Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-23
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 90, 1850.
Presidential Election on
Tuesday, the sixth day of
November.
The Contest Draws Ioa close.


The greatest and most important peaceful contest
y which the people of the United States were ever
engaged will draw to a close in two weeks from
this day. The signs are significant that it may be
the last appeal 10 the ballot box that may ever be
lEsSde by the united people Of these States. The
Oldest mariners begin to tremble for the safety of
the staunch old ship of State, which has carried its
precious freight through many storms and perils.
We have never been, nor are we now, alarmists
But there are indications in the political ele-
ments which stagger the faith and shake the judg
ment Of those who have the stoutcst confidence in
the durability Of our institutions. There are those
who feel that the South is seriously menaced
with a sectional domination that issalicn and
hostile to her independence, selfrespect and
prosperity. Her sons should be thoroughly
awake to the dangers that surround Them
They have been instructed by our wisest and most
patriotic men to the designs the increasing pow
er and the actual aggressions of the party in the
North which has gathered its present formidable
aspect from the simple sentiment of hatred to our
Southern institutions. They have read the infa-
nous declarations OF Senator's and Representatives
in Congress as to their sentiments and purposes.
They have seen State after State nuify the Fugitive
I
masters. They have witnessed the raid Of JOIN
Brown, with armed emissarics, into the very
midst Of a slave State and have seen the murder of
unarmed men. They have seen the houses Of our
citizens in Texas burned, their cattle poisoned and
their hearthstoncs threatened. They have been
warned by HELPERS Impending Crisis endorsed
by siXty-fivc Northern members of Congress. of
the undying hatred Of their foes and of their ma
lignant and infamous purposes. All who are IA
miar with Northern sentiment feel and know that
we should not now be surrounded by the dangers
that environ if we had presented united front
ndspOken with but one voice UnhappiIy we are d.
Vided into three parties at this trying emergency.
Each party adheres with tenacy to its chief We can
therefore, only address ourselves to the individuals
of these separate parties outside of our own organ
izatlon, as SOutherners and patriots We can APP
peal to them men identified in interest in desti-
ny and in association with the Southern States, to
stssd by the only organization that has squarcly
met the issues rendered by the enemy the only
gsnization that reasonably cling to the hope of
defeating the Black Republicans In the event of
the election Of LINCOLN, the Had Of our woes will
have begun the strongest pillar Of our Union will
have been Frustrated the pillar of a common bro
be too late to stay the flowing tide However
much we might deprecate a dissolution of the
Union. we can but feel that 1t Is inevitable upon
the election Of LINCOLN. In Alabama and South
Carolina particularly, the most prominent men have
irrespective Of party declared their opinion that his
election would be sufficient for a dissolution We
have alluded to the happy effect which, in the open
ing Of the canvass united South would have had
upon our prospects in the North.
We coniure our countrymen, then. to act while
they may, through the peaceful machinery Of the
bsllutbox an ward off these thckthronging perils
from the Southern communities. We ask them to
pause and reflect upon the solemn effect OF the votes
they are TO cast before they throw them away, or
use them to render the South weaker by division.
4 united South now should be the rallying cry Of
all true Southerncrs. The man who now uses his
influence to divide and distract us will have fear
full and uncnviabc responsibility TO bear hereafter
A united South can draw to its aid power enough
among the conservative middle States of the North
to defeat LINCOLN and save the Union. united
South can give us respect in the eyes Of our enc
mics, and may save the Union even if LINCOLN be
elected. by the mutual confidence. sympathy and
faith it will inspire for our future fate and cxer-
ts Vaccinations OF the Aboltiouists even with the
Federal Government in their possession A united
South will command the respect and moral alliance
OF the civilized world. \ united South NAV in
d5ce more southern sister States To still longer
risk their safety in Union with us when they have
the highest evidence of our sympathy in the fuI
maintenance of rights common to them and to us.
Why cannot the South thus unite when her highest
Lssailed on all sides by united and malignant enc
mics Why should her own sons betray or divide
her in this her hour of need and thus perhaps give
up the spoler thc lovcest land beneath the sun
Shall it be said that Tennessee the chiyarous vol
untecr State broke the solid column. VIII Tenncs-
lend their aid in tins darset period of his
tory 10 bligh the dearest hopes fAmcrcan patriots
the preservation ofte constitutional rights Of their
section-the equality Of the States and rs a conse-
quence, the safety of the Union. VIII the land Of
JACKSON and Of PcIK-the land whose volunteers
saved her neighbor. Alabama from Indian massacre,
who rescued 1.-The booty and beauty" Of New
Orleans from the pollutons Of the invader who re
neyyed her renown on the fields Of Mexico prove
the only rccreant in the contest that is about to
no decided Ward of tins bcmIsh from your cs
cutcheon ye men OF Tennessee.
The widest enthusiast Of the BELL DouGLAs
party does not believe a united South upon his
fayorite is within the range Of probabilities. No
sane man can doubt that the change Of Il compare
lively few votes in each OF the two or three doubt
ful Southern States viii give the entire Southern
vote to BEECKNRIDGE and LANE. Go then to the polls
on the 9Th of November and deposit your votes for
the glorious leader who has uttered the sentiment,
the Constitution and the Equality Of the States;
these are the symbols Of everlasting union; let
these be the raying cry OF the people,; and for his
association theItcket who saidFn'not less jusIand