Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-18
CoNMUA CATIONS.
The Great Political Crisis: Position of
Tennessee.

The Great Political Crisis: Position of
Tennessee.
The following thoughts are presented to the pub
lie over my own initials, though papers have fire.
quently been prepared by me for the UNION AND
AMERICAN which have appeared as regular editorial
matter. Ny reason for thus adopting a different
course from that previously acted upon is not any
conceited fancy that additional weight will be given
to my views by the of the writer; on the con-
trary very large majority of readers will be en-
tirely ignorant who it is that is addressing them
but desire that these suggestions may be consider
ed as thrown out by an individual who is alone re-
sponsible for them, and not as emanatng from the
party which has been so long and ably represented
by this papeT-not the offering of party Organza-
ton Of party feeling in any The very few
who will recognize the writer by his initials may
perhaps recognize in him at least some negative
qualifications desirable in who speaks on such
occasions the present-sucb previous seclusion
from the intoxicating influence Of active partizan-
ship and generally the habit Of reflective rather
than active cognizance of the course of political
events the many on the other hand to whom the
initials and their entire strangers will in
fer nothing but the absence of responsibility on the
part Of the regular editors Of the UNION.
fuous to state that the present is crisis different
in kind and character from any witch has arisen
S nee the Revolution which issued in the formation
o1 this confederation. l say il would seem super
flous but it is not So for there are even yet among
-Is men, not many but still sone who pooh pooh the
whole affair as flash in the pan, little high talk
on the part of few hre-eaters in Charleston which
will all come right if they are let alone, and tell us
i. A. -4sn
fewer they in this part Of the country, but yet
not entirely absent, who sigh for vigorous gov
eminent like that fJACksON to crush out the whole
thing with a round OF grape, who abuse the South
States for resisting their manifest destiny, the
gradual extinction of slavery within their borders
which is already the will of the majority and there
fore neither can ought TO be resisted. If we
supposed that any considerable portion of the peo
pie of Tennessee dsentments such either Of the
classes specified above this paper would not be
written, for the supposiuonit would be hope
less to attempt rousng the State any beneficial
action, and the other, entire inaction would be
the only course from which a favorable result |
could be anticipated.
BUTT is evident that the great body Of our peo |
pie agree with me, IN considering that awful |
emergency has arisen, in which, only the profoundest
wisdom and the purest patriotism hope to rescue
us from the wreck of all those national hopes which
have been grounded upon the presumed success and |
permanency of this republican confederation. We |
witness this conviction in the profound revolution in
political feeling, which instantaneously followed |
upon the announcement Of the result Of the Presi-
dental election and Of the transactions in South
Carolina and some other Southern States. We see
Of the most eager party contests that has ever
been witnessed, silenced and Frustrated a blow:
men have ceased to be Democrats or Opposition
men, BELL men, BRECKNRIDGE or DOUGLAS men and |
think and act and feel as fellow-citizens of cOun-
try which IS in imminent danger, and every man
asks his neighbor what is 10 be done, and is
ready with an answer. Business men find their bu-
sness at stand still and for once seem scarcely to
desire that it were otherwise, wishing to give their
whole minds to some possible solution of the fear
full political problem before them. The course of
public feeling has been the exact reverse of that
witnessed in all other Presidential elections there
has always been crisis but hitherto that crisis has
been set at rest when the final decision has been
made, men have acquiesced in the result fat
dccompi and gone about their ordinary occu-
pations as before, the tempestuous excitement of
the contest being succeeded by a dead
|
of the contest Just concluded It is
only after the close of the electoral struggle, that
the gigantic dimensions Of the peril upon which We
are drifting force themselves upon US we are like
the crew of ship sailing in a mist, which, when
the fog lifts for moment is found to be rapidly
rushing on au iceberg. One unparalleled circum-
stance is, that one comes forward with a sug-
geston TO what is to be done. fruitful as our
country is in politicians and their schemes in ord
nary times now look at another in silence G
and so far from venturng to counsel what should J
be done, scarcely venture even to inquire fearing
the incalcClable dangers which to beset every
mode Of action. Gen. PHLow's Recommendation Of |
general Convention of the Southern States for the
purpose of inducing the seeding States to pause
and try whether they can modify their position so
as to act in concert with the whole South, is |
an exception, and merits the most careful consider
alton and win form the basis Of much that have
to advance in this papers but there are some things
which Tennessee, as State has to DO think, which
viii not admit of the delay incidental to such a
transaction these win be considered further on;
present / propose the question, what is the mode
and spirit in which South Carolina and any other
States which may unite with her in action should
be approached by those who desire to modify
her action. And here, in justice to myself, let
me tate my frank conviction that this matter
sho Id be in other hands, that the subject should
be -appled with by men whose names would carry
the weight with them in which mine is entirely def
ciens there at least two men in Tennessee who,
ought by this time be heard from, and viii name
them One of them is the Governor of the State, 1
the others Mr.. JoHN BELL The Governor islthe man
upon whom alone so long theIegisature ism OF in
ssson it devoves to speak and act in behalfof thed
State the otherCentemen has been recently recognise
bv majority of the voters in the State the
most deserving their confidence as the eonservator
Of that Federal Union to which it is party, and a
zach ofthem has the distinguished confidence of one Of
he great parties in the State and both possess the
-espect and esteem of large number OF those even
who have been their political opponents. Had eth
p of them spoken; this writer would have been
gladly silent but all others remaining silent, have
come to the conclusion that course Of conduct is
10 dangerous that Of folding ourhsnds and blind
' trusting to the CHAPTER of accidents for something
o turn up which is to rescue US from our dangers
md that if no one else will speak, will, if it is
,nIv TO elicit the opinions OF some others. u
How then are we to approach South Carolina? In o
ybat shirt and what proposition should maker IN
mo thing is evident and that is that if we hope %
. no listened to we must approach her friends ol
threatened with the same dangers she is, as 10
asin for our own protection and safety the con &c
orto5 action we offer for hers. In one word, we al
ans. sneak as men having common cause with :"
or though differing to the mode OF defending it. =
nything like dictation she Is but little hkely to n
stem to, and trte dispositions on the value Of the
Mon however good in their way, may well be 81
Dared. The men who acting for her and think ..
~ for her have not taken their position without
onsidering all these things and have come to the
,DcIusion. do not say correctly OF not, that the
nion itself in the hands of the enemies Of the =
nuth may be made rather the instrument OF oP- a,
ression than the palladium Of the liberties and -
of its constituent States Still less should ~
nv thing like intimidation be attempted, this could