Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-11-29


to the work of death; and is not this warfare
Another reason assigned is: To promote
the general welfare" AS stated. are not the
rights of one section disregarded-not only
dsregarded but in great danger. Has it not
been deprived of equal rights and priv
ileges in the common Territories? Is this
assigned is To secure the blessings of
Liberty to ourselves and our posterity." The
blessings of liberty, are equal rights, and
equal privileges. and equal powers. If one
is deprived of his natural and Constitution
al rights. privileges, and powers, he is not
freeman. as proclaimed in our Declaration
of Independence aud asserted in our Consti-
tuition. The blessing Of liberty consists in
living in peace, security, and happiness with
out fear or harm. IL also gives protection
TO life and property. Is not this great
Confederacy divided into two great sectional
parties, perfectly antagOnisiie and at dag
gers points? Has one section equal rights,
privileges and powers with the other? Is it
not deprived of its natural and Constitution
al rights? Is it living in peace, security,
and happiness? Is it safe in life and proper
ty? Ii is not.
Now. sirs. yoa will see that have briefly
examined the reasons assigned for forming
the Confedcrated Constitution. At the time
of its adoption there is no doubt that the
reasons assigned for its creation were hon
hf.,Ilx OH aH nd
forth in that instrument. But do they now
exist? Are they not scattered to the winds?
have shown thai they are all gone; yes,
every one. This being SO. should the con-
federated government stand, when every rea-
son that brought ii into existence has failed!
Can it now be peaceably dissolved? And if
dissolved can it again be formed? And IL
not dissolved, can a State withdraw or
seccde from the Union? These are questions
Of vast import and great solemnity.-
But there is still question of graver mag
nitude and deeper pPrpieXity. 1t is this:
Every reason that brought the Union together
having failed is there no way to prevent 1t
from dissolution? | will answer first, that
the Confedcratcd Government should stand;
| secondly, that it can be dissolved; thirdly,
| that if dissolved, that it can again be formed;
| fourthly. that a State can withdraw or secede
| from the Union, and filthy, that there is
| way to prevent the Union from dissolution
The first Inquiry i, can it be peaceably dis
solved! Most assnrcdly. by the consent Of
the people of The several States it can he
a ha
of The people of all the States. a sufficient
number 10 reduce it beio" nine. will dissolve
the Union, bat as long as the people Of nine
States remain true to the COnfederated Con-
sIitution the Union will taud. As the PEG
pie were wise enough TO bring the COntede-
racy into existence, they most assurediy will
ne wise enough TO pat it out of existence
when it becomes bur hen-ome, and they have
no further need Tor it. The same spirit of
wisdom. prudence and foresight, that gave i;
being. is only necessary to carry II out of
existence. And If dissolved, the same wis
fu'med it can form it again, and it will DO it.
The American people are not madmcn, nor
are they fools. This brings me 10 the ques-
tiUu can a State Withdraw or secede from the
Union. That it can [ have no doubt. ANY
other d5ciFiae is tyranny and oppression.
and not compatible with the views of free
people. States can be let in or ont Of the
Union at the will of tie people. They made
the government and they can alter. change
or destroy it. Any other principle strikes at
I'll, -. auI ~
freemen. All power is in the people. II q
State of the Confederacy was conquered and
taken from Us by a foreign nation, the Gov
ernment has the power to ced' il away by
treaty. and yet this does not dissolve or de-
Stroy the Union. If airy foreign power de-
~ir,d to pa,s - any State of this Union. the
Federal Government. 10y the consent of that
State, in times of peace could cede away the
territory. aud in times of war. without being
conquered il necessary to Inc peace and
safely of he Union, could ccde away any
Stale of the Union, without the consent Of
that State. And when Territory has not
been formed into STATE, it can at ANY tim
be cedrd away bs the General Government
without the consent Of The people that may
live within it. Ii all this can b. done, why
can rot the General GOvernWcnt crde Il
Stale to itself? Not only can a State by the
consent Of the Federal Government with
draw. bat for unconstitutional acts the Fed
rral Government can drive State out of the
Union. should it become hurthensomc AID
troublesome To il. The Federal Government
however. being the judge. this is matter of
choice with tit can drive the State out. or
compel it to enforce the Federal laws. But
no Stale. can secede without the conse. of the
Federal Government. Nor can any State
enter into any confederation, or nullify the
Constitution or the acts of Congress.
As stated the Federal Government was |
established 10y tie people and 50 great is the
power al hepeapie bat ihe Constitution ex-
preSsly d,clAies that their powers and rights |
do no: stop with those ''cnumeI.. tcd in the |
Con, titutian." That nothing in the Cons;i-
tulfnm shall be Construed to deny or dispar-
age the r tain-d rights Of the people; for all |
powers were reserved to the people, except |
those that were delegated. This being so,
there is 4 power above and beyond the Con
aud that power is the people, Then
let the people act in this trying hour to the
Union. Let them act in county. State aud
National conventions. Let each and every
State ia the Uai"n meet in convention. Let
every State lhas desires To withdraw from
Inc Union. in mild and dignifed manner.
present its grievances to Congress. Let
Congress az 'piEt day for each and every
State in the Union to vote whether il Will re-
main in the Union or go out. If any
State wishes 10 withdraw, let her do 50 with
MA prayers and blessings npon hcr Let ali