Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-07-19
Hon. 4. n. Stephens.

| The augusta (Ga.) CoHsfauflo1dfisf OF the
18th inst, says
This eminent statesman and pure patriot
| reached our city on Sunday afternoon, to at
| tend the session of the Superior court yester.
| day; but which, however, was adjourned
o7er until the fifth Monday in October.
Mr.. Stephens has much improved in health
and our citizens generally were glad to
know it, and to take by the hand one who
and admiration.
Mr.. Stephens is decidedly in favor of the
election OF Douglas and johnson. but ex-
| presses the fear that our Government is on
the verge of revolution. He sees evil and
only evil, to result from the present anOmal-
Gus condition of the country, and expresses
! surprise that the people appear to be so in
different to the rapid progress they are max
| ing to dissolution of the Union, and the
| countless evils which will follow.
| This Is the time for patriots to speak and
| act. and for the people to be told of the i'm
| minent dangers 10 which they are exposed
We feel satisfied, at least hopeful. that the
| times will bring forth eloquence, genius and
| talent, o instruct, and that the country will
be aroused to full appreciation of their
| dangers. which environ the best form of
| Government, ever devised and formed, by
| the wisdom Of man.
4
| should be the theme of conversation around
our hearth-scenes. and in all places, and at
| all times, it should engage our warmest
| sympathies and most devoted efforts.
| Mr.. STEPHENS has had abundant oppor-
| tunity to learn, from association, the feel
| ings and intentions of the Southern Seces-
| sion wing of the democratic party; and we
are sure he does not over-estimate the
| dangers which threaten the stability of our
| institutions. Mr. BRECKINRIDGE recognized
these dangers when he expressed his
fears in his Frankfort speech last De-
cember The secession wing of the
party have succeeded in committing
several States to the policy of with
drawing from the Union i'll the event OF
the election of Republican to the Presi-
dency. and the probability of that event is
not less imminent now than when he spoke.
1t is, indeed, more imminent. The demo-
cratic party has since been disrupted, and
has two sets of candidates in the field, with
prospect of so dividing the North as to give
every State in that section of the Union to
LINCOLN. Unless the masses discard both fac
tions, and rally around the National Union
ticket,-as we hope and trust they will-the
Republican ticket can scarcely be beaten.
And if it succeed, will not the fears OF Mr..
STEPHENs and Mr.. BRECKINRIDGE be realized?
Will South Carolina, Will Alabama, will Mis-
sissippi, submit to the Inauguration of re-
publican after in the most solemn manner
pledging themselves to resistance? He who
believes they will, does not appreciate the
spirit and determination OF the leaders IN |
those States who have controlled and given |
voice to public sentiment. They are high |
toned. chivalrous, courageous, aud ambitious. |
They relig.ously believe that the South |
would be more prosperous, and her people |
happier out of the Union than in 1t. And
this belief has for many years past, especially
since the agitations of 1850, which resulted in
the compromise, been gradually spreading
until it has been embraced by thousands who
1t one time regarded the Union as the ark of
the South's safety. 1t is weak aid foolish to
assume that with so much to back them, the
secession leaders will diShOnorably submit
and make no attempt to carry into effect
their pledges. They 1ciU make the attemp'! We
feel well assured of this. And what if they
succeed in inducing one or more of the States
to assume an attitude of hostility to the gen.
nral government, and to secede? What will
be the effect? Could the general government,
in the possession of republican administra-
ton, coerce them into retracing their steps
Would not the first hostile movement, looking
to coercion, by force of arms, be the signal for
such a demonstration of sympathy in other
Southen States. as would lead the seeding
States to firm and determined resistance at
all hazards. Is there j Southern heart
which could, without emotion, witness SUCH
a conflict? When Gen. JACKSON, desiring to
prevent compromise in 1882, sent mes
senger to Judge WHITE, intimatiug his wish
that Mr.. CLAYTON should not be placed on
the committee to consider the matters IN
controversy between South Carolina and the
General Government. it is reported that the
Judge replied. "You are to late-Mr. CLAY
TON has already been appointed, and if he
we're not. he should be. / voted for the
force bill. but l do not intend TO see my
brethren driven INTO suUHiIssiou- ANo Ouc
could accuse Judge WHITE of disunionism, or
of connivance with secessionism, but his re-
ply evinced the spirit of the Southron, and
that is the spirit which would, after the act,
make secession formidable, if not uncon-
1uerable. Let the conflict but once begin,
and, sooner or later the whole South would
become involved and revolutionized.
This is the danger which the sagacious mind
of Mr.. STEPHENS perceives and fears. 1t the
DUTY of all who love the South, and the
Union, who prefer the pleasures of peace to
the troubles of war, to endeavor 10 avert
the danger, and 10 restore the sections to
harmony. This cannot be done by pander-
ing to sectional feelings, by drawing the
South into the support of candidate for
the Presidency upon platform which drives
the North from him. 1t must be done by |
other means-by union Of all the elements
of conservatism upon ticket which can be
North and South, aud defeat the
enemies of our Institutions.
EA- The Louisville Democrat says that
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE denounced the Seceders
n, CbarIaSton and pledred himself to can