Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-06
SPEECH OF
]. b. FERGUSON,

'SE GEOn VI
]. b.. FERGUSON, !.
ON INC Agitation and Dangers Of the Ceun.ssE
arys-khe Rnsy OF our CItizens--and the
Necessity oE q United south. 81
1sirersl in Hc Han of Representatives, IN anser q
a call Of The citizens Of Nash1iAe, Noe q, lo5V. II
(coscLuDED.)
'Tcd0e now 10 our special interests Have We
stated what facts prove and condition and events
make plain Thedisloyalty of our neighbor gFaptsds
hare ,5e strength al home? lhsllnion, secess4 rev
lutioY rebellion disregard for government for union
and order are the treasures flowing in upon US from
every side Are they rightfully bestowed! Let
vouT own consciousness ansSgr this question by UNI
derstanding ourselves we may Know what we HaVF
ol,lO. Ii IS ~ elicit trutb 70 eqAtrlh ili ana klNF
n inst expression te nature, that espeaRsa BOT
IN se The fancy with nicely turned sentences and
sweet expressions Of liberty. Not to pronounce
euloeums over the heroic dead and the glory OF the
past No! But to perpetuate our msnho9d ana me
(5odsiysni evidences of a power divine ln.IDou9t
and speech and because sui breathe the native
air of freenen of life and its behests = nave mus
trated your Geographical position your present
condition political and partizani the saerlnees you
viii be called upon TO make IN ease oi ulsst.
tion the repeated invasion of your borders the daily
loss of your property and the fact that your stua
tion makes you the bnlwark or breastwofk 10 me
STATES | have doue this TO shew you that by MAJ
ture and position you have rIgbt 70 SPEAK nay ae
mand and enforce if need be, your right, AZ would
he OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES such an expression can be
granted for any of our Southern sisters 60 deE
Sire to place us in the position we VIII be competed
to occupy without our conserving co1epsrauoil'
Can they with pure heart and clean hands make
ms the piua 7ro,r of their capFice and lack of sim
certy to the standard they have raised ustlce ana
Honor If this is freak or an imaginary posi-
t6n for the times world they dare to shelter them
selves under these inscriptions and prove recreautto
.irfiO South CARO-
lima is with US and viii abide the ISSUE Ii false, she
will provo It by hels alienation from proposed
united action, and, tIeni it becomes our proNnce
as men naturally endowed and geographically pols-
ed to speak our sentiments Our cause IS ore 0nP
position locally considered, ALL AID but one senti
ment and impulse should direct the whole Although
I thus speak / do not allow myself for one moment
to think that anything less than principle common
principle of action noynoves the extreme states,
For 1t is as clear as Gods open day that fecognlf
ton of principle of common honesty and falth VIII
call for unitedzind not separate actionS by TINS we
will know ourselves and be known IN all that can
follow our movements g 8" - q ~ go go e
We have lahored to prove the inability of the
government to render what its Consttutionalty re-
| quires We have shown the direct conflict of the
child with the parent We have shown the injustice
of the older brother to the younger. We have de-
plored the nefciency and imbeeiLty of the father
And in Gods name, we ask, shall desoiation brood
DER the insincerity of our cause when thus pre-
sentedl Shall any State under the guise of justice
honor, and a redress Of common grievances seek
merely a government of its own because we are
their protection from invasion and overthrow.
present this division Of sentiment that it may be
estimated, and its foundation tested. Candor and
honesty compel you TO see that failure upon the!
part of the Southern slayehodiBg States to coalese
as one win present far more lamentable picturet
than any that can describe our present grievances.
The issue being one, if they do not act inunison, in
hearty cooperation and let the majority rule and
A., and d.
rect, what element have you left that constitutes
the first scintiilation of free republics Not one!
A failure of the extreme South and the 50 called
North of the slave Territory to Cooperate m hearty
union is conviction of ilsincertg. of falsity to-
everything claimed alike by you and them. A con-
dition ike this would leave an inscription lasting
as time. aad eternal Jas God, of falsity and dis
| honor. 1cafe not what may have been the profess
sion of grievances to be borne, they would be gems
in the eternal crown of immortal time compared to
| the imbecile movements of thinking and de-
signing knaves and you had better perpetuate the
/ day of days that gradually consumes your wasting
/ forms of governmen entail order than seek TO raise
4 design in Heaven to cover .'ss
.l, TrasIors Craze Of LibeTtyl .i5s -.
