Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-02


Fsloi0- Ciiizeas: Il is with unslloyed psin ane
modification that we lay before you the suhjcined
correspondence We ask your solemn and nnpreJu-
diced attention 70 It. We invoke you, IS you vaiue
the future safety andhOnor Of the State OF ZEN
nessee--as you prize your rights as freemen ~
this great and glorious Republics you desire the
futsre security your homes and residss, thai you
ponder the contents Of this CORE spondence, ana
decide for yourselves and your pOstsriy, the grave
and momentous issues involved therein.
You will see plsinly the points upon which
we are at issue with our opponents, and you
viii DO able to judge between US They sgres
with us that the South Is in most serious danger
They unequivoeay admit the necessiiyto our future
safety Of constitutional amendments. They know
and By implication most clearly admit that there is
greet uncerta inty existing to whether any sats
factory guarantees will be ever hereafter obtained
in which event they look to ''a common destiny OF
Tennessee ssvith the whole South" And yet, when
we propose to them SO far to rely upon tho Commits
siOnsrs from Kentucky, tennessee and Virginia,
shortly to assemble in Washington City, as to take
it for granted that they will have it in their power
to ascertain whether or not it be at all probable
that the needed safeguards viii be ever hereafter
secured or AT least in time to save the Union ror
permanent disruption, and the slaveholding States
from being fatally torn Gs4ader, and THROWN 1t may
be. into an antagonisticaI attitude TO each other
-our opponents say, in the most explicit Ian
cusge. that they are not willing, if elected
TO seats in the Convention to act upon such advice
ne shall be received from the Commissioners Of Vr-
GINA. Kentucky, and Tennessee, and to unite in
taking such early action shall be thus shown to
be INDISPENSABLE to the safety of the slave
holding States of the Confederacy. In the case
described. the opposing candidates say that they
SHOULD feel deeply grieved," their confidence in
the future would be greatly impaired" and they
should consult earnestly with the border slave
States, so as to make more united effort fer the
salvation of the Union, or a common destiny
with the whole South" This is very plain
language. indeed, and will enable the voters of the
country to comprehend perfectly the issue before
them. Let US examine the matter fairly and dis
passionately. Six States South of Tennessee have
already Withdrawn from the Union. Two Others
in all probability, will shortly follow. Who that
has been diligent observer Of passing events, can
ct all doubt that Virginia. if no assurances Of sGtfy
shall tie obtained through the Commissioners to
Washington, will, il less than three weeks,
have attached herself to her sisters of the
South? Authentic intelligence has now reach
ed us that Great Britain has determined to
the Southern COnfederacy, shortly to be
established, so soon &c notified of its having come
into existence On next Monday that COnfederacy
will take her place as one of the Independent
Powers of the Earth. In q month or two more, in
all probability, this Confederacy, if not satisfac-
tory assured by all her sister States of the South,
that they will protect her against the coercive
measures now menaced both in Congress and else
where, may feel compelled, however reluctant to
take such step, to enter into entsngling alliances
abroad of nature to render it doubtful whether the
Southern States not nowwling to act in unison with
her, can ever have political connection her here
after In which event, Tennessee would inevit-N
ably become mere addendun to q Black Republi-
can Confederscy, and be completely at the mercy
of her beartess and Unsuitable OppressOrs.
There is no escaping this dreadful predicament,
unless We take steps to avert the menaced evils.
Look ye to this matter, men of Davidson county,
aud decide for yourselves wisely and effectuslly
L
Kentucky and Virginia shall, during the coming
week, advise you that ell reasonable hope Of con-
stitutional amendments is extinct, or if Congress
should refuse to propose such amendments as those
Commissioners may agree upon, will you still re-
fuse to go with your Southern sisters? That is the
question. Had Messrs EwISG, BROWN and HoUs-
TON been willing to declare that they would, if
chosen by you, act in this important matter
as suggested in cur communication to them,
We would gladly have yielded the field of contest
T. them. As iis intend that you shall settle the
great aad momenteus issue raised between us by
your own votes or the day of election. We solemn
Iy believe that civil war, with all its horrors, can
be sverted ninety days lsnger only BY the course
that we would have our State Convention pursue.
May gracious Providence enable you SO to act in
this exigency as may most cOmpcrt with your fu-
ture honor, safety, and happiness.
Respectfully,
H S. FoOTE,
J. J. M'CANN,
JOHN c. BURcH.