Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-01

IiiHt, oOutu SdIOifad fido tSiCC Cot1CA
people together in solemn Convention. 10 take
into consideration the aggressions and IN
constitutional wrongs perpetrated by the
people of tae North on the people of the
South. These wrongs were submitted to by
the people of the South, uader the hope and
expectation that they would be final, But
such hope and expectation have proved to be
vain. Instead OF producing forbearance. our
acqniescence has only instigated to new forms
of aggressions and outage and South Caro-
liza, again ass .mbliDg her people in Con-
yention. has this day dissolved her connex-
ion with the States constituting the Quilted
States.
The one great evil from which all other
evils have flowed. is the overthrow Of the
Constitution of the Bnited States. The Gov
ernment of the United States Is no longer
the Government of Cenfederated Republics.
but of Consolidated Democracy. l. is no
longer q Free Government. but a Despot
ism. It is, in fact. sucit a Government az
Great Britain attempted to set over our
Fathers, and which was resisted and defeated
by seven years struggle for Independence.
The Revolution of 1875 turned upon the
great principle,o of self-goveFnment and self
taxation, the criterion of seit-gOvernment.
Where the interests of two peopie united to-
gether under one Government are different,
each must have the power to protect its IT,
terests by The organization of the Govern
ment, or it catnot be free The interests OF
Great Britain and of the Colonies were DIT
ferert and antagOnis:ic. Great Britain was
desirous of carrying out the principle OF all
nations toward their Colonies, OF making
them tributary to their wealth aud power.
She bad vast and complicated relations with
the whole world. Her policy with her North
American Colonies was 10 Identity them with
her in all these complicated relations; and
10 make them bear, in common with the rest
of the Empire. the full burden Of her obliga-
lions aud necessities. she had ! vast public
debt; she had an European policy aud an
Asiafic policy, which bad occasiOned the ac-
eumalatien of her public debt. and which
kent her in continual wars. TIE North
American Colonies saw their interests, poll
teal and commercial, sacrificed by such a
pGiicy Their interests required that they
should not be identified With the burdens
and wars of the mother country. They bad
x isr sslss- " rfe q g9se tzf-fa
seil-goveTnmeBt at least so tar as their pro-
perry was concerned. They had taxed them
srlFes, and had never been taxed by die Gov
eminent of Great Britain. To make them
part of the consolidated Empire. the PaFiia-
ment of Great Britain determined to assume
The power of l-giSlating for the Colonies in
all cases whatsoever. Our ancestors resist
ed the pretensi6n. they refused to be a
part of the consolidated Government IF Great
Britain.
The Southern States now stand exactly in
the same p siiioa Towards Northern States
that our ancestors in the colonies did to-
wards Great Britain. The Northern Stltes,
having the maj 'ri'y in Congress, claim the
same power of omnipotence in legislation as
the British Parliament. "The General Eel
fare" is the only limit to the legislation of
either; and the majority ia Congress, as in
the British Parliament. are the sole judges OF
the exp-disRcy of The legislation this Gen
eral Welfare requires. Thus, the Govern
ment of the United STATES GAS become con-
soldated Government and The people of the
Southern States are compelled to meet the
very d-spotism their fathers threw off in the
Revolution of 1875.
The consolidation of the Government of
Great Britain over the Colonies was attempt
ed to be carried out by the taxes. The Brit
iSh Parliament undertook to tax the Colonies
to promote British interests. Our fathers re-
sisted this pretension. They claimed the
right of self;axation through their Colonial
Legislatures. They were not represented in
the British Parliament, and, therefore, could
not rightfully be taxed by its Legislation.
The British Government, however, offered
them representation in Parliament; but it
was not sufficient to enable them 10 protect
themselves from the majority, and they re-
fused it. Between taxation without aUy rep
reSentation, and taxation without represen.
tation adequate to protection, there was no
difference. In neither wsuld the Colonies tax
themselves. Hence they refused to pay the
taxes laid by the British Parliament
And sn with the Southern States towards
the Northern States, in the vital matter of
taxation. They are in minority in Con-
gress. Their representation in Congress is
useless to protect them against unjust taxa
ton: and they are taxed by the people OF
the North for Their beaSft, exactly as the peo-
pie of Great Britain taxed our ancestors 10
the British Parliament for their benefit. For
he last forty years the taxes laid by tn.
Congress OF the United States have been laid |
With a view of subscribing the Interests OF
The North. The people of the South have
been taxed by duties on imports, not for re- |
Fenue, but for an object Inconsistent with |
revenue-to promote, by prohibitions, Nor
iheru interests in their productions of their
mines and manufactures.
There is another evil, in the condition of
the Southern towards the Northern States.
which our ancestors refused to bear towards
Great Britain. Our ancestors not only taxed
themselves, but all the taxes collected from
them were expended amongst them. Had |
they submitted to the pretensions Ofthe Brit
ish Government, the taxes collected from
them wonid haze been expended in other
parts of the British empire. They were fal-
iy aware Of the effect Of such policy in i'm
the people from " HON taxes are
collected, and IN enrichiog those who receive
the benefit of the expenditure To prevent
the evils OF such policy was che of the mo-
tIves which drove them on to FeyolutioB.
Yet this British policy has been fully real
lied towards the Southern States by the Mug
them States The people of the Southern
STATES are not oniy taxed for the benefit of
the Nerthern States, but after the taxes are
collected shree-iourIhs ofthem are expended
at the North This cause. with Others. con-