Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-13
ooercivc Policy of the Inaugural.

We qesire 70 Pegeat what We said on yesterday,
that The cQsrciye policy, foregnadoEed N HTesl,
dent Lncolns Inaugural, towards the seeding
States, viii meet with the stern and 4nyieding re-
sjstance Of united South. The declaration con-
tanned IN that document to the effect that the Fede
raj Government intends ito hold, occupy and pos
sess the property and places belonging to the Coz
eminent and to collect the duties and imposts" ne
cessarily involves war, and war, as remarked by
Mr. Dorman in his speech in Convention on yester-
day. involves a total and permanent disruption OF
the Union
1t is toe late now to discuss the rightfalness or
the wEoRgfuiness Of the spsteacF docr1ne OF seees
SION. Six or seven States have already proclaimed
themselves independent ofthe Union. and have organ
lied Provisional Government, and are now IN the
act of discbarging all the functions Of q separate
nationality. II il tho part CT wise and practical
men, and it is especially the duty of the Federal Ad-
ministration at Washington TO look facts in the face
to meet and accept facts as they find
them, and and dispose of them with view
to the interests of peace and harmony.
Let Lincoln carry out the policy indicated
in his Inaugural, and civil var, viii be in
breadth of the land The Gulf States in our iudg,
ment have acted raslly, unneighborly and impro-
perly: but considering them erring sisters, entitled
to our sympathies and our aid in emergency,
Virginia can meyer consent for the Federal EoYefn-
mem to eIaploY eoereise measures tQFards them.
And the stpendogs folly of such policy is perfect
" apparent. For, as we have said, it would lead to
CERTAIN and inevitable war, and to the complete and
eternal destruction of the Union, 1t would uti>
matelY force all the Border States to make common
cause with the Gulf States, and what would the
Federal Government gain by such an operation
The thing is inadmissible-t is utterly absurd and
ridiculous; and if Lincoln and his advisers wish to
avoid serious trouble, and save the peace of the
country, they will abandon their coercion policy,
and take their stand on the broad platform of com
mon senae enq eomHoa l4stipe' "f9 hold, &c;
longing to this government" within the lin
its Of the Seceded States is thing that can't be
done-jt is lmpractcahle, and an attempt in that
direction would be followed by an iH'Gedlste eelli-
sion between the State and Federal authorities,
which would lead, in the end, to general and dis
astrous civil war between the North and the South.
Let President Lincoln reconsider his determination,
and let him address himself to peaceful solution
of our national difficulties, and the Union may yet
be Yestered i al its pristine dimensions strength
and glory.
In the Convention yesterday, the coerciEe doc
trine of the inaugural the subject of extended
debate Many resolutions were offered IN regard
to it, al of which deprecated and denounced it in
the strongest terms, and asserted the duty of Nr-
GINA TO resist SUCH policy by all means at her com
mand, It is manifest that the tone and language Of
the inaugural this point have CREATED considera.
ble excitement and indignation among the people of
the State, and have aroused spirit of resistance
which will not taEnely submit to see that policy
carried into eflect EQWaFQs the sepSuluS 9dtes VIC
are clearly of the opinion that the Convention
should promptly and explicitly define the Pc
sition OF the State on this subject of coer-
cion, and make it known to Lincoln and his
Administration that any employment of force
against the seeding States will be met by Virgin
ians with instant and determined resistance. Let
sueh formal and solemn declaration be unanimously
made By the Convention, to-day, In lhe naMe Of the
people and the Commonwealth, and we feel sure IT
Will exert the desired effect upon the Cabinet CouI-
CHS at Washington. Let this declaration, top be
nouped with the earnest request on the part Of the
State that instead Of 'holallg occupying ana R0a-
sessing the property and places belonging to the
Goyernmentp within the limits Of the seeding
States. the Federal Government should forthwith
give them all up, as the only hope OF preserving
peace, preventing civil war, and reconstructng the
Union .
I In conclusion we express the earnest hope that
President Lincoln and his advisers Will perceive the
imprachcabty and folly of attempting to carry
put The coercive policy indicated IN the Inaugural
snd tat theg win forthwith abandon IT, ana f9rth-
with announce to the country that IT has been anan-
doned For, let it be distinctly understood at wash
inQton that. upon the abandonment of that qnwlse
and insane policy depends the adherence OF Virginia
and the other border States to the Union, and CON
seauenty the hope OF reconstruction of the Union
and the prevention Of civil war,-Riasaond Wing,
MdYch g..