and ener
getlcally. II she would restore confidence to com
ne-ce. she must take her natural position, and re
solve to resist any coercion that may be &ttempte,
against any of Eer co-States. We have no Eppre
tensions on that score, for Tennesseans are alway
r,ron,pt 70 bestow their sympathes and if need be
their swords in the right quarter.
But it will not come to alls. we trust and believe
and wise and united coulsels, which can only b
obtained by waiting little for the logic Of events
as the Patriot suggested few days since Will brin
united actiOa among our people
We doubt not that the Governor will convene
extra session Of the Legislature at the proper time
when the exirencv seems TO demand II, especially