Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-10-10
The Memphis Avalanche on the
''NOrfoIk QuestiOns.o

Inc memphis Appeal propOunded the fol-
lowing questions to the ACalancle few DAYS
ago
! s- First. Is the election of Abraham
Lincoln to the Presidency of the United
States. in your opinion. sufficient cause for
the dissolution of the Union, or the secession
of any or all of the Southern States ?
! s- Secondly. If, in the event of LincOln's
| Constitutional election, any one State of this
| Confederacy secedes for that reason alone,
| would you favor the employment Of the pow
| ers OF the General Government to enforce its
laws within Der limits?
We will also make to the above the further
addition of the following:
| - Do you believe that a Sou thcrn man
can hold office under Black Republican Ad-
| mlnistration without self-disgrace? and if so,
would you hold one yourself?
In reply, the Avalanche of the Sth inst,
quotes part of the "Resolutions OF 49,"
and plants itself upon them-recapitulates
what it terms Black Republican aggressions
on the rights of The South, and then answers
as follows:
so far as our individual action is IN
| cerned, We can have none in the event of the
mere election OF Lincoln. Our functions are
secondary, not primary. We are citizens of
| Tennessee. We owe our allegiance to her
|
| capacity We will stand by. We say to Ten
nessee, "Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to
return from following after thee; where ihou
| goest | will go. where thou lodgest | will
lodge; thy people shall he my people, and
thy God my God" Therefore we say we are
with Tennessee--whateVer she dictates we
Will endeavor to carry out. Until the case
arises upon which she is to act. and the voice
OF her sovereignty calls upon her citizens to
determine her position, it is our province to
bide orr time
We believe that the election of Abraham
Lincoln as the candidate of the party we
have shown the Republicans to be, would be
an unequivocal declaration upon the part of
the Northern people of their determination
to use the power of the Government and di-
rect it TO secure the success ofthe philosophy
OF the lrrepressible conflict. The blighting
and reasonable effects OF its past history is
but the t9tuS of what in such an event is TO be
the cUnst quence of its future action. In the
event Of Lincoln s election, we counsel The
union of The entire South upon plan of
action looking TO our united withdrawal from
the UuniOn, either when an overt act is
committed, or when the indications are prac-
tlcaily suggestive that the policy of the Adj |
mlnlstratlon Is being directed to the cOnsum- |
nation of such an outrage
We believe such an united purpose wisely |
determined on, would have the effect of saw |
ing the Union. and of securing to us such a |
recognition and undisputed enjoyment of our i
rights under the Constitution as would en-
able US to continue in the Govern ment, and |
aid in carrying it to the acme of prosperity
which must await it in such event |
Ii, however, the wisdom of Mississippi or
any other Southern State should suggest a |
withdrawal from the Federal Union in the
event of Mr. Lincoln's election, and the
power of the prostituted Federal Govern
Awakes," or any other minions of its corrupt
dynasty, should attempt to cross the North
ern line OF the Southern States to cOerce her
or them, we would counsel that they be .sweI-
coined with bloody hands to hospitable
graves"
Ii the dire day should ever arise when the
eXIgeRcies OF the times bring about such IA
Crisis, which God in his mercy avert we will
tell the crlngers in the South who avow the
damnable purpose of aiding the Abolition
lists TO whip their own brethren of the slave
holding States,
wo to them. better they had meier been bonn.
Than not to draw their swords before they blow their
horn.
The last interrogatory of the Appeal we re-
gard as an uDjustifiable effort TO drag the
private affairs of the senior editor of this pa
per into this discussion, aud we will not dig
nifty it with reply.
We HOie lLdJ MT. Lincoln VIII not De |
elected. We cannot cherish the thought that |
Providence will permit so perfect Govern
ment as ours to be precipitated into the Ca
lamty upon the brink of which it is now
trembling.
We did not conceive the propriety of the
APpeGPs questions, but as they have asked
them and we have answered, and as it is the
organ of one of the factions which is now d.
vlding the SOuth-which division. will have
done more to insure Republican success if
that party should succeed, than anything
Else. we request an answer from il to the toll
lowing questions:
Will the elecliOn of Abraham Lincoln the
author OF the irrepreSsble conflict, Justify
The secession of "A Southern State?
1T, in the event of the election of Abraham
Lincoln, Mississippi, Arkansas, or any other
Southern State secedes from the Union. will
the appeal aid the Federal Government in
;oercing herr"
In this the AUalancRe comes as near favor
ng unconditional dsunion in the event of
Lincoln's election any OF our Tennessee
Breckenridge organs can be induced to do. +.
pending the elecIio.. We place it before /
'ur readers to show what may expected l
n the event of Republican success. a