Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-21
Union Meetings.

So a.
Anusion has been made also to the Union meet
ings held or be held, in the great cities of the
North. Sir, would abate one jot or title from
the true value, least of ALL from the patriotism of
these assembages. When public meetings run along
with public sentiment they are powerful 70 mould
and to give it efficiency; but when they do not beat
responsive to the popular heart they ONO value.
No one single page of election returns is worth
more, an index of real public sentiment, than al!
thu Union resolves which shall be passed between
this and the 4th of March, 1861. Let no man be de-
ceyed. If the distinguished gentleman from Ten
nessee (Mr. Nelson) be sincere and know that he
s-in believing that the great of the people of
the free States opposed to the agitation of the
slavery question in any form, and ready strike
hands with any party which will put it down for
ever; if he really thinks that but very small part
of the North sympathize with John Brown, or yield
assent cordial and working assent-tO the doc
trines Of William H. Seward the "rrepressible con-
ict" included full 1t is of insurrection, treason
and murder; if he believes that, without the strong
arm of the Federal Government powerfully and in
good faith stretched forth fugitive slaves could be
re-captured in half the free States Of this Union
under any law Of Congress, can only say that he
has the mild virtue of an honest heart-most mar
VelOVs Creduty Sir. ! entertain for that gentleman
the very highest respect, but he must allow me to
say that aside from that portion of his remarks the
other day, winch breathed so much of earnest sin
cere, and eloquent eulOgy upon the Union-one such
speech. binding the eyes of the people of the free
does more thus TO keep alive the flames of civil dis
cord between the South and the North and West,
than hundred speeches. vehement and imprisoned
though they may be, OF the gentleman from South
Carolina. (Mr. keitt) Sir. when a member of tnis
House, Of fine personal appearance, of sonorous
voice, Of classic education, and approved rhetorical
excellence, tells US with a magnifcence Of RHYTHM
which regurgtates through these aisles peals along
these galleries. pierces the ceiling, and loses itself
amid the columns and scAffOlding of the unfinished
dome of the Capitol that he will shatter this Re
public from turret to foundation stone," we are
apt to understand that he is executing grand rhe
tOriCal figure and that he is not half much in
nest he would have US imagine. But when a
gentleman, mature in years, with cold logic, a
calm demeanOr. but sincere heart and earnest pur
pose, tells Us in the midst of invasion and murder
the legitimate and inevitable fruits of the 'irrepres
sible conflict which has been proclaimed against
his own secuon-that be Is not alarmed and believes
that no mischief is intended. we only understand
that he invites aggression Sir, l this moment
reminded by the appearance of The gentleman before
me, OR. Brggs that l need no better illustration
of the melancholy change in public sentiment at the
North within the past few years Here he sits on
the only national side Of the Chamber sole exempla"
of the lost politics. of the wing party, faithful
among the fat'ess only he sole representative of
the flag of country solitary and alone, plHibs
luuuR. Laughter Sir, does not all this mean
something!
Notwithstanding the opinions thus eandidly ex-
meetings held in Philadelphia, Trenton and New
York had induced US to hope that possibly there
still remained a sufficient regard for constitutional
obligation in the hearts of the Black Republican
party. to permit to enjoy the rights guaranteed
to US. We regret to say that the sentiments OK
pressed by the leading organs Of Mr.. LNCoIN'S
party forces Us to believe that those meetings
"do not run along with prOpular sentiment that
they do not beat responsive to the popular heart"
Hence they can be but Of little value. The Wash
ingtOn correspondents Of all, or nearly ALL of the
Black Republican papers, have been writing home,
warning the party against d,e degrading Influences
of so-called Union meetings We know not wheth-
CT this has been done by the inshgation of the
Black Republican members, but such inference is
probable The correspondent of the Cincinnati
Commercial a few days since said
While | would not intimate any opinions upon my
felow-Citizens, am Yet constrained to appeal 10
them to be cautious Of the degrading influences Of
so-Callod Union meetings. There is danger that pop
ular assembages for worthy purposes, may be ms
led BY artful demagogues timd and cowaIdly
trimmers, into diSgraceful admissions through the
nsIdous and deceitful instrumentalities Of caucus
resolutions Sush degrading and humiliating eXhi-
billions Of Northern poltroonery as were displayed
at Philadelphia the other day. laughed 10
by the South. Every honest western man at Wash
ington would blush with neXpTessibe shame. should
the Queen City Of the West cl0the herself in sack
cloth and sprinkle her head in ashes to palliate the
insoleW Ewrath of disunionists. The Philadelphia
humiliation meeting is here a bye-word and insult
ing jest 10 the North. 1t Is received by the South
proof that the North is craven and will submit,
and it urges them to more violent measures to in
sure dissolution. May Cincinnati be spared from
such immortal infamy.
