Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-11-30
Ola r. X WILLIE
Look, Before You Leap

The parties who are so heedlessly pressing on to-
wards secession, seem to have lost sight Of the ne
cessity Of shaping new Government before they
declare their Independence of the one under which
they now live. They seem to forget that, though
It may be mere childs play TO pull down the insti-
tutions which have built up powerful and pros
porous nation, It requires wisdom and foresight to
erect political system that can give equal protec-
ton to all our rights, and encouragement to the
complicated interests Of commerce manufactures,
and agriculture. The Constitution of the United |
States, so long considered the masterpiece of pot-
ical wisdom, arc told by Southern politicians,
has failed to accomplish these great ends but have
they told US in what respect they can improve up
on it2 Have they shown where that Constitution
has failed through Its inherent defects and where
nc failure is chargeablc to NAL administration ?
Have they indicated how they will fix up their
Constitution so that neither NAL administration nor
the corruption of politicians the fanaticism of
misguided people pcrvert its meaning, or i'm
pair its efficacy? They have done nothing of the
kind, and seem to think nothing is wanting to Sc
cure Southern rights and advance Southern inter-
es!s but separation from the North. We would
remind them, however that, if there is to be a
Southern Confederacy, much is to be done, as pre-
liminary to its formation, II they would secure har
mony of opinion, and equal and exact justice to all.
Not only must the leading features Of the Constitu
ton be understood beforehand, but the policy upon
certain vital measures must he clearly defined III
they wonll prevent discord between the North and
the South of the Southern Confcderacy. That we
= may be clearly understood, will advert briefly,
to one or two points of prime Importance.
Our readers are well aware of the senstiveness
of the Cuff States upon the subject of slavery and
have not forgotten that it has been, for years. the
habit Of the ultraslavcry men, from the Ohio to the
Gulf MT only to denonnce such men Henry
Clay and John Bell as abolitonists but TO taunt
Virginia Kentucky, and Tennessee, as untrue to
the South. 1t equally we'll known that there is
n large party in the cotton States who warmly adj
vocate reopenng of the slave trade viii dis
union soften this asperty of feeling against con-
SENTATIVE men, or lower the demands of the extrome
lists? If not the slavery agitation will confirm e.
uness the question be definitely settled, as a pre-
liminary to the formation of a Southern Confcder-
acy. Ne one can doubt tina; an effort will be made
to reopen the slave trade and as the border States
are bitterly opposed to that inhuman traffic, what
will they do2 They must acquicscc or they will
find themselves embroiled in bitter conflict OF
opinion---denouuced aud insulted until exhausted
patience win demand a separation, and the formal
ton of a third Confederacy. This is no idle spec
uation, but legitimate deduction from known
causes, and it behoovcs the people of Tennessee tC
consider well their probable position in Southern
Conederacy before they tumble headlong into dis
union because the mad leap has been taken by
some other State.
But Slavery is not the only question that ough
TO be carefully weighed, as likely to prove an ap
pie of discoIi in Southern Confcderacy. As early
a, 1892, the tarif,enlangered the Union and, from
that day to this free trade has been the hobby o
leading Southern politicians and, through thei
influence, Of the Democratic party. Next to slave
ry, this is the most important measure that has agi
tatcd the Southern mind; and welded are tn
cotton States to free trade that they have air cad,
intimated to England and France, that in the even
of secession disunion, Charleston, Mobile anC
New Orleans will be free ports. Let Tennessee
look at the practical workings of this policy. It i
not cxtravaglnt to assume that il will require TWEEN
NSouthcrn Confedcracy, and supposing its popuIa
ton to be nine millions, the direct tax would b
nearly three dollars upon every man, woman AM
child--black and white and, assuming the popu
laton of Tennessee to be million, its proporti OF
Of the tax will fall little short of three millions 0
dollars per annum; and when to this is added tn
tax necessary to support the State Government
how long will the people be able To bear up unde
such burden imposed by free trade for the bene
fit of foreign nations? Look, now, at the njustic
and inequality Of such policy. The eight cotto
States produce n staple which foreign manufactr
rers must have, and this necessity forces Engan
and France to admit that staple into their ports NJ
on the payment of light duty but the six tobn,
co Stats, favored by no such memorable necessity
must pay duty Of about seyenty-four cents p,
pound upon their tobacco, and high rate upo
all therother exports, whilst the Government whic
tax them heavily will he required topay n,
one cent into the common treasury of the Souther
Con'ejcracy Are the border States prepared
become component parts of government whiC
win tax them so heavily, and yet give them no re-
enue system to tighten their burden? The tobac,
States pay now, indirectly, into the treasury
England-about fnecn millions of dollars and Will
they must continue to contribute that amount t
wards deiraying the expenses of the British Go
ernmcnt free trade win give to that goyernmc
all the advantages of this market for her fabri
without being required to pay one dollar into o
common treasury, II will not do to stsye OF the
and other important questions by saying they q
all bc adjusted hereafter, Hereafter may prove I
IL
ton of the Southern States, which Conyend
must be required first to take such steps as m
save the Union as it is and, failing to do this,
lay down, in terms explicit the condition on viii
Southern Coniederaey may be formed-scilu