Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-09-28
From the Montgomery (Aia. } Post, Sept. ISL
Letter from Mr.. Watts.
TUsKEeEE, Sept. 2lst. Is6l

-~caA-S1-ss OCPt- -1ct. iSeV.
DANIEL SAYRE, Esq.-Dear Sir Your favor,
asking me to state what raid in my speech
at this place last week, as to the election of
Mr.. Lincoln. was received this morning.
spoke without notes, and can only give
you the substance in short: said that in nv
Judgment the great question now presented to
the American people was, how can we best
prevent the election of the black republican
candidate? That this involved the question
of the longer continuance of the Union I'M
der the Constitution, That Alabama, through
her public men, and unanimously through
her Legislature, had determined that the cleo
ton of such candidate would be cause of a
dissolution of the Union; that other States
had made similar declarations. That thus
disunion was hanging like great funeral
pail over the destiny of the Republic. That
in expressing my views / did not undertake
to speak for anybody bat myself: that there
had been no general expression of opinion by
those associated with me in this canvass, and
that / could rot speak for them. That for
myself, would say. had been reared in the
school of State Rights. and had ever been a
State Rights man. That | had, and still, re-
cognized the right of secession. That the
Constitution OF the United States was adopt
ed by the sovereign people OF each State. act
ing through its chosen delegates. That each
State had separately and independently of
IL
right to withdraw from the federal compact
had never been surrendered, and th IT each
State must be the sole judge of the cause, and
its saffciency, OF its secession That each
State, IN its sovereign capacity, therefore,
had the right to act for itself as policy or ex-
pediency might dictate. But for light and
trivial causes, this right would never be ex-
eIcised.
further said that ia reference to the great
question on which the black republican par
ty had been organized. the Supreme Court
of the United States had decided that the ter
ritorics were the common property OF all the
States and that every citizen of each State
had the right to remove with his property of
every description into the territories and
whilst there be protected in the enjoyment OF
such property; that Congress had neither
power to abolish slavery nor 10 impair the
rights of the STAKEHOLDER in the territories
that the only power possessed by Congress
over the subject OF slavery in the territories,
was the power coupled with the duty
of protecting and securing the owner in the
enjoyment of his property; that the Terrific
rial legislature, being the mere creature of
Congress, had no other or greater power than
that conferred by Congress, and that Con-
gress could not confer greater power than
itself possessed.
/ said that the black republican party had
publicly aVowed war against this decision of
the Supreme Court, and had declared its fix
ed purpose to resist and 0verturn it: aud on
obtaining power through the form of the Con-
to change and reOrganiZe the Su-
preme Court, and thus paralyze the strong
arm of protection to the South.
/ said these principles and declarations OF
a fixed purpose were at war with our dearest
rights, with one of the coordinate depart
ments of the Government, and with the Con-
of the United States; that the black
republicans had thus placed themselves in
the attitude of traitors to the Constitution
and government of the United States; they
were re6eLs against the Constitution, were the
disturbeIs of the good order and peace of So
ciety, and were themselves the violaters OF,
and rebellers against the La,o of the lands
and that their success in the present contest.
with their avOwed principles and purposes,
would be direct attack on the institutions
of the South; rebellion against the Constitu
ton and the Union, and that the South would
be justified, in the eyes of all enlightened
men, in resisting to the extent of sundering |
every tie which binds Us together as one peo-
pie.
L stated that dissolution of the Union |
would be a great and terrible calamity, in
volving, i'll all human probability, all the |
turmoil and strife, horrors and bloOdshed of
a civil war, and a land drenched in fraternal |
blood. That every patriotic citizen. what |
ever might be his party prejudices or predi- |
lection, should exert his utmost power to |
avert so great and dire calamity.
l stated that did not desire disunion. and /
that no good ei.iHou could o'eosro 10, that is /
was our bouEden duty as patriots and chris |
tians to adopt the wisest means TIC preventlt. |
l said that we had grown from small to a |
great people; that our wealth and power, |
and glory as d nation, had been achieved un-
der The protecting agis of the Constitution,
and that we should stand by II. maintain and
preserve it, undefled and unbroken, to the
most distant posterlty.
That in tue present aspect of political al
fairs, the only safe plan of averting the dam
gers which surround US, was to unite, heart
aud hand, in the support of Bell and Ever
EFT; that they alone stood any chance of de-
Ieaiing Lincoln and his horde of black re-
publican cohorts. Aud after thoroughly
the records of Bell aud Everett.
and showing that the rights of the South
would be safe in their hands, appealed to
Ill of every party, TO rally, with one voice
% their support. That they could be elect
I'd, and thus the voice of great people would
rise from mountains and valleys, through
,ut our broad land, from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, from the Gulf to the Lakes, proclaim
ng that the Constitution shall be be main
aimed, that the Union shaU he preserved, aud
he laws shall be enforced.
The abo, C is the substance OF what said
IN the subject about which you inquired.
Very resDectfullY, YOUR friend,