Thereupon the Commercial deyotes a lengthy arti-
demonstrations made in the name of the Union,
spoken of in c0ntemptuous and scornful terms, and
with sneers." The examples of the Union meetings
in Philadelphia, it thinks, should furnish solemn
and sufieent warning against attitude of humil-
iation before the SecessioniSts.' The Commercial
does rot leave its readers to guess what the
amaple set by Philadelphia against which its warn
ing is directed It publishes the following resolu
tons italicsed as We givet TO call attention to its
obnoxious parts
RESOLVED. That rs to the question of the recogui-
ton of slaves property, and as 70 the question OF
the rights Of slave owners in the Ierrtorles OF the
United States 1e people If Philadelphia submit them
SeIreS obeIieni and cheeTUy to e decisions Of 5be
Sprsne Court OF he United SAFES 1obetber pc'r made
or hereafter 10 BE- made and they pledge themselves tatt
fU 10 ObSeiUs The Constitution IN these respects, as ne
same has been or may be ePoadedby that august BODY
Thus according to the Commercial declaration
Of submission to the decisions Of the Supreme Court
Of the United Stses as to the institution of slavery
is assuming an attitude of humiliation before the
seccssiouists." GsEELY deyotes whole columns Of
the Tj5lue to ridiculirg the New York meeting
The New York Times thus speaks Of the participa-
tors in that meeting which appointed Mr.. Fillmore,
Judge Bronson and Mr.. Lathers to visit the South
ern States
Possibly the South may put faith in the profcssod
ability OF these gentlemen TO do what they propose
They may be regarded the representatives Of
Northern sentiment-in face of the recent yote-in
face or the tone OF Congressional speeches and Of
the language of the Republican Press. But they can
scarcely deceive themselves to the same extent
Teev must know that they speak the sentiments of
New York City only, and that they viii find very
little sympathy or support beyond ITS limits. And
they can scarcely fail to see also that the effect of
such q renewed declaration Of war against the Re
publican Party Just as il is coming into power, will
disgust it utterly with the very thought Of compro-
mise and 90 far to convince the great body OF the
people that the whole Disuuion movement IS only a
new phase of the contest for the possession OF Office
The v Y. Erming Post thus alludes to the same
meeting
An asscmbage Of highly respectable but not
overwisc gentlemen was held in Pine street on Sat
urdav. on the call of a person who had already an
nounced his reasonable Intentions 70 take into con-
sidcration the ate of the Union and the degree of
humiliation 10 which the North should submit in
der to concihaJe the Southern disuuioniSts Com
posed exclusively Of persons untrlendly to the Re
publican party. sud many of them defeated candi-
dates for office, its proceedings were harmonious
but futile. A series of resolutions passed
proposing TO reverse the decision Just made at the
polls and iustfying the disordery attitude Of the
southern leaders who menace rupture of the con
fsderaCy. At the same time committee was APP
pointcd to proceed 10 the South, in order to remon-
str.ate against hastv and nConsdcrate movements
in A course which, it was fully admitted, was not
without good grounds.
We might continue TO give whole columns Of cx-
tracts from correspondents and editorials from lead
ing Black Republican journals, showing that these
public meetings not only do not receive the sympa-
thy Of the Lincoln party, but on the contrary are
encountering its opposition.
The tobacco barn of Mr.. $ Cole of-CfbsOn coun-
ty, was consumed by fire on the night of the 18th
inst., together with number Of out-houses. Mr..
CoLE's loss is estimated at $4,000.