Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-02-08

the repeal CT OBNOXIOUS law. IiaI- however.
has never been seriously attempted. But upon WHIST
principle 81 allegiance 10 the Constitution can pub
lie Opinl5E o organized to prevent the operation of
a supreme law. Yet il was 10 this spirit of rebel
lion against law, end IN violation Of the compromise
Of 1850. that the Republican
and in that spirit the first great object of Its forma-
ton was sought 20 be accomplished. What would !
have been thought of the patriotism Of Washington
jefferson and Madison, If, after aTowng their oppo
sition to slavery they had proceeded 10 counsel the
formation Of political organizations based upon anti
slavery sentiments, for the purpose Of defeating and
multiplying the operation Of constitutional laws that
might be offensive To that sentiment Yet the Re-
publican party cialms to fellow the preceDrs and the
example Of those venerated names You claim to
hold the same views on slavery wish those fathers:
vet Washington administers to reur organization 4
pointed Iebuke when lie warns his countrvnlen
against the danger to the Union from sectional par
ties gotten up by designing mea eudeavoring to ex
cite belief that there IS real difference of local
interests and views. Jefferson and Madison TOO
have left on record their authority against the CON
sttutionasy Of the object which you profess to an
innate your orgaHization-the prevention Of the ex-
pansion Of slavery by the actoa Of Congress- and it
is clearly demonstrate that, of all men who have
lived Mr. Jefferson has done most towards the per-
petuation of slavery. But the deseeration Of these
great names becomes revolving 1.-THE extreme when
they are used to sanction the formation OF an organ
ization one of whose admitted objects TO defeat
the operation Of constitutional law and that not
BY the mode Of repeal provided IN the Constitution.
But the Republican party has accomplished the
object of its Organizat0n-.hs exclusion Of slavery
4 from Kansas Whether that has been effected by the
force Of public opinion at the North, or by the force
/ Of 'private action" in the form Of aid societies
and ShaPp's rifles, 1 shall not stop to inquire. The
] objeethas been accomplished and W. may now ask
without offense what other object Is to be served
by the party There is no other free territory into
which slavery threatens to make an lneurslOn Up
/ on your own showing, the occupation OF your party
! would seem to be gone. YET we see no abatement
in the zeal with which you have carried on the sec
tional conflict; we see no diminution in the intens-
| ty of your hostility 10 southern institutions lou
rally your forces with as much earnestness as when
you prOfessed to believe that Kansas was being
/ Overrun by slavery. on seem to rely as much as
ever on 1.-THE force of public opinion and private ac-
| ton for the Accomplishment Of some momentous
| anti-slavery enterprise. What is the meaning Of
this persistence in maintaining your organization,
and especially in asseveratng that its only object IS
the prevention Of the exps nsiOn OF territory The
| South proclaims herself ready and anxious to see
fraternal relations restored. 1ou have but to say
the word, and slavery agitation IS at an end. But
whilst you continue your demonstrations of HOSTILE
tv TO our institutions and to marshal your forces for
another sectional conflict we are forced to appre-
bend danger and to prepare for our defence. We
are reluctant to believe that the attainment of
political power and patronage mpels you to play so
hazardous a game with rights and interests and
lives We must cOncede that your organization IS
actuated by an honest hostility slavery, are
forced to regard your leaders political hypOcIites
and spectators, and their followers as deluded
dupes Assuming that honest hostility to slavery is
the vital principle Of your party we are eonstlin-
ed to conclude that you have determined upon Its
extinction the ultimate object of your OrganiZa-
ton. No other conclusion can be consistent with
your claim to honesty Of purpose. in this object
you agree cordially with tie avoWed AboHtiOnsts.
Thew boldly declare their purpose, and make open
war upon the Constitution. You keep your Interior
purpose in the background, covering it under the
cloak of opposition to the expansion of slavery;
making war on the decisions Of the Supreme Court.
which impede your progress anC on the court itself
but being content if you can keep within the letter
of the Constitution however grossly its spirit may
be violated. The AbOhtiOnists would employ imme-
date force moral or physical to eXterminate slave
ry You object to so summary mode Of reaching
the end-you would take time to starve US out by
resortiLg to 1.-THE foree Of public opinion and pri-
vate action in combining slavery to its present limits.
