Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-11-28
a sIIrror for sece.sionI.ts.

If the editor of the Charleston Nercurv
amid the wild agitation whics is now rock
ing South Carolina should enumerate as
among the essential principles OF our free in
stituuons, 1.-THE preservation of the general
government in its whole constitutional rigor,
as the sheet-anchor of our peace at home and
safety abroad; jealous care of the right OF
election by the people--a mild and safe cor
receive OF abuses which are Topped by the
sword of revolution, where peaceable RENE
dies are unprovidCd; and absolute acquies
cence in the decisions of the najority-the
vital principle of republics, from which there
Is no appeal but 10 force, the vital principle
and immediate parent of ID spetism," be
would be regarded as craven Submission
ist." And yet this is the language OF Thomas
Jefferson's inaugural address to the Congress
of 1900, when mutteriDgs were first heard.
Again. What if the Mercury should talk
to its readers as follows: Tell your leaders
that compared to disunion, all other evils
are light. because that brings with it an ac-
emulation of all--declare that you will
neger Gt take the field unless the star spangled
that you will not be sigmatiZed when
dead, and dishonored and scorned while you
live, the au thors of the first attack on the
Constitution of your country! Its destroyers
you cannot be. You may disturb its peace
you may interrupt the course of its prospect
ty--you may cloud its reputation for stabili
ty--but its tranquility will be restored-its
prosperity will return, and the stain upon its
national character will be transmitted, and
remain an eternal blot on the memory of
those who caused the disorder" The editor
would be regarded as the enemy of the South,
a preacher of heresy. and perhaps the office
wonld be mobbed and the editor lynched or
ordered out of the State las Yankee" But
these sentiments are the sentiments of An
drew Jackson s Proclamation during the null,
LITIGATION troubles.
Once more: Suppose any individual stand
ing among crowd there should be asked.
What is to he done now Lincoln is elected?n
and he should answer: I'VE must keep right
on battling for the principles of the National
Democratic party Should he be elected by
this sectional party, and on this sectional
platform, we must content ourselves with the
thought that toGr years will quickly pass,
and at the expiration of that time the people
will rise in their might and place Il MIN IN
the Presidential chair who will stand by and
TO the principles OF the Constitution. "a now
eXpOunded by the Supreme Court" 1t is
very probable he might receive coat of tar
and feathers, and yet such was the language
of Gen. Joseph Lane not more than SIX weeks
ago in Indianapolis, and the South Carolina
Legislature voted for him last week unani-
mously for Vice President of the United
States!
Our Southern brethren must look at them
selves in these mirrors and see themselves as
others see them. In their isolated position
they imagine thousand evils. dangers, and
grievances which have no actual existence
but are the very ''maggots of the BRAIN OF
the salamanders who are playing in the fires
of Disunion. The wisdom of the past, the
interests of the present, aud The happiness OF
the future, are all urging US to preserve the
bond of the Union. Read, young men OF the
South the pr, cous legacies of Washington,
Jetftrson, and Jackson on the subject of Dis
union, and you will rise from their perusa1
treasured that these United States will en-
dure every shock OF fanaticism and beat back
every rising surge of treason. Northern
politicians put root in the ears of their dupes,
and Southern agitatorS render their duprs
deaf to reason by the Insertion of cotton. Ii
you have ears 10 hear, listen to the warnings
from the patriotic, the grave, and consider
ate, and do not be led astrAy by the sophisti
cal, though 'gliltering generalities' OF u
Southern Declaration of Independence or the
Enthusiasm p oduced 10y appearing colonial
dag.-LOu. jour.