Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-01
The Remedy.


In all that we have written, connected with the
present revolutionary condition of the Union. we
have studiously and purposely avoided any discus
sion of the remedy for the just grievances of the
South We have assumed, what would be an insult
to the Intelligence of the Southern mind to doubt
that these grievances exist. We have not deemed it
necessary to reproduce the volumes of insult and
the long catalogue of aggressons that have
been perpetrated by the North upon the South
The election OF LINCOLN is not assumed to be an ae
tua wrong in itself, but only the GROWING and au
thoritative evidence that the series of outrages
perpetrated upon our rights meet with the approval
of a majority of the Northern people. It has been
frequently pleaded that LINCOLN failed to receive
majority of the votes of the whole people and there
fore that he is less dangerous and obnoxious to
ThisA true. But it is a far more significant fact,
because it exhibits the political power of the
party that elected him, that he did receive a ma
jority Of the votes in every Northern State On
Guiding New Jersey by the recent returns) and
that these States, in all of which he received over
whelming majorities, except IN one or two small
States, have the power, and viii continue to have
the power, to control the election of a President.
1t would indeed, have been a far less bitter result
to the South if the President elect had stood on a
platform conservative and broad enough to have
controlled a sufficient number of votes in the slave
holding States, to up a majority Of the whole
people of the Union. Therein lies the bitterness OF
the chalice commended to our lips; that the chief
chosen by the Northern sectionalists could
command one electoral vote in the Southern States
by reason of his determined and avowed hostility to
our institutions. And he viii therefore go into the
Presidency a minority President, elected by an
adroit marshalng of sectional hate and by deliber
atey educating the Northern mind to this hostility,
in the States who have thus usurped under the
cover of the Constitution, the entire Administration
of the Federal Government. 1t is sufficient that
the people of the Southern States recognize. the
wrongs and outrages they have suffered. We
take it for granted that this point the South
is united. We find no respectable authority, DO
considerable portion of Southern men, certainly no
true Southern men of intelligence, denying this pa
tent fact But the fact is different concerning the
remedy. In some ofthe cotton States' as they are
designated in contradstincton to the more Northern
savekolding States, a sentiment almost united, and
in South Carolina, entirely So prevails. Secession
is the remedy already determined on in the public
mind in several of these States. In all the States
lying North of the cotton line greater diversity of
opinion exists Is in Difference this acknowledged
diversity that we have refraned from discussion
of the remedy 1t is in Difference to it that We favor
the plan of a Southern Convention, where the calm
and wise mnds-the ablest, best and most patriotic
men of the South may assemble, and after calmly
surveying the field may take counsel Of each other
and of their constituents, and resolve on the same
remedy and united action. Unity was nevermore
essential to people than to the South in pres
ent condition. 1t is better that we should act with
less wisdom, abstractly considered. than that we
should be divided in action. Any divided
action must necessarily be feeble and inadequate,
and must entail upon the South incOncevableevs It
is division and party strife that have thus far par
alyzed every patriotic movement in the South, and
have reduced US to the humiliation in which we
now find ourselves. What Southern man is there
now that would not prefer to see his most bit
ter political antagonist in the Presidential chair,
under the old party designations, than TO
have witnessed the advent to power Of this
revolutionary party? If we could have given up
our party prejuJices before the election and united
as one man. what a moral power might we not
have exerted upon the Northern people! We might
even by this union, have iconYiced them that they
could not try the mad experiment they have now
ventured upon, and thus saved the South from the
deep humiliation in which she is now placed and
have saved our rights in the Union 1t is idle to
cry out that your party antagonist is alone response
bic for this error. We were all welded, perhaps
too blndly welded, to our party banners to agree
before the election. We pass no Judgment
upon others, and do not wish to perpetuate the
ignoble strife by throwing examinations at our
opponents. 1t is the part of wisdom to heal
unanimous and generous, by ascribing our d. |
vision to party strife. and not by throwing all |
the blame upon Jour brother. We have our own |
opinion about the source of the error, and others
may differ with us But we will not offend any por-
ton Of our countrymen. at this juncture by laying
upon their shoulders the whole responsibility We |
rather ascrbe their errors TO too great devotion to
consistency. too much devotion 10 friends with |
whom they had formerly acted. The Southern |
people have magnanimity and patriotism enough to
divide the censure and unite for their country.
Shall perpetuate these animostes in the face Of
a foe that is perfectly consolidated, that has Just
harnessed on the tremendous powers of the Federal
Government to strike us down. Is that man a pa
triot and a true Southern man. who in the face of
this mighty hostile force, continues to insist upon the
ancient wrangles and enmitics continues to pour
his batteries into those who in the same cause
with him. and continues to insist upon this fatal and
weak division? 1t is certain that these divi-
sions have brought NC to the verge Of ruin by de-
ceiving ou- mutual enemies. These enemies have |
formed the erroneous conclusion we trust, that |
some Of us were not loyal to our institutions be |
cause we wrangled among ourselves. Is the South |
so fallen 50 low and debaseds that seeing the effect
her divisions have produced to strengthen her enc
mics and weaken her friends she will continue this
false and fatal system and thus surrender. through
sheer moral weakness, the very citadel of her
strength? We trust not May the Ruler of Nations |
avert so dire calamity! Et.