You would take time to secure such an increase of
sectional strength will enable you to reOrganize the
Supreme Court and obtain its sanction to laws re-
pealing the fugitive slave law and aboshing slavery
in this District and wherever else it may now law
fully exist outside of the States. You would avail
yourselves of she force Of public opinion and pri-
vate action" to organize new free States as rapidly
possible with the view of Fastening the cOnsuni-
nation of your object of exterminating slavery by
an amendment of the Federal Constitution
Assuming this to be your programme, we can
easily understand the policy which governs yOu in
continuing the sectional conflict. We can cempFe-
bend why it is that you so Indignantly repel the
charge that your organization Is making war on the
institutions of tine South. and why you asseverate
with so much earnestness that you intend to keep
within the letter of the Constitution your OppOs-
ton to slavery. You agree with the Abolitionists
in the end to be accomplished. You disagree as to
the time and mode of its contamination. The Abo-
lititiOnists are open enemies; they would strike
down the Constitution and destroy our institutions
at a single blow. You would take time and rely
upon the growth of your sectional strenth to secure
| public opinion that will have force enough to de-
strOy institutions in accordance with the forms
and letter OF the Constitution To the South the re-
suit is equally disastrous whether 1t is brought
about by the one policy OF the other. If we to
have exemption from the constant danger Of
having OurdOmestic relations disturbed and destroy
ed if this sectional strife is to be indefinitely pro-
lOnged if the association with is offensive that
you can give US no rest or repOse until you work
out our final destiny either by violence OF by the
lingering process Of making the Constitution itself
our execut0ner instead Of our protector, then We
appeal to your candOr to avow your purpose with
dstnctneSs and let the people OF the south choose
integently between quiet submission to the destiny
you have marked out for them, and resistance in
such form as may promise to be least disastrous to
When you assume that the declarations OF south
ern men, indicating d determination not to submit
to the dominion Of sectional anti-cOnsttutional
majority. idle threats. having no other import
and significance than to make capital for the presi-
dental election, you fall into an error that shows
the South. The Senator from Massachusetts, Mr..
Wilson, has done nothing to which southern men
will except, in making acOmpiation Of their anti
submission, or as he IS pleased to term them, dis
union sentiments. for circulation in the northern
States When that Senator imputes insinCerity and
hypocrisy tc these honorable men, as he neGessari-
ly does when he represents them as merely playing
a "disuniOn farce he Gescends far below the level
of the dignity of lis subject. There is no one Of
them who does not conscientOusly believe that sub
mission TO the rule of tine Republican party, upon
the principles and policy >avOwed by the Senator
from Massachusetts, would involve a sacrifice Of
both hOnOr and the Constitution. 1t Is because they
believe that the inauguration Of that rule, by the
election of candidate pledged to the principles and
policy of the prominent leaders of the Republican
party, would be the substitute OF hostile sectional
dominion in the place Of the Union and the COnst-
tuition that they have deemed II due to candOr to
declare their fixed purpose TO regard the cOnfedera
cy at an end upon the happening of that event.
Whilst l concur fully in the opinion the perma-
nent asceRdency. of strictly sectional majority,
animated by the spirit that charaCterlZes the ac-
llnowledged champions Of the Republican party, and
fatally bent on the consummatiOn of the objects
avowed by its most influential leaders, is, and must
of necessity be- the destruction of the COntederacy
do not concur in the policy of pPOn0uncIng IN adj
vance what contingency should be taken eOnclu-
sive evidence that the reign Of sectional despOtsm
viii be thereby inaugurated. This is too mOmentousa
question to be decided in advance Of tue fullest and
most earnest deliberations of the s0vereignties Of
senal to the concert of action nessary for its
cessful execution We have the example Of our
revolutionary fathers for the earnest warnings Of
impending danger which have been repeatedly given
If our appeals shall continue to be disregarded; if
our warnings shall meet no other response than de-
rision and INSULT if the preservation of our sacred
honor, and the safety of our fresides and family al
tars shall force US to seek for remedy IN lndepen-
deDce, let our antecedent cOunses be marked by so
much prudence. moderation and discretion, that
the final decision will unite not only the judgments
of all the southern members of the COnfederacy
bit the hands and hearts of all their citizens; at the
same time commanding, by the justice Of our cause
the active sympaihies of more than million true
friends IN the northern States.
With disunionists. per Sc whether in the North or
the South, the people of my State have no sympq-
thy and hold no counsel. lFe regard tlem as alike
enemies Of the best Government that the wit Of
man has ever devised. We have as little sympathy
with submssionsts, per Sc, whether they be in the
North or the South Our sYmpatlIes are with
those who love the Union, that fourishes in all the
vgUr impaired by a Constitution faithfully con-
strued and administered; but who have the man
hood to resist aggressiOns and UsurpatiOns HcQnv
sistent with faithfully Administered OOustititiOH