Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-07-18


gHitherto the two systems have existed in differ
ent States but side by side within the American I'm
ion. This has happened because the Union Is Con
federation of States But in another aspect the Uni
ted States constitute only one nation. Increase Of
population which is filling the States out to their
very borders, together with new and extended net
work of railroad and other avenues, and internal
commerce, which daily becomes more intimate. is
rapidly bringing the States into higher and more
perfect social unity or consolidation. Thus these
aptagonistic systems are CONTINUALLY coming into
closer contact and collision ensqes.7 -.-s ..
Yes, "cGllisioR eRsqes," and his prophecy vas
fulfilled in less than twelve months after it was
made. ..fr .-.F..
"Shall tell you what this collision means" "Itis
an irrepressible conflict between opposing and en-
during forces, and means that the United States
must and will sooner or later, become entirely a
slave-hodng nation or entirely free labor nation.
Either the cotton and rice fields of South Carolina,
and the sugar plantations of Louisiana will ultimate
" be TILED BY free labor, and Charleston and New
Orleans become 2arts for legitimate merchandise
alone, else the rye fields and wheat fields of Mas
sacLusetts and New York must again be surrendered
by their farmers to the slave culture and 70 the pro-
duotio1 Of slaves and Boston and New York become
once more markets for trade p the bodies and souls
of Een. 1t is the failure to apprehend this great
truth that induces many unsuccessful attempts at
final compromise between the slave and free States,
and it is the existence of this great fact that renders
all such pretended compromises, when made, vain
and ephemeral."
At a later period in the Senate of the United
States, the Senator uttered the following Ian
guage: Il well remember the occasion and the
speech.)
"a free Republican Government like this, not
withstsndiEg III it9 constitutional checks, cannot
long resist and eOa1tePaet tho progress Of society
Free labor has at last unprecedented its rights snd
its destiny and ia organizing itself to assume the
government of the Republic II will heneefOFth
nd 10 Wash
it will meet you everywhere in the territories and
out of them, wherever you may go 70 extend slave
~ Il has driven you back in California and in Kan
sas It viii invade yog COON in Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, AissolFfand FeEas. u VII meet you in
Arizona in Genital America, qha eyeRq n eHhs'F
sYou may. indeed get a start under or near the
tropics and seem safe for time but it will be only
short tine, Even there you will found States only
for free labor to DRiptan and occupy The interest
of the white race demands tie Ultimate emancipa-
ton Of all men. Whether thai colsqmHatIqn be
allowed to take effect. with needfqL anq wise
precautions against sudden change and disaster. or
be hurried on By violence, is al that remains for
YOU to deeide5F dfhe white man needs this CONT
nent to labor upon HIS head i elle2r, hls arm Is
strong, and his necessities are fixed"
1T is for yourselves and not for US to decide how
long and through what further notifications and
disasters the contest shall be proracted before free
dom shall enjoy her already assured triumph"
''Yeu may refuse to yield it now, and for a snort
period but your refusal viii only animate the friends
of freedom with the courage and the resolution and
produce the union among among them, which alone
is necessary on their part to attain the position
ITSELF simultaneously with the impending overthrow
of the existing Federal Administration and the
constitution Of new and more independent Con-
gress"
Gentlemen is this the Constitution, this the Union
your fathevs foundedl Remember that these prin-
ciples are not peculiar to NJ Seward; with some
marked exceptions, they are the principles of the
Senator's and Representatives of that party in Con-
gress -af the body CT its press, and of the great
mass of the people who compose the organization.
Upon what times are We rapidly driving? Could
such principles have been sustained at the epoch of
the Revolution-at the epoch of the Constitution?
Did not the Constitution langush in the convention
until stpulations inserted to guard and pro-
tect cur rights? We're they not put in that instru
ment by the great and good men who framed it. and
ratified by the States for themselves and for pos
tcrty? And are not the citizens of all the States
bound to respect our constitutional relations, and
give the Southern States peace in this Union? Was
it not formed for the peaceful pursuit of common
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