Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-16
Gen. Lanes Reply.

WASHINGTON, d. O., Jan. g. 1861.
GENTIEMEN Your kind letter of the 81 inst, in
closing resolutions adopted at a meeting of the stu
dents of Shelby Medical College has been received
also by express the beautiful cane which, in the Ian
guage of of the resolutions, you have been
authorised to present a testimonial of the re-
spect and honor in which am held by yourselves
and your fellow students. The cane you inform me
was manufactured of hickory, the growth of the
Hermitage-the hallowed ground in which sleeps the
dust of the immortal JACKSON.
To say that thank you for this mark of your
confidence and esteem, that shall ever hold your
kindness in grateful remembrance, very made
quately expresses my feelings, on the occasion.
When / made the remarks in the Senate which have
been thought worthy of so decisive an expression
of your approval, little supposed that should en-
joy any other reward for that humble effort in
support of right and justice than the satisfaction of
having honestly endcavored to do my duty. l am
gratifed to find what said in support of the equal
rights of the States approved by the Southern press
generally and by that portion of the Norter1, press
which still adheres to the Constitution and tries to
shield it from the assaults of fanatics and traitors
have ever believed that ours is not, and never
was intended to be- consolidated government (the
synonym of despotism) but confederation of CO.
equal and sovereign States, united to promote do
mestc tranquility and provide for the common de-
fence against external danger; SO believing, have
ever contended for such administration of the pow
ers of the General Government as should not cou-
travene in the slightest degree this great principle
of State sovereignty and equality. theoretically,
this principle is acknowledged by all parties. Each
= a.
equal footing" with the original States. Tennessee
is thus the equal of New York. Florida one of the
youngest and weakest of the sisterhood is IN all the
attributes of State sovereignty, the peer of Massa
chusetts Pennsylvania.
When State considers herself no longer treated
an equal by her sister States and wishes to resume
the powers delegated to the General Government,
cannot see what power the Government has under
the Constitution. to restrain her. When the idea
was presented of coercng South Carolina into sub
mission to the behests of sectional party, which
ignored her existence in the late election, when it
was proposed to employ federal bayOnets to preserve
her connection with Union which she voluntarily
entered for the purposes already mentioned, could
as willingly have offered my aid to the despot of
Austria to crush the liberties of oppressed Hungar
as lend my voice or my hand to such work
In raising my voice in favor of the right of peaeeGJe
secession, let me say gentlemen, have uttered sent
ments entertane ed by me from my first entrance into
political life. Ours is a voluntary Union. and not
Union of force. It might have been preserved by a
right Of the baliotboE, but never can 1t be, nor
should it be preserved by the cartridge box
Those who deny the right of peaeeable secession,
apda nnFI aa in of
their opinions In my Judgment they commit fla
grant wrong upon the memory of that great man.
He was the friend of a constitutional Union. Such
a Union he was ready to make any sacrifice to pre-
serve. But it is hardly less than sacriege to cite
his iustrous name authority for the use of force
in keeping together the Confederacy when right and
justice and equality are denied to any one of its
members.
In retiring to private life at the expiration of my
present term in the Senate am much gratified that
carry with me the friendly regard of so intelligent
and educated csss of young men as the medical
students Of Nashville. The testimonial which you
have so kindly offered shall prize to the end of my
life as sacred memento, testifying the part of
distant strangers, their kind appreciation Of my
humble efforts in the path of duty and assuring me
that those who most cherish the sacred memories of
the HermitageI approve my political action and
principles.
Again thanking you, gentlemen, for the honor you
have done me- as well for your many kind expres-
sions of regard, and wishing to each of you and
each of those whom yoa represent, career both
honorable andIuseful,
am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOSEPH LANE
To Messrs. Robert Turner, James Esselman, J. Q.