Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-12-21


States with all the rights and privileges of the 9TH
er States of the Union But can it be Supposed that
Mr.. Jefferson and the other great statesmen Of that
day, IL they interpreted the Constitution as the ad-
vocates of secession do, would have been 50 in
etfably stupid and blind to consequences as o have
assentcd to such stipulation Far wiser and bet
ter would il have been to have paid five times the
price, and TO have held the country as subject pro-
vince having first amended the Constitution as
TO authorize such holding. And should Louisi-
ana now secede from the Union and set up an in
dependent Government. In the exercise of the right
OF secession, supposing the right Of secession
TO exist, there be any doubt that the same COM
mercial and political necessity which led to its orig
inal acquisition would lead to its suhugaton by
the Government of the United States, or by the
States interested in the navigation of the Mississippi
and its tributaries?
After due consideration of the subject, with be-
coming Difference to the opinions of Others, am
forced to the conclusion that secession is but an
other name for organized resistance by State to
the laws and constituted authorities of the Union,
or, which is the same thing, for reUotut,on. The
theory appears to me to have been conceived and
progagated in a spirit Of disafccton to the Union,
and serve other purpose than to lead the un-
suspecting and credulous into the support Of the
scheme of disunion under the deusive expectation
that they would only be thereby exercising a right
reserved to them under the Constitution, and that
they would be in no danger Of incurring the penal
ties of treason of exposing themselves aud their
country to the calamitics of civil war.
In the pre- ceding pages of this le' ter have at
tempted to show that the friends of the Union in
the South should not despair of obtaining redress
from the North, of a existing grievances, and that
the prospect of being able to the greater ones
of which there may be some apprehensions In fu-
ture, are so encouraging, that it would be the ex-
remc Of rashness and folly to think of resorting to
of ,taA hNytl
tuition. What gives me the greater concern at
present is the painful conviction that the ement
in favor of secession in Mississippi and other States
of the South is led, for the most part by men of
distinguished ability and influence, with whom the
expcdiency of secession is a foregone conclusion
and a settled conviction-men who can be reached
by no argument or remonstrance-men who do not
want 10 be convinced of the iusuficiency of exist
ing gr revances to justify disruption of the Union
men whose maginations have been taken possess
sion Of and their judgments led captive by the
dazzling, but, as think, delusive vision of new,
great, and glorious Republican empire, stretching
TAR into the South. The scheme of disunion, as
have reason to believe has been long cherished by
someo these leaders, and they have only waited a
preteIt more plausible than any heretofore presen-
ted to attempt the accomplishment of it.
| What between the inhamatory appealsand highly
colored and exaggerated story of wrong and OPP
preston already endured and the still more intol-
erabe oppression to b. ticpated from the fanatic
spirit Of the North, the one hand and the glow
ing pictures and seductive representations of the
grandeur, power and prosperity of the new Repub-
| lic on the other hend it is not surprising that
body of highly gifted men, strongly excited and
carried along by their fancies, have been able
TO misead many thousands of peculiarly excitable
and impressable population against the dictates of
their sober judgments. And it is a sad reflection
that upon the speedy return of this class of South
ern citizens to wiser and more temperate counses
may depend the fate Of the Union. May m hope
be induged that little time for calm thought will
suffice for the change of what seems to be their
present purpose and determination-a little time
for reflection upon the nature and amount of evils
which are certain TO attend revolutionary move
ment and also upon other and more appalling con-
tngent evils which may and probably will arise be-
tween its beginning and consummation?
do not forget that am addressing through yon,
brave men who are ready to die in vindication of
their honor or in defence of what they believe to
DO their rights. do not appeal to their fears.
/ But whatever may be the final decision of the
people of Mississippi upon the gravest question ev-
er presented to their consideration and which must
deeply affect the relations existing between them
and the people of Tennessee, and of every other
State Of the South, cannot bring myself to the
conclusion, all the existing evidences to the contra
ry, that Mississippi will take upon herself the re-
sponsibty of doing act that would expose the
peace and security OF her sister States of the South
t. direct and imminent danger, and perhaps decide
their destnes for veal or woe forever without pre-
vous consultation with them and first exhausting
every pcaceable mode of redress for the grievances
of which she complains In a community of in
dependent States sovercigntes if any one of them
should pursue a course which would put in immi-
nent peril the peace and security of the other States
without first eXhausting every means of peaceable
redress for any grievances of which she might COM
plain they would he justified by the law of nations
in making common cause against her, and in pre-
venting her byforce If necessary from pursuing such
a course. Such being the responsibility attaching
to the action of one of a community of separate
and Independent States, how much greater woulC
be the responsibility incurred by one of the South
ern States of the Union in adopting the desperat,
= measure of breaking up the Union, and thereby
/ putting in jeopardy the highest and dearest inter
ess Of them ALL without first taking solemn counse
h together. These interests common to them all
a and the grievances complained Of are common Il
' all. Could the evil consequences certain to ensu
be confined to the State adopting the rash measur
of secession the other States might not feel cale(
: upon to protest against It, But that cannot be-
The consequences, and who can forsee their extent
G must be felt by all.
5 Viewing the subject in every light in which
IS can be presented, am constrained 10 say that b,
II no principle of public law, by code of morals
any other State be justified, under existing crcum
@ stances, in Withdrawing from the Union. | conf
l. IDENTITY believe that the happiest consequences wou
result from conference OF all the Southern State:
e as confidently believe that majority of the pee
l. Pile of the North this day prepared to agree
o any fair and reasonable adjustment which such
l. Conference of the Southern States would propose
d | purposely abstain from suggesting what, in m
If opinion should be the basis of such plan of adjust
+ lment.
e After what | have written on the preceding pa
ges of this letter. it is scarcely necessary to say thf
h in possible contingency would consent to ~ set
N araton of the States. But | would exhaust ever
constitutional for the redress OF grieyar
te ces before would think of dssolving the Union-
g. | am not willing that some States should be with
TO drawn from the Union-that one star should t
Is stricken from the bright cluster which now EN-
T. bazons the flag.
es | have long ioreseen-the probable occurrence Of
d crisis like the present. aud supnk from the poSsib
i,.,,o - A asI1rT "a ,,ar tha ia