Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-18
poWe Understand Each othera

no We Understand Each Otherf
= Having expressed desire to know whether
che Nashville Union and American proposed
to foster and keep alive the partisan preju-
dices which have characterized Tennessee
politics since 1885, our contemporary replies
ssemphatically, no.n But at the same time
propounds to US questions having direct re-
lation to past party differences In his late
eloquent and patriotic letter Gov. BROWN
suggested that. as means of restoring har-
mony, an amendment of the constitution
embodying the Missouri Compromise,
: ssmight" be efectual; and our neighbor re-
ours to the position of the PATRIOT in that
controversy, and seems to seek to revive and
to draw US into a discussion of the differ
ences which then prevailed in the public
mind We respectfully decline now to en-
ter upon that topic. But we beg TO remind
the Union and American that the suggestion
of Gov. BROWN would present a totally diff
ferent issue from that placed before the
country by the proposition to repeal the Mis-
souri, Compromise in 1854. If the PROPOSE
ton to incorporate that principle in the Con-
st,f,tioa, either as it was or in modified form,
were presented to competent authority dele
gated by the people, and we're adopted by a
sufficient number of States, no one would
question the difference that il would then
presnt from what it did in 1854. Besides. to
make il a part of the Constitution it would
have to be extended to the Pacific to give it
effect and certainty. That proposition has
been advocated by distinguished men of our
coutemperary's owe party, and is even now
being urged, as We are informed By tele-
graph, by one of the Tennessee Senators, who
was never suspected of any very cordial
unity of political sentiment with Gov. BRowN,
and who himself was understood to favor the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise in 1854.
In addition to this marked difference in the
two issues, let us suppose that We refuse to
consider the suggestion, and go On to the last
extremity of separation, is it to be supposed
that, in that event, in any adjustment that
should attend that division, the South would
lay any claim to territory north OF that lire?
By no means. 1t could not be of any use to
do so, since the institution in that region
could not be mad successful. If dissolution
shall come, the South viii turn her attention
to other quarters in the work of expansion.
Our contemporary therefore makes fatal
mistake in considering the mere suggestion
of Gov. BROWN, as an endeavOr on his part
to simply restore the Missouri Compromise as
it was; and as presenting the issue of It's
former repeal
As to the soundness of Mr.. LINCOLN, we
are utterly unable to see how an honest man,
sworn 70 support the constitution, can admin
lister the government on the principle OF the
s.irrepressible conflict He was elected in
accordance with The constitution, and whether
he shall attempt to make the South Sub
iect province" and to initiate measures for
the entiEe abolition Of slavery, or stand as
national president, observing the eonstitu-
ton and enforcing the laws, is a problem
that we are content TO leave TO the solution
of experiment. We have often avowed that
we did not regard the constitutional election
of Mr.. LINCOLN as a just cause for reyolu-
tionizing the government, and if we are not
mistaken. our contemporary is committed to
the same position. 1t is unnecessary for US
to repeat our unqualified adherence Of the
principles aud tendencies of the party that
elected him. We shall labor with all our
heart for the legitimate and constitutional
overthrow of his party, and, if the Union is
preserved. not without hope of success. In
no possible contingency that we can con
ceive, can we join any party that would de-
nv equality of rights under the constitution
and laws as they are, TO each State and all
the people of the Union. We wish rather to
put the speediest possible termination to the
ascendency of that party, and to restore a
general and wholesome nationality of senti-
ment and fraternity of feeling throughout
the Union, and to wrest the public admins
tration from their hands. To do this we be-
lieve that the continued Union of all the
States is necessary, and also a consolidation
of all the opponents of that party through
out the country. With these means at our
command, the end could be achieved with
certainty little less than absolute. four years
hence. But we cannot command these means
in the event of secession and disuniOn, OF if
OlU patty AiHS1 NfC PNAtCAao1hSd III INT COutU
1t is therefore that we oppose the madness of
secessionists, and the folly of those who
would foster the continuance of obsolete
party ties.
In this view of the case we bardlr think it
good taste TO lash our own fancies into a fer
ment or excite the public mind by consider
ing the alternative of following ..uncondition-
ally either South Carolina or Massachusetts,, I"
out of the Union. We hope to be able TO
act periodically, honestly and earnestly on
that subject. when the contingency shall
arise; but our present wish and effort is 10
abort that contingency, by a fair and praeti-
cal effort to preserTe the Union, and all our
rights in it, We trust the Union and Anlert-
can now understands Us, and that it viii by
an equally direct statement enable Us to IN
destand IT.