Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-08

by some of these leaders, and they have only
waited a pretext more plausible than any
heretofore presented to attempt the accom-
plishment of it.
What between the inhammatory appeals
and highly colored and exaggerated, story OF
wrong and oppression already endured, and
the still more intoiefabie oppression to be an
ticipated from the fanatic spirit of The North,
on the one hand, and the glowing pictures
and seductive representations of the grandeur,
power and prosperity of the new Republic,
on the other hand, it is not surprising that
body of highly gifted men, strongly excited
and carried along by their OWE fancies, have
been able to mislead many thousands of pc
culiarly excitable and impossible population
against the dictates of their sober jud gments.
And it is asad reelection that upon the speedy
return of this class of Southern citizens
to wiser and more temperate counsels may
depend the fate of the Union. May no hope
be indnlged that a little time for calm
thought viii suffice for the change of what
seems to be their present purpose and deter
the nature and amount of evils which are
certain to attend revolutionary movement,
and also upon other and more appalling con-
tingent evils, which may and probably will
arise between its beginning and consumma-
ton? 100 t.-,-r7 .assEeT
l do not forget that l am addressing,
through you, brave men who are ready to
die in yindication of their honor or in de-
fence of what they believe to be their rights.
do not appeal to their fears.
But whatever may oe the final decision of
the people of Mississippi upon the gravest
question ever presented to their considera-
ton, and which must deeply affect the rela-
tons existing between them. and the people
of Tennessee, and of every other State of the
South can not bring myself to the conclu-
Sion, all the existing evidences to the con-
trary, that Mississippi will take upon her
self the responsibility of doing an act that
would expose the peace and security of her
sister States of the South to direct and emf
nent danger, and perhaps decide their desti-
MES for veal or woe forever, without previ-
Jus COnSultdtiOn Will tneHi, anu HIst eA-
hausiing every peaceable mode of redress for
the grievances of which she complains. In
community of Independent States or sover-
eighties, if any one of them should pursue a
course which would put in eminent peril the
peace and security of the other States. with
out first exhausting every means of peace
able redress for any grievances of which she
might complain. they would be justified by
the law of nations in making common cause
against her, and in preventing her by force,
if necessary, from pursuing such course.
Such being the responsibility attaching to
the action of one of community of
separate and Independent States, how
much greater would be the responsible
ty incurred by one of the Southern States of
this Union, in adopting the desperate mea-
sure of breaking up the Union, and thereby
putting in jeopardy the highest and dearest
interests of them all, without first taking
solemn counsel together! These interests are
common to them all, and the grievances COM
planned of are common to all. Could the
evil consequences certain to ensue be con-
fined to the State adopting the rash measure
of secession, the other States might not feel
called upon to protest against it. But that
cannot be. The consequences-and who can
foresee their extent?-must be felt by all.
Viewing the subject in every light in which
it can be presented, 1 am constrained to say
that by no principle of Public Law, by no
code of morals, by no law, of Earth or Hea-
ven, would Mississippi or any other State
be justified. under existing circumstances,
in Withdrawing from the Union. 1 con-
idently believe that the happiest conse-
quences would result from conference of
all the Southern States. 1 as confidently
believe that a majority of the people of the
North are this day prepared to agree to any
fair and reasonable plan of adjustment which
such Conference of the Southern States
would propose. l purposely abstain from
suggesting what, in my opinion, should be
the basis of such plan of adjustment.
After what have written on the prece-
ding pages of this letter, is scarcely necessa.
ry to say that am resolved to adhere to the
Uuion. / will not say that in ao possible con-
tingency would 1 consent to separation of
the States. But 1 would exhaust every con-
stitutional means for the redress our griev-
ances, before 1 would think of dissolving
the Union. | am not willing that one State
should be withdrawn from the Union-that
one star should be stricken from the bright
cluster which now emblazons the national
flag.
have long foreseen the probable occur
renee of a crisis like the present, and shrunk-
from the possible issue oft; and could never
contemplate the destruction of the Union
without sensations not unlike those which /
imagine would oyerwhelm me on beholding
the last going down of the sun,-never to
rise again forever.
With the highest consideration and esteem,
am your fellow-citizen,
JOHN BELL.
To A. BURwELL, Esq, Vicksburg. Miss.