Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-13
Letter from Hon. A, o. P. Nlehorsop.

fore me.
l. By the 4th of March, it viii be fact OF
an ACCOMPLISHED event that the present Federal |
Union will be dissolved The States of South Caro-
lima. Florida, Georgia Alabama and Mississippi will
certainly have seeded before that time Two or
three others will probably have taken the same po-
sition.
2 These States have determined to act without
waiting for the cooperation of the other Southern
States Thay believe it to be essential to hesuccess
of the experiment they are making, that there
should be no delay or hestancy in their movements
Whilst they would prefer to be accompanied in their
exodus from the Union by all the Southern States,
they apprehend that delay might result in embar-
RAISING them in the accomplishment of their fixed
purpose to secede. Hence they want no Southern
Convention or consultation to agree upon ultima
t,lm to be demanded of the Northern States If the
Northern States would come forward and volunteer
satisfactory guarantees, they would probably be
willing to pause and await the result-but see
ing no such disposition manifested by the North
ern States they disapprove of any movement
originating in the South which looks to pro-
posals for additional guarantees. With these
views. the Southern States now engaged in the
secession movement disinclined to respond to
the Presidents recommendations as TO preparing
amendments to the Constitution. Whatever can be
done hereafter in the way of obtaining satisfactory
guarantees they believe can be better accomplished
after their secession shall have been consummated
than before Their purpose is therefore fixed to go for
ward in their movement without regard to the wish
es or action of the other Southern States Hence
set it down that by the 4th of March, 1861 the Fed
baan lvpd nv tho
sons. of at least five, and probably more of the
cotton States.
3. On the 4th of March, 1861, when the new Ad-
ministration is installed, the majority of the Senate
will belong to the party which elected Mr.. LINCOLN
On the LIST Monday in December, 1861. when the
next Congress meets, the Republican party, will in
all probability have majority in both Houses Of
Congress. This result will have been produced by
the secessions of the cotton States.
In view of these facts, the action Of the middle
and border Southern States, between this time and
| the LIST of December, 1861, becomes momentOus
subject for consideration. If hostile collisions
between the Federal Government and the seeding
States can be avoided it will perhaps be fortunate
that the cotton States have declined to wait for the
cooperation of the other States The cotton States,
in that event, will have formed their new govern
ment and its structure and character will be open
| to the examination and approval or dsapproval
of the other States. By that time also the middle and
border States will have ascertained satisfactorily
whether the Northern States will agree to such
additional guarantees as will be satisfactory to the
South. With such knowledge both as to the charac-
ter of the new cotton State government and as to the
disposition of the Northern States to agree to salts
factory guarantees. the middle and border Southern
States will be prepared to decide, whether they
will seek admission into the cotton State govern
ment remain connected with the Northern States or
stand together under distinct middle Government
Looking at these events it becomes matter Of
vital consequence, that hostile collisions between
the seeding States and the Federal Government
should be avoided Il cannot be doubted that such
collision would at once involve the whole South,
in the controversy and would place any future recon
struction of the government at an unreasonable dis
lance From my observations as the apprehensiOns
felt on this subject on all sides cannot but cling to
the hopathat hostility will be avoided At the same
time af bouxd to see that this hope is founded on
too slender basis to generate any strong confidence
in the continuance of peace for the next twelve
months.
1t was with the hope that The separation might be
peaceful that have been soiictous that the South
ern States shouldall cooperate in demanding an u
nlatl7n Of the Notwithstanding that if such uti-
naqtgu was rejected, the entire South would unite
| in separating from the North. The moral power OF
such united action l have confidently believed
| would secure a peaceful separation, whatever
might afterwards be the results But all hope Of
united Southern action having been disappointed
| the next best thing is to bear and fOrbear much,
in order to avoid hostilites between the seeding
| States and the Federal Government. Towards ac-
complishing such a result the middle and border
States will have 1t in their power as long as they
continue IN the Union, to exert much influence
have every reason to believe that they Will
exert all the power they have. so long as
! they remain in the Union TO keep peace be
| tween the Cotton States and the Federal Gov
| ernment I am equally confident that so long
| as the border and middle States continue IN the
| Union they will labor to secure from the Northern
States such guarantees for the future as will be en-
rev satisfactory. 1t is in both points of view thai
| have made the remark that it may turn out to bC
fortunate that the cotton States have declined to seel
the corporation of the middle and Southern States
in their secession movements. 1t is possible tha
through the influence of the middle and border
Southern States peace may be maintained, and sucl
guarantees be secured as will enable us once more
to reconstruct our Federal Union on an enduring
basis. 1t is proper. however, that should say tha
whilst there are some favorable indications of a re
dictionary spirit in some Of the Northern States,
can discover nothing in tie temper and tone Of th
men who lead public sentiment, promising tavora
BILE response to any demand we may make for add
tlonal guarantees Perhaps however. it would not b
reasonable to expect such indications after
their triumph. and whilst their chief thoughts ar
about the enjoyment of the spois of their victory
By making the demand for guarantees we shall
be able to bring them to sober realization Of thu
consequences of their sectional crusade upon th'
South. and when our demand shall be solemnly re
jectcd they will be placed so clearly IN the wrong
that perfect unanimity in the action of the middle
and border Southern States may be reasonably
counted on.
What that action will be assume to be certain
separation from all further connection with thu
Northern States But what should follow this tina
dissolution of our connection with the North vii
belong so entirely to the sovereign will of the people
of Tennessee, in connection with all the light tia
shall then be shed upon the subject. that should
feel it out of place for me now even TO indulge II
suggestions take for granted that our State doe:
not propose to join the cotton States in the effort tC
consummatc her secession al the same time that they
shall have consummated theirs. If am not mistaken
in the sentiment of Tennessee our people require al
honest effort to be made to save the Union by de
manding additional guarantees and that it is only
when this effort shall have failed that they propose
to resort to secession. If l am right in this under
standing Of the sentiment of Tennessee see no ne
cessity for any hasty or inconsiderate action. Lee
Us move in the pcrlous crisis with frmness and
discrimination, but not with hot haste. The respOn
sibity upon the middle border States is greater
on none greater than on Tennessee. Ii by our
o prudence and fruncss We can be instrumental II
preserving the Union. in so maintaining peaceful
relations, that future reconstruction of a govern
ment embracing the whole or the largest pcrticn Of
the present Confederacy will be practicable we will
S have been fully compensated for any sacrifice o.
feeling We may now make IN resisting the impulse t,
/ follow hastily the example Of our more Southern
II sisters. Very respectfully,
c \. o. P. NICHOLSON.