Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-01-10
Fer the Daily Nashville Patriot
"Experto Crede.,

Fer the Daily Nashville Patriot
ssExperto Crede.o
Guided by pure and enlightened spirit of
patriotism, the trainers of the Constitution
were fully persuaded that the erection of a
Free Commonwealth among the States was a
matter of the highest concern, not only TO
them, but to their posterity and TO the world
at large-tbey were fully persuaded that 1t
was matter comprehending the existence
of the union, the safety of lis parts, and the
fate of an empire. for there never had occur
red so favorable an opportunity OF reaching
the highest aitainable perfection in Govern
ment, and of determining what measure OF
freedom was compatible with political and
civil institutions.
The position Of the American States gave
them a choice of Confederate Republic, the
best of all forms OF Government, when made
to repose upon the principle Of Represents
ton, ..tbat great mechanical power in Gov
eminent, by the simple agency of which It's
srM and its force may be directed to any OBJ
ject the public good requires" The choice
was made, and the Federal system adopted,
the most illustrious and memorable epoch OF
our history, but not without difficulties,
struggles. and jarring interests, and with bit
ter prejudices and profigate passions arrayed
against it at every step.
That part of our history should be minute
ly explored by those who wish (and is it not
the duty of alp to obtain a full insight into
The genius of our system, and 10 trace our
subsequent policies 10 their subordinate
springs, for it aboupds in wholesome lessons
of caution to American Statesmen, and peo-
pie of the present day. No lover of his
country. of the union, and all its parts. " hen
he reads that history, can easily describe his
deep emotions, and his heartfelt sympathy
with the pathetic lamentations OF Washington
and other actorS in the scenes of the Reyo-
luton, grievous lamentations forced from
them by the gloomy and inauspicious aspect
of the public welfare.
The patriots of that day saw that the States
had then rcachtd a crisis in their destiny
more fearful than any they had undergone,
and that the existence of each with an indie
pendent sovereignty, or their refusal to unite
nifcance and misery upon all; and they de-
mOnstratcd from view of human nature and
the course OF human afiairs, and from the pc
culiar circumstances Of this country, that if
the States continued TO exist separately, or
formed themselves into two or more confede-
racies they would be formidable only to each
other, open to foreign intrigue and foreign
orce, prey to discords, jealou>ies, and reciP-
rocal injuries continually engaged in domes-
tic wars, orconstant misrepresentation of them
and that these evils would lead to military
establishments subversive of domestic lib
erty.
Hamilton said, THAT in case of disuuion
''the several States, or such combinations of
':them as might happen to be formed out of
"the general wreck oflbe COnfederacy, would
'be frequently engaged in violent struggles
would be subject. to those vicissitude of
.speace and war, of friendship and enmity
''with each other, which have fallen to the
''Iot of all neighboring nations, not united
..under one Government" and Madison said,
Military establishments are dangerous.
''They can never be necessary or plausible SO
'iong as we continue an united people; this
sis an advantage of their Union. The
moment of its dissolution will be the date
''of new order of things-liberty cveryw here
twill be crushed between standing armies
.'and perpetual taxes" Our own reflections,
without any profound knowledge of history,
or of the workings ofhuman passions, cannot,
for moment, refuse to admit these serious of
positions those enlightened patriots: positions
subsequently, exemplified in the discordant
actions, for nearly forty years, ofthe separate
States of Mt xco and South America. who
does not sympathise with the noble patriots
of the Revolution? Who does not feel a
deep solicilude for the perpetuation of our
Federal and Republican Government? The
motives which prompted them to pursue
their object with Jealous and indefatigable
industry, should inspire every good Ameri-
can with kindred zeal, and animate him TO
equal exertions for the continuation of the
institutions which they so successfully found
ell. The great interests then staked on the
establishment, are now equally Implicated
in the continued vitality. and in the wise and
vigorous administration of our Federal sys-
TEN.
Philanthropy and patriotism demand that
our minds should be awaken to the vital i'm
portance of those interests; and that, now.
when (as in all human institutions) an in
herent tendency to dissolution. is heightened
by events of accidental, if not vicious, causes
we should hold fast to the enlightened views
and solid maxims on which the pros perity.
were founded, and watch with vigilant and
Jealous eye over the integrity and preserva-
ton of the Consultation aud the Union.
tFrom the New Orleans Delta Jan. 4