/ But what do you propose or recommend an
\ swer as we before stated, expression through
i the State Legislatures of the slavehodiDg States
/ and by Conventions. That these appoint committees
/ with view to Conference of all the States, That
4 thew then make demand, as one man, presenting
III
/ will 90 further. 1 would say, that the General
Government should be held responsible to the sove
reign States for any loss or aggression pecpnIary
i or otherwise. Furthermore. that such amendments
| be made to the Constitution will forever dHhne
/ the local interests involved. And still further,
would deem Il expedeut from sense of justice and
/ right that the Government demand that all laws in
direct conflict with the united and sovereign power
of the Nation, be repealed The reason for this IS
i obvious ANY State enactlng such law is not act
ing in good faith with kindred States, much less
/ with the Nation. This is plain question. If they
do not act in good fath-f they Iegslate and enact
laws to annul the laws OF the General Government
II and to operate Oppressivey and unustly on local
II institution of the country what right have they to
complain nay but to fear that they the founders
4 of that which will destroy the Government which
they so loudly exol contrasted with the aggressive
\ Indications of the South? .
II as one man. proclaim Nstienalty! Otherwise as
man 10 man we meet In Death rather than yield to
wrong, We can dono less. -. 81. ,..z..l.
i Such failure will on whore deeply chain with the
4 iron grasp of events to consolidate our ruin We
must either be free in. or slaves to the conditions
H of time. We must either vindicate the Right or
i submit to the wrong. Choose We which We will. 1t
is before YOU In view of condition 50 lanentable,
4 you must either choose distinct coEfederacy, OF
/ in honor and dignity one man. as omnipotent as
life and as Eternal God, claim your rights and
/ defend them to the end This present as cursory
II view of the cOlhTctng condition OF tnmgs' Ana
hold that these views are not snbversive OF the true
4 interests of maa or the hope of a Nation, We pre-
sent and perpetuate them the Blessings OF lmmOr-
i talitY. We breathe them the lnsplrings OF the
Il Divhe We cannot behold this our common coun-
/ try torn by dssention and distrust and say less.
For truth demands and Justice requires at our hans,
i these expressions. Be they worthy or unworthy Is
not for me- to decide. It's not TO perpetuate and
encourage this fratricidal war that we breathe the
intonations uttered. But to suppress the violent
/ passions and to alay the demOniacal spirit that
III, rpxrp
/ but now departing emblem of National glory. lis
that manhood, true manhood, Natures prerogatlve
II to a claim so high, may be heard and felt among Its
i kindred that we would inspire the Southern heart
to one thought and motion. 1t IS that we would &C.
Il ment with an Omnipotent hand the diversified inter-
ssts of the whole country. Ii is because one breath
one genial glow of feeling should perpetuate our
glory 1t is that the Star of Liberty may never
wane but ascend higher and higher IN the f1rma-
menr of Time, and add galaxy that shall o'erspan
the Great Horizon of Immortality, while each gem
shall speak Nation born to Humanity IT'S this
that brings forth thought and inspires our feel
ing. II is this that should predominant over all
party strife. 1t is this that should unite IN the
bonds of fraternal feeling, one people whose God
is LIBERTY
After the delivery of the address, Mr.. FERGUSON
was waited upon by large number of citizens wha
urged its repetition. Accordingly on Thursday
night the 18th ultimo, before an overlooking house
he redelvercd it with the following additional
f thoughts. which are repeated from memory with
notes. and of course, not in the clear and forc
i BILE style,of his extemporaneOus speeches.
Nv mind only natures in more earnest confidence
the Sentiments have uttered, A commercial crisis
is upon u.s. threatning ruin to honest industry and
q REGISTRATION to credit We are not the authors or
4 promoters of this disastrous state of affairs. Nay
It is brought in dispute of onr constant appeals TO
our Northern Brethren, IN view of their persistent
attacks upon our Institutions and State violations Of
y the law of the land Ruin to families, ruin to
l the country now stares every man IN tue face.
II What shall be done? Self protectecton Is the first
II impulse of every human breast IN times OF danger.
Il No living man can utter more honest appreciation
of good faith in contracts than myself, ana appear
Il TO nv life as the proof. The man breathes not
4 who can say Lowe him an unpaid obligation 1et'
4 say and desire not to be misunderstood 1hat our
II honest and Industrious business men, should, as one
4 NAV saw to the Ncrth you must fOrbear to provoke
such political condition as you nov force upon ds'
4 YOU must repeal the laws thai SET at naugHt tne
II National basis of all fidelity, ara show yourselves
willing to abide the ends of your glogiiea mon, OF
we viii not be able to pay you our commercial on
4 ligatious. We cannot do it If we would, ~ VII