Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-27


pelraied by the Republicans, such as the enactment
Of unconstitutional laws, tampering with or" slaves
preventing their rendition by mobs. and the equally
offensive but not legal wrong of selecting candi
dates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency from
the North, and electing them anti slavery plat
form, and by its popularity. 1 rely for my judg
ment as to the necessity of some present action o.
the South, more on the offensive, sneeriug tone O
az the Republican newspapers orators, &c, so con
stantly displayed everywhere and on all occasions
TEeg evince deep, settled hostility toward tn,
South, showing a determination 10 make hostil,
domination Of the North, extending to every depart
ment of the Government, and rendering intercourse
or discussion Of our political affairs a more ant
more difficult matter. We cannot meet in Congress
in our ecclesiastical sssembeges, or even on tht
highways or at the social board, without such in
temperate language and such furious wrangling al
to delay and almost prevent the transaction of use
full business, and seriously distract commercial re
atons. 1t is not pretended that at these places OF
these occa ions the fault is entirely with North
ern men, but the iut is the same, and it springs
purely from the terUeioa cik the moral social anC
political relation Of slavery.
The discussion of this question. however, becomes
immaterial, when we remember that South Carolina
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas
Louisiana and Texas are connected with us a mem
bers of the Union and by the closest ties of geograph
cal position, similarity of institutions and family con
nectons, and that their views are widely dissmilar
as to the value Of the Union, the danger of further
aggression, the necessity for immediate action and
unless restrained by us) with some, or, perhaps
all separations Of the Union
lNro Al.
people of these States or submssively follow their
action, but is the undOubted policy and interest
Of the border and middle Southern States, (If they
desire the salvation of the Unon) to insist upon
the adoption o. their own abstract views of the
right, to refuse modification of their action if
not of their opinions. We cannot expect an entire
surrender of thought on either side Free men
must be governed by compromise or all united ac-
| ton is impossible. If the the extreme South de.
mand instant separation fromfhe North, and ma
jority Of people should think no action on our
part necessary at present. il is evident there must
/ be concession. on both sides or ace part. The
danger of parhog with five or six, or even two
or three of our Southern States, can scarcely be
over-esiimated. 1t reduces us 70 an immediate
minority in both Houses Of Congress. 1t will divide
every family and household in the remaining States
1t wi render impossible the execution of the laws
of the Urion without bloodshed. 1t viii produce
bankruptcy want and fam ne where want is now
url-lOwn. The idea Of bringing them back by force
and cemonting neu Ui,ioA ,0ih blood, is repusive
even to many Northern men and revolving to US. 1t
is equal " vain il my opinion to hope for their vol
untary re-entrance into the Union, and possibly if
they desired it, the people of the Northern States
,,F
then might go forth too on this very question.
1t must be apparent then that the class of men in
al partieJ resident in border and middle States,
who deeply welded the Union as 20 be will
ing 10 rest with ROraciOn must surrender their
opinions far - have Southern Conference
and endeavor % 5ree on a united and harmonious
action they W Il in my opiu on lose the very jewel
they Anxious to preservA The most expedi-
ent m ode of proven, ug danger is frequen y by
meeting it its advance, and thuslwarduS off what
sc not thus met would soon ovel whe N u.
There is another class ofpersons mainly resident
IN the Ocean or CIR States, who in favor of in
slant secession isui 100 without cooperation
even consultation with The people of Che other
States. They seem 10 have morbid fear that moth
ing viii be achieved unless it is done immed atey
and with '1dignaGiop These pc. sons seem never 20
have reelected that Che Southern Colonies came into
the Union together ard ,oiti mutual deper ence and
reliance each Oaser. They felt and knew at that
early day that there was difference Of opirion as
to the policy Of slavery, and although they sought
to guard themselves, far as possible by the pro-
visions in the Constitution, yet at last their main
reliance was on their own harmony uad s.rengb The
States who have joined IN .he onion ice the adop-
8
Influence. Our Fathers took counsel together when
we Joined, and they supposed the bonds would
prove indissolube; at the very least they never
dreamed that two or ,hree States without consulta-
tiou or cooperation would desert us the midst of
bitter warfare for rights, and either force US
to bear the whole brunt OF the fight or retreao
against our own conviction of TIE right.
The States Of Missouri Kentucky, Tennessee and |
Arkansas, have no sea coast o. outlet North or |
South. II the her Southern States can 90 out of
the Union separately and without harmony, they !
may equally refuse US in Hc;r Union O. ClJederdcy
after they independent States sti after
we have abandoned the III on and made Southern
Confederacy, they may dissolve that Confederacy
wi bout our consent and lea"e US with no remedy
and completely at their mercy.
Now it seems to me that such a policy ia neither
manly fair courageous, and should it be pursued
and the evil days fall them they would have little
right or expectation of ass stance from us.
They ought to J low that they may be subjected
TO many dangers when out Of the Ur'on that are
not now present 10 their view. Force may be !
brought bear against them from the North or from
Europe; their slaves might be be turned loose by
malignant foe, and even at the best it would be
NIL ha with
minOus States.
1t is a matter of the gravest Importance even to |
be compelled to cor fer together as to the perma-
nence of this Union. Its severance must necessari
y produce great suffering and ev. 1t may be that |
its preservation is nposshle, but Il 5 is an admis-
sion made in sorrow and sadness. We should be |
untrue to the memories of the past to the hopes of
the future and to the interest of humanity, unless
we used all the means in our power to prevent so
drcadfr' catastrophe. The world wor : learn /
with amazement that the American u on was dis
solved by two or three States without consultation
o. advice even with those subject to like evils
with themselves!
With this statement of extreme views as enter
tanned in different portions of the South, come to
express what in my opinion should be the common
grounds for US all to stand upon, and that is an
agreement to call a Southern Convention The first
great object of such an assemblage would be calm
ly to discuss our grievances, provide some remedy
for the future and unite the South in its of
action. have long entertained the opinion that
much If not all the evils we have suffered are at
tributable to our intestine divisions. We have per-
mtted some issues that were i1udicious to be put
forward; others have been improperly argued.
Heated and violent conduct has often characterized
our action, and party spirit has frequently sacri-
feed our cause. Whilst the North has for five or
SIX years been steadily aggregating Its masses cast
ing away all issues but one, and sacrificing Its minor
differences, we have been refusing such policy
and vainy striving fo- the old shadow of nationality
/ admit that as Uuon men, stri, ing to remain as
people of one common Government, this cOr"se
NAV have been proper, but in the face OF a known
and acknowledged sectionalisnT at the North, it is
now at least unwise and and indefensibe. The
election of Mr.. LINCOLN as a sectional candidate
and on a sectional platform by so large majority,
DESTROYS the illusion of nationality and reduces rs
TO the painfrl necessity of providing for own
safety. We are in a minority and mnorties must