Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-30
The Proposed armistiee.

The Richmond papers of Friday mention
the fact that rumors were prevalent in thai
city to the effect that the Federal Adminis
tration had proposed to the Virginia Conven
ton a cessation of preparation for war, and
held out TO them overtures of accommoda
lion. Public meetings have been held il
some of the counties protesting against &C
ceeding to the proposition. The Enquire,
says
We warn the Convention that the temper
of the Virginia people will not brook any
fatal measures of inactivity at this time. Nc
| policy must be adopted which ties our hands
as an honorable people by promises OF pre-
i serving the status quo, while the willy and un-
scrupulous adversary, concentrates his
| strength and fOrtiies his position around
Washington.
The history OF the past four months shows
| that the Northern people are unmindful of
their most sacred pledges, and, if now, after
the recent example of their treacherous deal
ing, with the Commissioners from South Car
DINA, from the Confederate Government and
even with our Union members of the Virginia
Convention, we still listen to the syren song
of peace, and remit our preparations for war,
we will justly bring upon ourselves the con-
tempt of mankind and the scornful laughter
of Our enemy.
No, we will not abate one jot or title of
our exertions while the Lincoln Government
maintains its attitude of hostility, while it is
endeavOring to concentrate an army on our
frontier, ready at any moment to be let loose
on US, while we supinely rest in fatal inse-
| curity. The South can never in honor con-
sent to abandon tie brave people of Mary.
| land to the rage of an Infatuated adversary.
Maryland is ours by ties of blood, by the
memories of the past, by the deeds of the
present, by common and indissoluble inter-
est. Never can we listen to those who would
propose that Virginia shall stand on the de-
fensive and leave Maryland to bear the shock
of Northern invasion and the fury of fanati-
cal hatred. Maryland has stood nobly forth
in the hour OF our trial, the shield and buckle
of our defence. Should we falter now, or fail
to go to her rescue, struggling in the grasp
of the tyrant, we would deserve and receive
the execrations of mankind.
We tell the Convention again to beware of
any insidiOus Overtures of accommodation,
which would lose US Maryland forever, and
bring down to our border the free-soil line of
Canada. We utterly repudiate, and the peo-
pie of Virginia repudiate, the surrender of
Maryland to this Black Republic of the North
Washington is Southern soil, and We must
have it. The insolence or fanaticism would
forever threaten our own Virginia border
unless we have both sides of the Potomac Ii
may be that this Lincoln Government will
seek an accommodation upon the basis of
division of the two sections by the Potomac
This policy was suggested in the New York
Tribune some weeks ago, before the war fe-
yer was generated, in the North for party
purposes. This will never do for Virginia; if
all the South besides should be willing to
accede to this arrangement, Virginia cannot
and will not consent. She will never con-
sent to have the free soil border around her
still further enlarged by the surrender of
Maryland to the abOlitionists. We tell the
Convention that it is idle to think of such
thing-it is folly to talk of peace, until the
enemy shows some more palpable evidence of
a desire for peace, than mere empty profess
sions and jesuitical promises. We must treat
with arms ia our hands.
We have been deceived again and again
by this Government, whose craftsmanship
consists in substituting cunning for wisdom.
Hollow professions OF friendship will not do.
In the language OF a powerful political wri-
ter in the Revolution, when warning his coun-
trymen against the false pretences of friendly
feeling by the British Government, we say
now, ito talk OF friendship with those 10
whom our reason forbids US to have faith,
and our affections, wounded through thou
sand pores, instruct ms to detest, is madness
and foIfu ~ 80 !