Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-09
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER o, 1850.
Our PriuciDIeS.


We again place at the head of onr columns the
principles upon which we have fought the recent
battle. Although we may be defeated we are not
Vanquished. The great doctrines which arc en-
bodied in our Platform as everlasting as time and
as indestruetible as justice When the din of battle
is over, when the smoke has cleared from the field
when political questions can be considered free from
partisan prejudice, we ask every candid man, every
patriotic citizen TO examine closely cur Platform
and answer, what Objectionable sentiment is there
expressed? Had the people of the whole South
taken position in favor Of it at the opening of the
canvass, even though they might have differed about
candidates, though they might have differ
cd about minor points, in our opinion Mr..
LINCOLN would have been defeated. All that was
needed to stay the tide OF Black Republicanism
was union in the South, but where union was
most needed there were we most distracted
We presented to our aggressors a dscOrdant
and disorganized front. They rejoiced at our
chickering's and despised our demands for equal
ity and justice They saw thousands in our
midst denouncing as disunionists those of us who
simply asked for the rights which the Constitution
guarantees. They saw those of US who made an
open and unequivocal war upon their doctrines at
tackled upon flank and rear by those who ought at
least to have admitted that our cause was just even
is they had denied the expediency Of our course.
OurSouthern opponents made their main light against
Us. They declared cur principles aggressive upon
the Black Republicans They denounced them as
miserable abstractions.-Mr. WEBSTER is reported
to have said that the Revolution was fought upon
preambe.-The Southern hills and valleys were
made to echo and re-echO with the cry of Disunon,
Secession, YANcET. The struggle is now over and
we ask for our principles the calm consideration
of every man. North or South, who believes in the
Equality of the States. If they are correct they
should receive the sanction Of every South
ern man. They should be enforced in the
administration of the Federal Government.
To have strength and influence in the North we
must have unity in the South To have unity in the
South we must cease our vituperGIion of those ar
dent Southern men, lwhO are at worst but too
prompt to redress our common grievances too quick
to procure new guarantees for their future secu-
rity. We can never control them by denunciatlons.
or induce them to n the Union by abuse
more constant, more severe than that heapcd upon
them by Black Republicansm. Let Us reason to-
gether The cry of YANCEY and Disunion have
served their purpose in frightening thousands from
the support of Mr.. BRECENRrDGE. The continuation
of that cry viii neither keep South Carolina in the
Union deter any other Southern State from seces
sion. Ii may endear US to the SUMMERS and BURLIN-
GAMES. 1t will not render those South Of US more
ready to listen to our counsels.
This unceasing attempt to throw upon the
Democracy ali the responsibility for the dan
gers that surround US, for depreciation in
the price Of slaves, for an anticipated none
tary crisis, is calculated to bring upon US all
the evils which we desire to avert If South Caro-
lima desires to secede, let her depart in peace, and
there viii not be ripple upon the commercial cur
rent in the remainder of the Union. But let South
ern politicians continue utter their denunciations,
and every Northern State viii accept tas invita-
ton to use force to prevent secession Then, there
will be a depreciation in the price Of slaves. Then,
there will be a monetary crisis Then, there viii 10
fearful civil war. Let us all with one accord turn
6nr faces Northward, and tell them there that we
viii exert our influence to prevent secession but
that If secession docs take place, there must be no
coercion