Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-10-13
the lesson of the Hour.

SylFa0id. Onto d1u inQtdua s1OQl1 teacl I0e
American people a useful lesson--a lesson
which should take captive their judgment
and sink deep into their hearts. 1t is written
in letters as plain as the living light from
the out-sbining sun in the heavens 1t points
as 10 one issue, and one only-and that is,
union or disnnion- 1t tells as that the friends
of the Union must stand together against the
enemies of the Union-that parties based up
on considerations of mere policy are at an
end, for the time being. The perpetuity of
the Union under the Constitution and the
laws, OVERSIZE dows all Others. Elsewhere in
our columns this morning. We give express
sion 10 our views on this subject. We feel
deeply and sincerely the overwhelming i'm
portance of the issue and its momentous con-
sequences 10 ourselves and to the world. We
trust We are free from mere partizan bias and
prejudice on this question. We hope we are
patriot enough to rise, at this hour, above all
minor views. and 10 set for the highest good
OF tie Republic, and for the human race
Making due allowance for the strength of
precOnceived opinions, we think we descry
truly the path of duty and the path of safe
ty-fOr they both lie together. 1t was with
this feeling That we perused the leading edi-
tOrial in our contemporary, the UaiOn and
American, yesterday morning. We freely ac-
cord to that Journal sincerity of purpose and
honesty of motive. We have differed widely
with il on matters of State and Federal eco
nomy; but it has told us it was for the Union,
aud for the constitution. We agree upon
that. heartily and cordially. As if fully i'm
pressed with the extraordinary position which
our public affairs have reached, it asked yes
terday morning: SIS il not time, that, the
South pearc end take her reckoning? Is ftnot
time to dispel prejudice and party animosities
among ourselves and unite upon some one
of the candidates, to show at least to
the world that we are conscious of the
dangers by which We are environed. And in
so doing, we should discard mere personal
and party preferences" So far we agree.
We know that nov an uureasoning adherence
to party may be treason TO the country, and
that logged perseverance in the support of
one party may destroy all parties. When
the Union is rushing on certain destruction,
the first duty is 10 steer it clear of the dan
| ger, and afteI that we can differ and contend
as to matters of internal policy-of party
| prediction, if you please But the Union
and American continues that we must ''Obey
| the unerring sentiment Of our section, by yield
ing our support to the candidates who most
fully and emphatically embody the general
Southern sentiment, and who are the most &C
ceptable to majority of the South" And
here We take our departure. Our neighbor
desires 10 unite and rally the South on the
sentiment OF our section" 1t is this feeling,
placing " our section" and our preju1ices.
and our preferences above the Constitution
and the Union, which has brought us into
cur present perils. This is the source of the
disease, and by keeping it alive and minister
ing to it, We but increase and render still
more iBcurable the disease itself 1t cannot
be Cared by such means. Final dissolution
is Inevitable if that prescri pt ion be followed.
IL the Union is to be saved now, the last
resort is TO commit it to the hands of those
who are pledged to sustain it and the consti-
tuition upon which it is founded. and the en-
f0Tcement of the laws under which it is gov
erned. That is the platform and the only one
on which the friends of the Union can rally
On it all the friends of the continuance of the
Union can stand without regard to the minoI
differences of past parties. These can be set
tied hereafter, if We shall have parties here
at CT. Cannot the Union and american meet
US on this ground? Can it not see that
union of all Union men is absolutely neces-
sary to preserve the Union? What can be
gained by persisting in holding sectional
view, and urging sectional action? Can Mr..
BRECKENRIDGE be elected? Would not the
withdrawal of BELL aud DOUGLAS be tanta-
mount TO declaration of sectional war? And
in such a war, who has the majority? The
North unquestionably. In our opinion such
a course would elect Mr. LINCOLN beyond
peradventure.
But there is one way to secure his defeat.
and that is by proclaiming, and sustaining at
the ballot-box, nationality. unquestioned and
unquestiOnable. Let the South unite in that
position. and there will be no occasion for
fear If the leading friends of Mr.. BEECKIN-
RIDGE cannot see this fact, as we state it, and
as it is, we then appeal TO the common sense
of the patriotic masses, for themselves and
for their country, irrespective of minor party
divisions, to sustain US in the truth and in the
right.