Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-21
Letter from the Hon. j ohm a. G.lmer.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Washington. Dec. Z, go.


DEAR SIR: We are in most fearful crisis.
1t seems to be settled purpose with dis
union Senators so to conduct the debates of
the Senate as further to infame the Southern
mind already too much excited, and thereby
precipitately force disunion, regardless of all
consequences Madness rules the hour
With many, who are well meaning and, in
the main, conservative. judgment is de-
throned," and treason has lost its sway"
Others, entitled to less consideration, seem
ito be moved by the instigatiCn of the devii:'
"to be regardless of social duty" and fatally
bent on mischief These act as though de-
termined TO press the South into action whilst
laboring under furious fever. They fear
the effects of-the sober second thought of the
free States on the steady masses Of the South.
They are unwilling to give any time for re-
Fiction. or to enable the Slave States, having
a common interest, to confer with each other
and determine on any line of policy deemed
best for all.
Whilst l would not lose one moment in
discussing the right Of each State to secede,
there is rule of morality, law and religion
that all fair-minded men ought to respect
and observe. 1t is so old ''that the memory
of man runneth Eot to the contrary 1.-The
perfection of reason is, THAT we should so
exercise our own rights as not to do injury to
others. -
At best. under present circumstances, and
for existing causes, for the Southern States
to secede is fearful plunge to all who have
social, material and substantial interests, but
the hazards are certainly much GREATER if
they shall go off disjointed, differing and
perhaps. quarelling among themselves. 01s
If South Carolina and Alabama have Just
cause to seeede, then all the slave States
have right, and ought. to go with them.
Taking these to be true, insist most respect
fully that the sister States of the South, that
assume to themselves superior wisdom and
rashly lead so as to create necessity ON the
part of then sisters to follow before they
have time To prepare and ''set their houses In
ORDER" are wanting in their regard for the
feelings and interests of their neighbors.
Whenever it is reasonably settled, that our
honor can ne longev be maintained and oar
rights no longer safe in the Union, / have
too much confidence in the spirit and coar-
age of onr Southern people, to doubt their
united pledges and action to maintain and
preserve them out of it. When we have ex-
hausted all reasonable and fair means for our
constitutional rights in the Union, and have
failed, do not insist that we should be de-
TERED from a separation from the free States,
because thereby we lose all the sympathles
we now have with the conservative millions
IN the free States, and make them all to US
alen Garrlsonian abolition enemies, freed
from all The restraints growing out of COM
munity of interests, laws and Constitution.
But this confederation, with the probabilities
of many bloody battles with the millions of
the Northwest, settled on the tributaries of
| the Mississippi. growing out of the nayiga-
| ton of that great river, running from the ex-
treme North through and TIC the extreme
South, and the necessity of increased means
to meet promptly and successfully the multi
| piled friends of John Brown, should indnce
us to weigh carefully the causes for which
we so separate, and to be certain that they
are satisfactory. now and in the future. at
least to the masses in the slayeholding States.
At the risk of much criticism, venture TO
express the hope that some calm, firm and
weil-considered line of policy may yet be de
yeIoped by wiser heads, which may save the
Union, and secure the constitutional equali-
ty of the slave States therein.
The eyes of the South are now anxiously
turned to Georgia, the Empire State of the
South. We trust that her citizens in every
neightorhood at this perilous time. viii d.
vest themselves of all passion, calmly con.
fer, and give as at once the summing of wise
conclusions
Yours truly, -
JOHN A. GILMER.. 4
To DR.. VIM. d. Coneers, Coyington, Ga.