Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-02-22
For the Chronicle.


ceive this would be useless, and propose TO take
broader view Of the subject. lis bazarding moth
ing with the close observers Of our history to say
that all tTonbes are traeeabe 70 the spos prn-
cpls Of the yaTons parties into which the country
has been divided Those who made the Conssitu-
tos did not anticipate what has since been termed
national parties. The plan for electng the Presi-
dent prescribed In the Constitution was in letter
aud spirit conformed to ne longer than the ustfous
name Of Washington held parties In check; SO soon
Eas he waa withdrawn from the contest, the people
were divided into two great parties both parties
using their utmost power to elect their CHIEF by a
popular vote only. This begot party discipline
Inconsistent with tho Constitution and the views of
those who mace that instrument. The Constitu-
ton clashed with party in the first election Of Mr..
jefferson; Immediately the Constitution was chang
ed The barriers TO party madness were stHcken
out, and the field left open to the metaphysical alb
straciions Of red Republication. Pariyjsn made
the change in the name Of the people and ADOPTED
the convention system; virtually giving the election
of President to the politicians Corruption fasens
its pangs upon thhe Government. The ballot box
is made vehicle Of robbery Il people are insen-
sihly demoraized until the voters Of each party
tolerate theft in its representatives if il can be shown
that their opponents are no less corrupt.
Thus the Government has been nearing its des-
truction. The greater the corruption, the greater
the expenses OF the Government, ana btce versa (;
the greater, the expenses the greater the induce
ments to corruption, Whe that is conversaut with
the history Of man, wonders that we are on the
of revolution and civil war? A dissolution Of this
great Union is now inevitable; faction and corrup-
ton has undermined the Constitution, and the
fabric must tumble The virtue of.our forefat- ers
has departed from the people, and, nothing but war
and suffering will reform them TO the principles they
have deserted Demagagues say that the slavery
To so
thing. This slavery excitement is but one of the
fruits of political corruption. Without it. we would
have soon had to meet the crisis that imperils our
happiness, and probably with less hope than we may
now indulge Abolitionism on its own merits could
never have trrumphed in this land The instincts
of the white man repel negro equality, and ever
will. But for parties making everything subservi-
ent in their struggle for the spols of Office it would
to-day be confined TO few fanatics-contemptib
in numbers and influence AS it is, Abolition has
broken ahe bonds of union; as the most powerful
child of corruption, it claims precedence, and au-
thory rule; if nee1 be, by the sword /; it is le-
gitimate offspring of our parties. Whatever party
happened to he in the minority in Northern State,
courted Abolitionism by acknowledging its pre-
misses nd bought its votes by adopting its tenents.
The old parties and churches, for corrupt motives,
nurtured Abotionism and justly became its victims.
But will it finally dissolve the Union / answer,
yes. II has done it. The two sections are more
hostile to-day than is usual between beligerats Can
compromise save it2 No The corruption that
fostered the trouble will prevent compromise. Any
proposition that will satisfy the Gulf States (all of
them) can never receive the approval of % States
the number required before the Constitution can
be changed. Then we had as well surrender all
hopes of changing the Constitute Nothing less
will satisfy any Southern State; we have good
reason to believe that Northern State will com.
ply with what the Gulf States require. Then the
Union is dissolved and the only question for us Is,
whether we submit to Lincoln and lend him our
swords to conquer the cotton States, or whether we
will unite our destinies with them.
The Republicans confidently believe that disun-
ion is the beginning of the end of negro slavery.
1t may be So 1t is surely so, if the South is dv-
died. lis needless to anticipate the awful butchery
that must transpire before that end can can come.
It is also sure that negro slavery cannot be main
tanned long if the present status of the question
remains, unless the spoils principles uf parties is
DESTROYED the whole North will soon be unit for
negro equality What must be done? Seven
Southern States have seeded, and have the sympa-
thy Of the others. 1t seems that more less must
follow. All history teaches that the North will not
peaceably permit the independence Of such rich
tributaries as are the Southern States They are
taxed to compensate the North for a severe climate
and sterile soil No man North will strike a lick
or stretch muscle without bonus from the Sonth
Of from 30 10 so per cent they will not surrender
this The South will no logger permit it. then war
is inevitable and the people should not be atterei
with peace Some teach up compromise, or border
State combination may stave II off a while, but q
permanent settlement will be at the end of war.
Not such war as Rome, Greece and Carthage used
to wage nor such as afflicted Europe in the dark
ages The imperious voice of Commerce, the Arts
and Sciences forbid il; yet we will have war Just
enough to convince each section that conquest is
impossible Just enough to carry the bitterness home
to each family. Then we win have re-organiza-
ton (if we are ever to have it based the prin-
ciples of our present Union. If the Union is main
tanned, it will be by strengthening the Government
in many particulars and at the same time arm each
substantial interest with the means Of selfprotec-
ton. Each section will have the right of checking
the other The sections will be made estates of the
government. They are now practically So without
| a check on the stronger. Such arrangement as
is suggested would be in accordance with the prin-
cples that governed in making the Constitution, in
1887. Then the issue was between the States; it
! is now between sections. Our forefathers settled
the matter in 's7 by compromise making the States
estates, in the Government equalizing their power
in the most important branch of the Government,
strengthening the whole with checks and balances
in imitation of the British Constitution. The expe-
rence of 5000 years has demonstrated the wisdom
of such governments Necessity forced Rome 70
adopt it; the same necessity existed it Germany,
England and America. The wants and suferingS
of man supplied the inability of the theorst. The
most prosperous people in every periodof the world;
history, have incorporated into their government
mutual checks of the dominant interests into which
the community happened to be divided. OuI
forefathers in the Constitution, compromised the
connict between the small and large States. Tha
conflict has ceased to exist or is absorbed by the
great sectional division. The first Union failed o.
its objects, and those who made it fastened to cor
reefs its defects and gave us the present Consttn
ton withoutsupposing it was perfect. 1t was mad
for 100000 Of people, confined TO sea coast
We have so prospered under it as to change the ba
sis on which it rests II is no longer suitable 70
80 OOo, 900; divided into two conflicting sections
and If we had not degenerated from the virtue o
our ancestors, we would long since have corrected
the evil 1t may be said that il is not yet too late
that the people aroused will set things right Ipra.
+ God il may be so, but can discover sign of re
turning virtne We have sown the wind and mus
reap the whirlwind.