Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-20


While professional Union-shriekers, appalled, by
Abolition aggressions on the side, and drifted
from their moorngs by the deep and irresistible cur
rent of Southern sentiment on the other, play
ing the tragic role and ceaselessy crying out, this
glorious Union" the great masses of the people,
regardless of former party afinities, are rapidly
settling down in the conviction that now is the time
to settle forever the vexed question that has per-
meated every department of life, and now menaces
a sudden and violent disruption of our Govern
mcnt.
This fanatical agitation has now held the Union
virtually divided during one ordinary generation
of men. 1t has thrust its demoniac form into the
temple of God, and has rent In twain the sacred
vail 1t has now seized the chair of WASHINGTON, and
an almost certain disruption of the Union is the con-
sequence. Commerce is Frustrated business suspend
ed, and finances convulsed. Why should either the
Norta or the South longer submit to these intoler.
able evils brought upon them by fanatics and North
ern demagogues Why should they longer continue
the violent elimination and re-erimination, the
fierce denunciation and the narrowing animosites
that have broken up the channels of legislation
banished peace from the national councils, sunGered
the Church of God, and marshalled the North and
the South in hostile array? Why should not the
people Of both sections at once up in their might
and say to these waters of agitation, peace be
still, by forming guarantees and banishing for
ever this pestilent question This they must do in
an organized capacity. This the people of the South
will now demand. They will not accept a stone
when they ask for bread They will not be satIs
fed with what Mr.. McDUFTE characterized as
the "bugle blast Of robbers band" when
coming from Northern man, the cry of ''this
glorious Union" They love the Union. They re-
we're its memories. They are devoted to its
traditions. They cling to its greatness. But
its very greatness appals them when used as an
instrumentality for crushing their peculiar instiu
tons Its glorious traditions are desecrated when
appealed to for their destruction. And its haowed
memories and associations become bitter as gall tc
them when appropriated by their enemies for the
unhallowed purpose of sectional tyranny and mis-.
rule.
The time has undoubtedly come for action. Ten
nessee, we may safely assert will join her sister
States in demanding the recognition and enforcement
of her just rights or, failing to get them, will join
the South in such action as their united counsels
may determine. There is no better time than the
present to determine and ascertain whether the
Union is to be used as a Black Republican engine to
deprecate and degrade the South, or whether we
are to have peace, equality and respect in it We
would far prefer the latter. But the time for de-
Gliding on the alternative has arrived Let every
Tennessean decide for himself which Of the two
he would choose for his commonwealth.
Dispatches from Virginia indicate that that glor
Gus old Commonwealth is about to take the initia
..o,, +o,-o-ls 51F;,go},,Ta 4le
Northern States. She comes as a mediator and a
peace maker. Tennessee will stand by her side, SO
will Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Arkansas
and Louisiana. The abused and malgned South only
desires her rights and with them repose and safety
What true Tennessean is so degenerate to refuse
10 join in this demand.