Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-10

,4res but il there Is We dare Eot stand aside
II may be true that the slaveholding pop
1lation is comparatively small. But ne
quail number of men on earth contribute &C
much to commerce and the ongOing of the
:reat car of CIVILIZED progress The feasible
~ or practicabiliiy of slavery / am not ar
ruing 1t is an institution of our country
Il is our own. We cannot be dissolved from
t. We must stand by our own or perish
with them.
IF these States cannot act unitedly-if any
one State with the same Interest and socla
life, presumes to dictate or act for all the
rest. it proves beyond all question, that WI
have an element of discord within our ownbor
ders We cannot control. A lack OF union is ;
lack of vitality. 1t is attempting 10 live
without breath. 1t cannot be done. Bette
submit to all the ills we have than attemp
A divided action. For if you cannot eontro
the elements of dissent among yourselves
upon an acknowledged interest, how car
you command the elements of unity anC
power among the steel-clad nations OF tht
earth? You are called upon daily to NEE
strata gem, fraud, and force, while professed
Iy united Northern States annul your law
and trample with impunity upon your inter
ests. Did any of your States seize th'
arsenals and ports of the United States, they
would have done no more than has been don'
by ten sovereign States of your United Con
federacy. A common sentiment binds them
Can dissensiOn cement you!
Let US, then, survey the state of the pres
ent agitation, aud see, if we can, how far i
is justifiable in view of the principles and
facts laid down.
1. In the first place, there is no claus
now existing to Justify secession andthe rev
dictionary tendencies that must attend anC
follow the Inauguration of a Southern Con
federacy, that did not exist before the cleo
ton of Abraham Lincoln. The public sen
timent-social, religious and political-wa
as much opposed to slavery before as since
The States had nullified, and the people haC
resisted the execution of the Fugitive Slave
Law. Our people, our institutions, and oul
manner of life had been denounced IN TIT
hall of the National Legislature Our conn
try had been invaded by insurrectionary
leaders, and Kansas was carried by emigra
ton from the North, beyond the possibility o
every becomeing a State with Institution!
similar to our own.
A President without a Senate or House o
REPRESENTATIVES to further his extreme and
destructive policy; President watched by an
entire section of the COnfederacy, ready to
arm and resist to the death any invasion Of
its rights; President without political pres.
tige or experience. or even known ability in
the vi Odu w uOtbILS ina
has not been done, and hence need not per Sc
nor in his guarded and scrutinized official
power, be feared! In a matter, therefore,
where eternal principle is involved we can
not make mere temporary event pretext
for action and will not do it. The truth is,
the South does not fear him. 1t is an insult
to our manhood to admit the thought. What
we have to fear or estimate as dangerous to
our rights and to our duties growing out of
our rights existed before, and still exists.
A prevailing and ever-increasfng sentiment
against oCr institutions. A huckstering of
human misfortunes which the South alone
can so feel as to provide the remedy; bar
ter in human consciences in the name of Re
Iigion. of God and Humanity, a constant
and persistent appeal to ignorance and pas
sion increasing the volume OF fanaticism that
sets in against US; these existed and have
grown to giant pretensions under all the ed
ucational forces of an entire generation,
This election, therefore, cannot be pleaded as
a Unsuitable cause for initiating sundrrigC
of the compact. Let no State, then, take a
step so decisive upon mere occasion OF
Constitutional election. And il not upon
this event, there can he no reason for the ac
ton of one that is not a reason Cor all. Let
us stand to our appreciation of Right and
Constitutional equality, armed If we must.
in the common right that belongs to every
American citizen. till We can present unit
ed cause and course of action, or some step
shall b. taken that will give TO US the old
and eternal mai ural right TO resist.
We have no opposition TO Northern institu-
tiOns, We have no desire to Interfere with
their estimates of privilege and right We
would not destroy their preferences for men
or measures not subversive of our common
contract. But we must AID will take care OF
i rf-ha
Let us not break the bond; not retire from
the compact. But. holding it sacred so
long as Justice and honor will allow, when in
yasion comes. no discDrdant note nor truck
ling policy will be heard in all this land. 1t is
a fearful condition to be compelled to fight
any one even an enemy. 1t Is a last resort,
and should only follow last appeal TO rea-
son and honor. But to fight our brothers, to
Law waste a common heritage, to turn rObber
upon innocence and helpless dependency,
never let us be the initiatOrs of such step,
till all can appeal to God with clean hands
and pure hearts; and then We shall see, in
deed, that the victory is not always with the
numerically strong.
H. Secondly, our estimate of the condition
of our colored population requires this at
our hands. Our obligation to them is great
They are given Us in trust, by they God of
all. We ought to know their capacity and
the dangers to which a precipitate revolution
would expose them. They have cultivated
our fields and woven the fabric of our pros
perity and greatness. We should not tear it
or allow it to be torn with impunity. To US,
under God, they look and must look for pro-
lection. And if an outlet to the unfolding
capacity OF these bondaged sons and daugh-
tiers of toll ever comes, 1t must come through
our legislation and not that of people who
while holding the cup of proposed liberty
to their lips dash it with blood and carnage
to their homes and hopes. Climate, local at
tachment, and loyalty to those who direct
their labor and protect their lives, all con-
spire to tell US, we and not others are now
and must remain their friends. Let US con-
slider this question calmly and nationally.
We are as yet the only people that can do it.
We know them and understand what of de-
yelopement in the scale of being and self
sustaining power they have attained. We
know that slavery cannot be abolish ed, even
though our National and State glory be over
thrown in the attempt. Inwild dismay they
must fall victims of the rapacity that such an
event must produce. Whatever outgrowth
to capacity universal Providence may at
ford them, all history, all common sense, all
Justly appreciated experience demonstrates
that no people can be made civilly free only
as individuals rise to see and own the princi-
Piles and the elements ofself-sustaining power
ever administered by the Eternal Bounty.
We are the constituted instruments of that
Providence, and dare not betray our lrust.
They were brought here by the agency, and
to the profit of the North equally with the
South. The former section has retreated
from personal care and direct responsibility,
and BY the law of climate and the tidal emf
grafton of the worlds artizans, have attain
ed success and power in the retreat. We
cannot retreat; we cannot throw off the re-
sponsibility. To US theif labor and their en-
largement is entrusted. The trust is solemn,
and we had better die at our affairs than at
tempt its desertion. In view of this respon-
sibilty let US wait till aggression is positive
and plain and then TO them as to all it must
appear where our hope lies. Think me not
mistaken here. or if you do, hear me patient
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