Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-11-16
From the Nashville Evening Democrat, Nov. Il.
Dangers of DisuniOn-Remedy Pro.
posed-Gen. Gideon y. Pillow.

| DOseG-Gen. Gideon j. Pillow,
At such time as the present, when the
| most appalling dangers are eDcircling the
| South and the Union, we rejoice to see public
| men of eminent social standing, of deserved
| influence, and whose motives of action are
undoubtedly pure and patriotic, mauifesting
| a disposition to do all in their power to
avert the prrils of the hour, aad restore
| peace and har mony once more to the dis
| tracied cOuusels OF the nation. We intend
| that these remarks shall have special aDpli-
| cation to a spirited and manly eommunica-
| ti0n which has just made its appearance in
| the columns of the Patriot over the signature
/ of General Gideon J. Pillow. We rejoice 10
| end that this gentleman is for some early ac-
| ton on the part of the people of Tennc ee
at this critical period Of orr National histo-
nv. and that whilst he is for firmly and reso-
| lutely maintaining the Constitutional rights
of the South. he is for preserving the Union
also. If this can be done consistently with
southern safety and Southern honor. we ap-
prove most d. cidedly the spirit breathed by
this communication of Gen. Pillow. What
ne says about the necessity OF Immediate ac-
ton the part of Tennessee, and othar con-
| servative States of the South, of course we
heartily endorse. The expedience of ultimate
~ calling into existence a National Federal
Convention. for the purpose of adjusting ali
existing sectional issues upon an cr0anic ba-
SIS, we are not disposed to gainsay, provided
other remedies should prove Intellectual We
| should suppose thai, for The present, though.
| it-wouid be sutticie 20 hiring into friendly
and fraternal communication, at some
| early day, in a grand popular meeting
! the whole body of our citizens, without re-
| gard 10 former party distinctions, for the
| purpose OF calm, traternal, and patriotic
consult alton. At this meeting it would
| be proper to adopt one or two short, ex-
1 oil 90 Il
| ton to the Federal Union, a true and
sacred regard for the Constitutional rights
| of the South, and an earnest desire that our
brethren of other States should take no hasty
action for the breaking up of the Union un-
til citizens of Virginia, Kentucky, Tennes-
see Missouri, North Carolina, and Maryland
can be fully consulted. In accordance with
this view, it would, we, suppose. be wise to
concur in General Pillows proposition of
calling upon the Governors OF the various
Southern States to cOnvOke the Legislatures
thereof, without delay, for the purpose of
bringing into existence at once State Con-
Ieution in each of them 1t seems to US that
those State Conventions ought to be armed
with power to send delegates, should it be
deemed desirable, to a General Southern
Convention, in which latter body the Inter-
mingled cOunsels of all the Southern States
might be of efficacy to heal existing divisions,
aud devise the means of future safety and
repOse. But in the event of the Southern
Convention, thus called, not being able to
agree upon the means of pacific aud lasting
settlement of all existing sectional Issues il
should have power 10 propose TO The States
of the North TO meet them in a general Fed
eral Convention, a body which would, in all
likelihood. be composed OF the best and
wisest men in the nation. aud would be al
most certain to lind il practicable to devise a
Dlan of settlement embracing IL need no
certain amendments of the present Federal
Constitution. which would be alike preserya-
tive of the Union and protective of Southern
rights - .l.-z .-.s.t..,s =
2. Meanwhile our Nashville meeting should
de- patch at once Commissioners 10 South
Carolina, TO Georgia, TO Alabama and Missis-
sippi. 10 protest soIemniy, respectfully and
affectiona.ely against any decisive action
their part, until their sister States OF the