Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-15
Important Proceedings of the south.
ern Caucus 1a Warrington.

- ns
W&EHIsGToS. Dec. 9, 1861
The great Importance of the caucus of
Southern Senators has induced me to follow
1t up. Its action settles the question so far
as the South is concerned. Il was attended
by all the Southern Senator'S in the city ex-
cepting Iyerson. He was invited. but refused
to attend. Breckinridge was also pres ent
Its deliberations were, grave and dignifed,
and the debates exceedingly able and inter-
estlng, but no programme of Congressional
action was agreed upon, or indeed seriously
urged. aanf
Senators from States where the Lecisla-
lures have been called, or conventions order
ed to consider the present position of federal
affairs, held that the subject had been taken
out of their hands, and-were quite unwilling
to Commit themselves to any course of action
in Congress. They said no earthly power
could arrest the tide of dissolution, and that
the ouly question TO be considered is one of
n construction. With them the proposition
of Senator Powell. to raise select commit
tee, met with no favor. It is even doubtful
if any of them would consent to serve ON
such committee. roHF-ED& q -fet
The right of secession seemed to be almost
unanimously conceded in the caucus, and
the doctrine of coercion as generally repudi-
ated. Indeed. it is not certain that any Sem
ator, except Crittenden, dissented from these
views, and even he did not think coercion
wise or practicable. 1t was in this regard
that the action of South Carolina was consid-
cred so potential She was determined to
go out. and when out the other fourteen
slaveholding States were committed to main
tain her. Whether her action was wise or
unwise, they held it to be right, and they
would not stand by and see war waged on
her for the exercise of that right, though an
impolitic step for herself. Thus, it was held,
if South Carolina goes out she must be treat
ed as rightfully out ofthe Union, and permit
ted to remain out, else war between the slave
holding and the nOn-slaveholding States must
follow. But South Carolina need not go out
alone. One of the most conservative and
intelligent members of the caucus stated to-
day that the Developments had convinced
him that disruption to the extent OF i've, II
not seven States, before the 18th of January,
was Inevitable, and that nothing that can be
done in Congress will arrest the disasaster.
The great effort now among the Southern
men is to get together and to induce all the
States TO act together, in order that they may
be able to command such new guarantees
for their rights as are necessary in case of re-
construction, or to be able to take care of
themselves if it be determined that the free
and slave States must separate forever.
This new and important and formal pro-
gramme has been presented for the consider
alton of the Southern Senators, and was
talked over in their caucus. 1t emanates
from Lamar, the able representative from
Mississippi. The first object is to get the cot
ton States to postpone final action so as to
give time to the other Southern States to CO.
operate with them. The plan is to have all
the Southern States in separate conventions
at the same time, and to adopt the present
government of the United States at first.
without any alterations; to provide for the
execution of all laws and treaties, and for
the general and peaceable operation of all the
machinery of the present government, even
after several States had solemnly withdrawn
FROM the Union, and invite all the other
States to join them. with the hope that New
England will stay out.
The first feature in the programme is to
have all the Southern States in separate con-
vention at the same time. and have such per-
feet understanding that they should on the
same day adopt the same ordinaces Uerbatim
ct kteratim. EEtt
Second, that such ordinances, whilst sever
ing 10 solemn way the bonds which unite
Ihe said States to the United States of North
America, shall provide that the constitution
and laws of the United States shall remain
in full force and effect amongst the seeding
States, and that the present constitution shall
be their constitution and compact.
Third. that the laws and decisions of courts
HOW Vi IOTCe IN the hepQDllc OF
The United States of North America, under |
The authority of The government thereof, |
shall be adopted as a body of laws for the |
federal government of this, the United States |
Of the South. -
Fourth, that the people of these United |
States South do hereby bind themselves to |
observe and soundly and sacredly carry out |
he sIipulations of all treaties subsisting be- |
ween the United States of North America |
md foreign governments anterior to the date |
Of this ordinance, until such treaties are |
changed or altered, or are disregarded by such |
nation with this government.
Fifth, that the following persons are here |
Oy appointed electors for the State of -,
and are hereby authorized and empowered |
to cast the vote of this State, on such day /
as may be agreed upon for President and |
Vice President of the United States South; |
aud sneh persons as may receive the highest |
number of votes, according to the constitu- |
lion which has been ,re-adopted, shall be |
elected and inaugurated, and invested with |
the powers conferred by the same constitution |
upon the Executive, on the twentieth day at
ter the adoption of this ordinance.
Sixth, that the conventions are to provide |
for an immediate convention of Congress |
of the United States South, either appointed |
by themselves or authorizing the present rep
resentatiVes TO act, and that all officers, mail |
marshals and judges shall retain |
their offices until otherwise Ordered.-C5r. |
az 7. Herald.
Enforcement of the Laws