Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-14
rhe ninrinnatI Gnrefts on the union.

The Cincinnati Gazette the cleTerest and most con
servative Of Black Republican papers, is growing
little tssty on the Union question. On Tuesday last
felt and spoke as follows:
When the Republicans, in convention at Chicago
last May reafhrmed the emphatic declaratolrof An
drew Jackson" The Union must and shat De pre-
served we never apprehended that they were
talking at random with eanting lips Whom they
went yet further and foreseeing the exact stae OF
things now existing proclaimed that they "heid IN
adherence all schemes for Dlsunion' come from
whatever source they may" and denounced the
threats of Disunion in case OF popular overthrow
of Democratic ascendency as denying the vital prin-
cinle of a free government, and as an avOwal of
core,s.lad treason which il is the imperative duty
of an Indignant people to strongly TeOce and forerer
silence we had no thought that the Representatives
Of the Republican party in Congress- or their lead
ers elsewhere, would sit quietly by and see this
Union broken W without gallant struggle to pre-
serve its integrity. No such expectation was for
moment entertained by the masses of the people who
voted for Abraham Lincoln No countenance to
contemplated treason" no quiet acquescence in
conduct universally held in "abhorence" by loyal
citizens of the United States, would have been
tcipated, eveH had their express pledges been en-
tirely omitted. And yet where are the Republican
leaders? What they now doing?
At the South, treason is doing its work Public
sentiment is becoming so corrupted and poisoned
that even sincere Union men have to cover IN terror
before the conspirators Many manly voices are
raised in opposition this Madness yet what forni
dable manifestation, what decisive act have wit
messed IN great majority of the savehOlding States
None-absOlutely none whatever. The dark and
desolating tide is apparently submerging the whole
South, with efficient attempt, even, to stay its
progress.
Have we a national government? If so, what is
that doing at this crisis? Our President started off
with purpose--as is manifested from so much of
the original printed copg of his message as has sur
vived the trimmings (three columns IL the aggre
gate) to which it was subjected by the Cablnet-to
assume little Jacksonian craftsmanship, II not
some of Old Hickory irmness also, yet the dar-
ing effort has died out into mild protestation that
virtually invites national ruin. de is on all sides
and no side at once. He virtually abandons the
field TO the Disunionists with only faint shrek OF
alarm and dread apprehension.
Look at his Cabinet. Around his council board
sits openly avowed traitors? One of them, holding
the purse of the nation, already virtually IN the
camp of the avowed enemies of the nation, who
are leapued and sworn to break up the very gov
eminent in which he continues to hold most re-
sposible official position Most benign and compia-
cent old public functionary! The head of your
Treasury Department, and though less openly, yet
presumably, from his couduct) the head OF your
Var Department Just on the point OF casting on
their allegiance and joining in most criminal re-
belliOn against the very poweryou represent let
you continue to give them every facility they could
desire as spies exploring every resource and secret
of the government they are about TO repudlate and
betrav You have given them, unreseryedy, the
utmost advantage they could ask, even If they serl-
olsy intend to hold on to the main slnews Of the
government and, by coup d'etd turn the whole
force of its authority against the legitimate supper
tiers.
And vet no voice-Or only some faint and face
tious o1e-ls raised in either branch of Congress,
as this work of Disunion and Infamous treach-
cry goes on. Is the Republican party selfannihi-
lated ere it takes possession of the power which the
people have ordered into its hands2 We have wait
ed patiently for some ground of better hope
The propitous time has passed, but all is not yet
lost Backsliding journalists have already infinite
mischiefs TO account for Connivers at Dsunon have
done much to corrupt public opinion even in the
North. Silent Republican Ongressmen-paray Zed,
apparenv by events that they cannot but have fore
seen in the cearest manner for mOnths-haye contri-
buted TO the growing evil Have we no leader at the
National Capitol who darcs to speak plainly, and
to lead off in mpeaching traitOrOus Executive, IN
arraignng avowed traitors, in maintaining the sent-
ments of the Northern people almost universally, by
re-afirming with emphasls-1HE UNION MUST AND
SHALL PRESERVED?
Undeniably, critical times are upon US. We are
disappointed only in the temper and spirit with
which the crisis is met We had not expected this.
Until recently we had thought such conduct impos-
sible. 4 few more days of temporizing like that
we have seen on all sides for the last week and the
worst disasters will be upon There is now inn
minent danger that treachery on one SIDE and weak
ness on the other, will prove fatal to the Union.
Our advices from Washington already convey the
impression that it may be too late for decisive
action. "Pacifcation' by Congressional resolution
is out of the question We advise all to look the
present danger in the face and to prepare for the
worst.