Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-07
The CrIsis-The Duty of the south,

Under this caption 1t announced IN the city
papers on Wednesday morning that Col n G lay
IoR of East Tennessee would, on that evening, ad-
dress the citizens Of Nashville. We felt an interest
in hearing what gentleman of some distinction, in
orr State had to say concerning this important
crisis. and especially in regard to the duty Of the
South and we listened attentvely to his speech 1t
isa Dainful duty to criticize one Of felOw-cti-
zans at the present moment Wewould not certain
" do so. in this instance, if were not satisfied
that the doctrines set forth by him are eminently
bprtf1l to the best interests of Tennessee and
IF not so intendcd) are calculated to sow dis
trpst. division and prejudice in the minds of the
people. at q time when sentiments OF cordI-
alitv. harmony and concession ought to pre-
vail Mr.. Taylor is for the Union " first, last and
all the time- He admits that the South has suffered
wrongs and that the election of LINCOLN and HANLIN
Is an insult to the Southern States lie says that he
is for claiming our rights and contending for them
in every constitutional manner and that failing IN
this he will then fight for them IN the Union lie VIII
never give I'D the Union and desires, when ITS walls
have been stained with blood its columns have
crumbled. its roof has given way, to bombardment
and his own life blood is ebbing away to cast his
ewes for the last time the dome Of the temple and
there see proudly floating the star spangled banner
This NAV be a very pretty sentiment, but we cannot
commend its logic, its common sense or its states
rnauship For what was the Union established For
the protection Of right and promotion of happiness
certainly or in the language Of the Constitution Of
which the Union is only the emanaton, to form
more perfect Union establish justice insure domestic
tranquility provide for the common defence, promote
the general welfare and secure the blessings Of lib
erty to ourselves and our posterity.' This enumcr
alton Of the objects ofthe Constitution may be incud
ed in the general terms to protect right and pro-
mote the happiness Of the people. When the Gov
ernment of the Union fails practically to carry out
these great ends of its establishment, and when it is
proven to be impossible to restore its protective
yioor. 1T is the right of the people to alter to
abolish il. and to institute new Government"
These are great Fundamental truths that had their
origin in the birth of Jour present Government
and the people would be unworthy OF Their
brave and virtuous ancestry, were they to dlsre-
gard them and to cling to the Union after 1t mad
become an,engine Of oppression and insult, instead
Of the protector of their rights. 1t surely cannot
be conended by Mr.. TAYLOR, any other Intelligent
American freeman, that the Union possesses more
value than the rights it was intended to secure 1t
cannot be asserted that the mere Instruments more
worthy of our regard and affection than the great
and cherished ends it fashioned to subserve
Such position would be the very phrenzy Of poet
ic absurdity, the madness Of sentimentality. Of
such svllabub was not made the stern and common
sense principles that achieved the American revou-
ton.
They hestated not to sacrifice the dearest ties Of
kindred and common origin when their rights as
freemen. were endangered. They dared to declare
themselves a free and Independent people when
their mother country used them as aliens and
oppressed them as interiors. They marched through
snow in their bare feet and crossed the raging food
amid blocks of ice and through wintry blasts, that
their rights might be preserved They faced death,
endured bankruptcy and prvation, gazed upon des-
olate fields and sacked cities, and listened to the
wall of widowhood and the piteous CRY Of the or