Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-07
me president.s message.

Me present TO readers Llls ulOIllIB al Ia
traD containing the Presidents Message. The mo-
mentous importance of the events to which it refers
will cause it TO be read with unusual avidity The
ignorance Of the President to the true of
the immediate peril" which endangers the
safety of the Union, is certainly to be regretted
He says;
The immediate peril arises, not so much from
these causes from the fact that the violent agta
ton of the slavery question throughout the North
for the last quarter of century has at length pro-
duced its msgn influence on the slaves and inspired
them with vague notions Of freedom. Hence, a
sense of security no longer exists around the family
altar. This feeling of peace at home has given
place to apprehensions of servile insurrection.
Many mstron throughout the South retires at night
in dread Of what may befal herself and her chill
dren before the morning.
There is no man in the entire South who does not
know that the picture here drawn Of the state of
feeling in the saveholding States is wofully incOr
rect and therefore cannot be the cause of the i'm
mediate peril" 1t is not true that "a sense Of secu-
ry no longer exists around the family altar" tits
not true that "feeling of peace at home has given
place to apprehensons of servile Instruction" 1t
is not true that "many a matron throughout the
South retires at night in dread Of what may befal
herself and her children before hemorning" There
never was more confidence reposed in the slave
population of the South than at this time There never
was greater feeling of security from se-vile Iusur
rection It is not fear of the present but of the
future The cause of " immediate peril is the
fact enunciated by Mr.. SEWARD the party which has
just elected its candidates for the Presidency and
Vice-Presidency, and which is in power in every
Northern and Northwestern State, is party Of one
idea and that idea ishostty to the rights.and inst
buttons Of the fifteen Southern States. Differing to
all other questions, they agree upon anti-slavery
The peril arises from the fact that this party has
grown more bitter in its hatred it has increased
in power. It arises from the fact that they feel
themselves bound by a law "higler' than the Con-
stitution the law of perverted conscience It arises
from the fact that the Black Republicans have lis
tened to the teachings Of no less parsonage than
the,distinguished Senator from New York, commu-
nicated in the following language:
"Inculcate the love Of freedom and the equal
rights of under the paisTal roof; to it that
they are taught IN the schools and IN The churches ;
reform yoi ol1n code; eItend cordial lDecOple TO the
fugitive ohO lays his oedTy limbs at your door, ana de-
fend hira as you l0Od your pdtedi gods; correct your
OlUn error that SGUey has any constitutional guarantee
Iricb may not be released and OUGHT NOT To BE RE
IINQUIgHED. Whenever the public mind shall
will the abolition Of slavery, the way will be open
for it ! know that you will tell me this is all too
slow. Well, then, go faster, # yo' can, and WILL
GO WITH YOU.
The immediate peril arises further from the fact
that we are told by Mr.. LINCOLN himself the chosen
chief that the breaking up of the Black Republican
party would be only the more fatal to the South as
it would divert Black Republican sentiment from
the peaceful channel of the ballot box into some
other channel which would increase the number of
JoIrS BnowS raids. In his Coopers Institute speech
in February last Mr.. LINCOLN SAID
GLOW much would it avail you, if you could. by
the use of John Brown, Helpers book and the like,
break up the Republican organization? Human
action can be modified to some extent but human
nature cannot be changed There Is a judgment
and a feeling against slavery in this nation,
which cast at least million and half Of votes.
You cannot destroy that Judgment and feeling-that
sentiment-by breaking up the political organlza-
ton which rallies around it. You can scarcely
scatter and dispense an army which has been form
ed into order IN the face of your heaviest fire. but
If Won could how much would you gam by forcing
the sentiment which created 1t ont Of tie peaceful
channel of the bq0tb0r, into S0meOtter channel? What
l7Oldd that other channel probably be! Would the man
Der Of John Bro5cns be lessed OR ENLARGED by the
operation
These are some of the causes from which the
immediate peril" arises. The President S erro-
neous in his enumeration.
It will be seen that the President takes ground
against the right Of a State to secede, and also
against the power of the Executive or Congress to
coerce a seeding State. We think that it was en-
tirely proper for the President 10 have given the
country his views upon secession but we believe a
general discussion Of the doctrine would rather do
evil than good 1t would but sow dissenson at the
South without restraining any State from withdraw
ing that felt disposed to- Those States that secede
viii do so without regard to public opinion, as to
whether secession is constitutional or revolution
airy right