Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-22
Tho Union nIsnoIred.

The Geographic dispatches published by Us yes
terday morning announced the fact that the South
Carolina Convention has, by a unanimous vote, de-
clared that, "THE UNION NOW EXISTING BETWEEN SoUTH
CAROLINA AND THE OTHER STATES UNDER THE NAME OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS DISSOLVED" To those
familiar with the public sentiment of that State this
intelligence, however much it may be regretted
is not unexpected. The irrevocable step is
taken and one of the original thirteen States that
formed the Union has by the solemn act of her peo-
pie in convention, declared that Union dissolved.
1t is idle to expect that they will ever take step
backward They have set their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honor upon the cast, and
they win stand the hazard of the die. The ques-
ton now comes directly upon US What ought
the Federal Government to do? We answer Let
South Carolina depart in peace. general disso-
luton may thus be avoided, otherwise it is inevita
able. Civil war may thus be averted, otherwise it
is the history of our immediate future. Although
the ordinance passed contemplates instant dssolu-
ton we presume that the mails will tie carried and
the forts retained by the General Government until
ample time shall have been given for negotiation
with the Federal authorities at Washington. The
President will doubtless refer the subject to Con-
gress, and should that department refuse to treat
with South Carolina for the property in her limits
owned by the United States then the forts will be
taken by the State peaceably if they forcibly if
they must The State will insist upon its right of en-
inent domain and hold that her safety will not
permit a foreign government TO own and occupy
armed forresses within the limits Of her Territory.
Its useless to spend time in discussing or
not we would have all this so. 1t is sufficient that it IS
or tpil be so. There IS very large majority Of the
South that would have preferred that South Caro-
lima should not yet have Embossed the ties that bind
rs together. But we must now meet the tn acts
as thu are presented to Us. The Inconvenience, if
noth worse, of having free port at Charleston,
at wl;ei foreign goods may be received and from
which lney may be smuggled free of duty into the
Unite states will be matter Of great complaint,
but every inconvenience, every other disaster is
bettei ian civil war. Charleston is not so near
the G, rgia or North Carolina line as Montreal or
Quebec is to the dividing line between Canada
and tia United States, We present The views on
this 81 7ect CT a correspondent OF the New York
TTiblae. the leading LINCOLN organ, which we find
in a lac number Of that paper:
The President has on y power to execute existing
laws and TO summon the militia in certain cases.
In the unusal state of affairs which would arise II
Charleston-her only one-additi0nal legislation
would be required from Congress, and in the exist
ing state of parties that could not be obtained So
far as the militia concerned, ii would be an alb
surdty TO call them ont in South Carolina The
President Of course could resist attempt TO seize
the forts and property of the United States by
force and he might 90 further. But would 1t be
wise to do sog That is the question.
Look at the whole subject calmly and Impair
tally it appears most prudent since South Carolina
has declared her hatred of the "accursed Unlon,"
to let her depart in peace. When the President
notifies Congress Of her ordinance, let It be fairly
considered and accepted by solemn vote Of both
Houses. Give her the public property within her
borders. treat her literally in all things. and with
the best wishes for her prosperity let her make the
experiment of a separate Government. The case
has no precedent in history and has therefore to
be treated according to its necessity. Two thirds
of both Houses may propose amendments to the
Constitution and a similar vote, even majority,
might be permitted to release State from her OBJ
legations under it. In event ought coercion to be
tried, because however great the prov OcatlOn may
be to assert the full powers Of the Government, this
Union cannot be held together by cJmpulsion A
single blow IN such a contest would drive every
Southern State ia sympathy aud by force Of an ire
slstble attraction, TO the side OF South Carolina.
She knows that, and would rather have 1t struck
than not. Judge Nagrath expressed rs much at the
first setting after he abandoned the United States
Court, and he means all be says, and sometimes
little more.
There Is no good reason why TINS rupture OF olu
ties should be bloody South Carolina has been dis
cCntented and morbid and morOse for thirty odd
years Her people can never be convinced by con-
ciliation, or persuaded by concessions. Every adj
vance will be treated the prompting of Il craven
and selfish nature. ready to surrender principle
when supposed interest is involved in danger Al
ready her organs repel suggestions for the repeal OF
Personal Liberty bills as dictated by fear and truck
ling. 1t is useless therefore, to move in that direc-
ton. We are brought, then, to the alternative of
meeting the issue by civil war or by peace. The
horrors of the first promise no solution but anarchy,
desolation. and bankruptcy. The other is an easy
transition if we viii confront it bravely, and not
suppose the heav,"s are to fall because South Car
DINA is about to set uD fer herself, to form
Cotton Confederation