Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-03-19
Letter from Hon. Il. a. II. Nelson.

! Letter from Hon. T. a. H. Nelson.
| The following letter from Hon. T. A r
| Nelson, will be per"sed, at this important
| iuncture, with more than ordinary interest
| The statements by Mr. NELSON are corrobora-
| ted by Mr.. MAYNARD, and go to show that
| The President ceHtemplates no hostility to-
| wards the Seeding States, and consequently
| had nothing of the kind in view when he de-
| livered his Inaugural.
| We regard the course adopted by the new
| Administration as a master stroke OF policy,
| and as working the ruin of this whole Seces-
| sion movement :-hn0IUlie Wig
JoHEsBoRo', 18th March, 1861.
| Rev. W. G.. BROwNLow
Dear Sir Il commenced a letter to you
on Saturday, the day of my return from
| Washington, but was interrupted by compa-
nv. and could not finish it; and being con-
| fined TO my house since Sunday evening, by
nv old complaint, bronchitis, | have been too
unwell to write. Feeling better to-day, L
wish, very briefly, to present my views of the
present attitude of affairs.
The proposition to amend the Constitution
of the United States, SO as forever to prevent
auy amendment of that instrument interior
ing with the relation of slavery in the States,
was passed by a twO-thirds vote in both
Houses of Congress This proposition, if
carried out by The States, will remove the
only real ground of apprehension in the
Slave States. IL blows the irrepressible con-
fict doctrine moon high, and received the
sanction of the author of that doctrine him.
self
| The Territories of DacOtah, Colorado. and
Nevada were created without The Wilmot
proyiso which accompanied these bills at the
long session. In the hurry of business To-
wards the close of the session, 1t was out OF
nv power to read those bills, and thought
it safest to vote against them; but, on my
way home, Judge Hemphill, Zone of the Sc
cession Senators from Texas told me that
they contain provision to protect private
property, according to the course OF the COM
mon law. Though the extreme Republicans
deny that there can be property in man, this
provision, with the bred Scott case, leaves
the Territories open TO occupation with slave
~, and effectually yields the doctrine of
protection in favor o. the South.
Although the Republicans. ct the long SEES
sion, when they had not the power, endeav-
ored TO repeal the New Mexican laws, allow
ing slavery; yet, at the short session, when
by reason of secession, they had majority
IN both Houses, they left the matter un-
touched. Consequently. slavery may exist,
and be protected in all the Territories posi-
bly, open to slavery.
At. and for some time after, the commence
meut of the last session of Congress, a large
majority of the Republicans had no idea oil
| the true condition of things in the South
| They looked upon the threats made by South
| Carolina and other Cotton States as mere
| gasconade, such as they had listened to for
thirty years, and supposed it would soon pass
| away. But after the secession OF several vi
the Cotton States, they began TO realize the
| danger and a majority OF their Represents
| tives we're earnestly in favor of Cancellation
| though the extremists among them, as among
us. were utterly opposed to anything of the
kind The passage of the resolutions in the
| House as to the District of Columbia, the
| inter-Slave Trade, aud slavery in the dock
| Yards, &C., Though not reached in the Sen.
/ ate. and the vote in the House, by large
/ majority, Though not by the necessary two
| thirds to suspend the rules so a to take up
| the Peace Conference propositions. were cir.
| eumstanees going to show that a majority oil
| the Republicans are now favorable to com
promise.
| Under these circumstances, why should not
| the seeding States come back into the Union
| If the course of the Republican party on the
| slavery question is the .rue cause Of theiI
| separation? Although they have not receiv-
| ed all they demanded, yet they have g
| guarantee on The vitnl question. and theiI
| own doctrine of protection has been legally
| and practically acknowledged. The indica
| tons given by the last session of Congress;
| are decidedly in favor of peace and compro
| mise, and warrant the beliefthat, If anything
| is now wanted it will, in due time and upon
a proper appeal, be granted by the Morrill,
Why, then, should there be civil war, unles;
| the Secession leaders are determined to "pre-
cipaate" it as they have already precipitated
! Revolution? The people in the Border. States
ought to be satisfied. or, at least, TO acquiesce
N.<1r Il and r
| Boyce was correct, when he argued, a little
more than a year ago, that the question OF
| slavery in the Territories was settled. by the
| Compromise measures of 1850, and by the
/ laws of nature and climate, and was a mere
! speculative idea,p aud, if the Senate was
| correct, last May, when only three votes
were cast in favor of the immediate applica-
| ton of the doctrine, then every Cotton State
| should ground the arms of rebellion at once,
| and secede from the Confederate States.
Whatever construction the Secessionists
NAV place upon Lincoln's inaugural address
Mr.. Maynard and myself bad it from his own
lips, on last Thursday night, that be was for
peace, and would use every exertion IN bis
power to maintain it; that he was then in
clined to the opinion that it would be better
to forego the collection of the revenue for a
season, so as to allow the people of the Sc
ceding States time for reflection, and that
| regarding them as children OF common
family, be was not disposed to take away
their bread by Withholding even their mail
facilities. He expressed a strong hope that
] after little time is allowed for reflection,
| they will recede from the position they have
| taken.
We had two interviews with the President
/ The first was sought by us on Wednesday;
| the second was at his own desire, and was
| private, but told him that, with his permits.
| sion, would tell my constitu ents, when ]
l got home, what he said, and he replied that
l we were at liberty to repeat it, to whom we
pleased. Although strongly opposed to the
action of the seeding States, the object of
Mr.. Maynard and myself, so far as our volun-
tary counsels would go. was to prevent civil
war; and were both as well pleased with the
Presidents frankness, as he expressed him
self to be with our visit
Yours truly,
TEos. A. B. NELsoS.