Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-11-19

1
| A e. Wharton, f.lrl-J Dagas, E.s-g e .ss
| Il T Henderson, Frank Offutt,
\ II Smith, ABB Olivier,
| p 5 Th9rp. --s7.- 2. George Mcdowell,
Henry ] Beebe, George Grief,
Newton Richards. H w WhitlOck, 2
Hilliard, Summers L Co.
Is ga d q % - --s- 49,
REPLY. q.5.-r,s....
Gsntien,en- Yonr request to address the
| citizens of New Orleans '.on the present con-
| diton of the affairs of our country" has
| just been placed in my hands. Az Invitation
so numeToasly signed by the most eminent
| business men of this great commercial city
| implies a compliment which | duly appreci-
ate, and atn Exceedingly reluctant to de-
| cline.sz7ar-- -T-sE
These are not the times for patriotic men
to affect Indifference, or 10 degenerate into
despondeBcy, or to,rush aInadiy into violent
and extreme measuEes- Just in proportion
as our common country is eBvirOned with
peril. it becomes the imperative duty of eve
ny patriot in the land 10 increase his efforts
and exert Ibis utmost powers and energiss to
rescue the r Gpnltic from the disasters which
threaten lis integrity.
No man in Amerfca regrets The election of
Mr.. Lincoln more than do; none made more
Strenuous exertiOns to- defeat MIN; nonesdiffsr
with him more radically aud irreconcilably
upon all the great issues involved in the CON
test. No man Twin is prepared TO resist by
ali the legitimate means sanctioned by the
constitution and laws of our country, the
aggressive policy which be and his party are
understood TO, repre- sent Bnt when | say
This, I am bound, as a good citizen and law
abiding man, to declare my conscientious
conviction that the mere election of any man
to the Presidency by the American people,
in a. eordanee with the constitution and laws.
does not of itself furnish any just cause or
reasonable ground for diSsolvng the Federal
Union.
Il is unt prateatied, so far as 1 am in formed,
that any provision of the Constitution has
been violated in the receHt election. No act
has been done which impairs or destroys the
constitutional rights of any State or citizen.
Noihing has yet occurred to release any citi-
zen from his oath, of fidelity to the Constitu-
/ ton Of the UniIed States, which is the su-
preme a10 of every State and every citizen
Bat while it is conceded That no act has yet
been done which impairs the rights or endau-
gers the peace and safety of any portion of
oar country. it is unprecedented that the election
of Mr.. Liucaln carries with it the assurance
bat the policy and principles of the party
by which he was elected will prevail, aud be
carried into practical effect IN every depart
meat of tie Federal Government, and there
by sc,A tBdaAger The peace and safety of the
>iaveholdlng States. Is this apprehension
well fUuGd d. d., the results of the recent
election justify this apprehension? The Pre-
sident can do nothing except what the law
authorizes. His duty is to see the laws faith
fully executed. Ii be- fails to perform this.
duty be will soon fiud himself a prisoner be-
lore he high court of impeachment. Fortu-
ualely, that tribunal is so constituted as to
command The confidence of The people of the
entire South. as well as of the conservative
men OF the North. We have this security
that the eristigg laws will be faithfully exc
cuted. | have yet to learn that the people
of the South complain of the acts of Con-
greSs nO1O on the statute book, upon the sub
ject OF slavery as applicable to the States or
the Territories, or to the District OF Column
bia. These laws were enacted. mainly, if not
entirely, 10y the joint action of the cOnserva-
tive members of the North and South in OPP
position to the AbOlitiOnists and Free Sellers,
and have been acquiesced in by the Southern
people as well as 10y their Senators and Rep
resentatives, under the present and preceding
administrations of the Federal Government.
Consequently, it is fair TO presume that the
South 50 far from demanding the repeal of
the existing laws upon the subject of 81 very
as essential to her safety and equality in the
Union, will insist upon their being retained
upon the statute book, and faithfully execu-
ted. Nor are we permitted TO infer that the
iation by Congress on this subject tor the
reason that the Southern Senators and Rep
resenta ives have not introduced and a,lyo-
Gated any changes in the existing legislation
upon the slavery question under the present
administration, aud that of Mr.. Pierce, when
the, Adolf uonists aad Freesoiiers were In the !
minority in both Houses, of Congress -6ltaA
Assuming, therefore, that the Southern
people, and their Senators and represent a.
lives deem their rights and INSTITUTIONS
entirely sale under the constitution and laws
as they now stand and only desire to be let
alone, without any interference by Congress
with their domestic concerns the question
arises whether Mr., Lincoln and his party
will have the power, even if they have the,
disposition, to disturb or impair the rights
and Institutions of the South, either in the
States or the Territories, or in the District of
Columbia? Thy Certainly Cannot do it
under the existing laws, VIII they have |
the power to repett or those laws. or to en-
act others 1t is well known that they will
be in a minority in both Houses of Congress,
with the Supreme Court against them. In
the Northern States there have been elected
alreadylai sufficient number OF Democratic
members OF Congress, bold and true national
men. pledged 10 the Cincinnati platform and
the doctrine of noe-interv-ntion by Congress
syith the question Of Slavery in the States
aud Terri Dries, and the District of Column,
bia, who, added 10 the Southern representa-
lives, will give at least twenty majority
'againstsNr. Elicoln and his iparfy,s on All i
these questions. In the Senate there is also
a decided and reliable majority. Hence no
bill can pass either house of Congress. impair
lng or disturbing tile fights or Institutions of
.ihe Southern people, ia any mihner what
ever. UNLESS a portion Of the Southern Senators
ard hepreseatatipes' absent themselves, so 10
giue an Abolition myO,ay IN consequence of their
a6seqce ssveS4E ts.asfs't --''''-i snNF'ei
! In a minority in both houses OF Congress.
with the Supreme Court To expoundithe laws
aud restrain all Illegal and unconstitutional,
acts. tie President will be utterly powerless
tor evil if he should have the disposition to
do wrong. Even IN the distribution of his
patronage. he would be dependent upon the
Senate Ior The confirmation of his, nomi
nets 10 office 30 tBat he cannot appoint a
bad man TO ofiic- without The consent OF
those in whom the South confides. A parti-
III President. thus tied hand and foot, pow
rrE.Ss for good OF evil, Eithunt Ihes scosisent
aud support of his political opponents.
should be the Object Of pity and cominissera
lion rather than OF fear and apprehension, \
by a brave and ciIivalr5us people. What
good or harm can he do to any body, ex-
cept 20 humble the pride and wound the
Substitutes of aiIarge portion of the Arneri-
can people by occupying he chair once I'LL
cd 10y Wasbil y on, Jefers6n, Madison aud
J ackson? Dues this fact furnish sufficient
Gauss. Tor destroying the beet governments of
~tiic.i the history of the world gives ex-
ample. Foisr years will soon pass away when
the ballot box will furnlsh q peaceful, legal,
and .,astitu tiouaI remedy for all the evils !