Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-02
REMARKS OF
Rlr. Speaker WhitthOrne,

nays ~.
/ REMARKS OF
MIR. Speaker WhitthOrne,
ON the Political Condition Of the Country,
airy 23s 1861
| Mr.. CHAIRMAN: We have met amid revolution
which involves the fate Of free institutions to con-
slider il anything may be done upon part to pre-
and perpetuste the principles upon which they
are based, and made sacred to US by the sacrifices
of the meR of 20. Liberty, equality and justice
were secured by the joint efforts of the United
Colonies, which they sought to make certain to their
posterity By the adoption Of the present Constiu-
tion of the United States; and which they ordained
as a covenant between themselves and their poste
rity in order "to establish justice insure domestic
| tranquility, provide for the defense, pro-
mote the general welfare, ard the blessings
| of liberty"
In ratfying this covenant, our Union was the re-
silt. Tennessee always loyal, true, and devoted to
this Union, points with pride to the evidences there
of. The battle fields Of Talladegs, Emuehfaw, New
| Orleans, Monterey Cerro Gordo, ChepuItepec ere
red With the blood of her sons spent freely in the
defense of its honor and its glory whilst the Cabi
net and Council Chambers of the Nation attest their
| patriotism But whilst history makes manifest how
high she has valued this Union she has yielded no
blind devotion to mere name she has not loved
the Union becsuse of Its lofty mountains its splendid
its unrivalled commerce, the glorious achievements
Of its armies and naves nor tie feet that ii stands
the peer Of the Froudest and oldest nation Of the
earth, but for the grander and more glorious fact,
that hitherto il the MAN, it has been the land Of
the free and the homo Of equal rights. This was
liberty's temple in which Tennessee adevotee
enshrined here her hottest affections but her
sons have not been unnindful of the encroach-
ments made and threatened upon this form Of Cow
erCmsnt, ana Ieeis as deep 81 interest as amp of
her sister States in the honorable solution of all
questions affecting it. We justly Jealous
of sll infraetons Of the bond of Union, and fully
appreciate the feet, that In q free Government
blow made in wrong, at even an individuals
rights, is q blow aimed at the whole body pelitic,
that the Of outraged innocence, is not alone
the eff the Injured but the battle of the just
and generous. We would be false to the heritage Of
our COOS 4ane 6 braXe, gallant, Just psOpls, Il
fail TO resist uuSarrsntable assault upon even
the huablest member Of the coufederacy end withsl
it high duty, owe ourselves those who are to
succeed US, and to God that we should preserve sa-
cred sRd inyioSIe, tho pure principles OF freedom
These prineiplee being now at stake and the hour
pregnant with their destiny, their destruction in
vo,ving the peace Of our country, as well as the
hopes and happiness Of millions, it behoves US
patiently and justly to inquire into the which
have induced this state ct facts What then is the
ca4seJ 1t IS tbs eXistsnea Of slavery ana suesons
growing OFT of il. Why Should this be so? The
do1l6VcHlenl8 OF our lnQepeIQtHce was tle WORK oI
Shareholders ane non stockholders, of slaveholding
and free atetes. The adoption of the GonstiEon was
the result ofthe laboPs and compromises Of the same
men-that Constitution, the bond of Union was a
compromise on this very question, in some Of its
features. The rights Of shareholders recog-
nzed and guaranteed. Be it to their eternal n
or said they have never broken their faith on the
contrary haEe beea i.g trusst, Bravest defenders,
get scarcely was the doveFameng organized, be-
fore war was declared UpbG their rights and their
peace but no alarm was felt at the first movement
made, for the reason as II is believed that the
thors Of the Unisn were then living. However,
when Missouri sought admission into the confedera
cy, Gotwi hstauding the wishes of her people and
treaty stipalaions that admission was refused and
open prbpfmation made Thy Representatives Of
Northern States thai slavery made her uEft for
association in their Government Thea in unmis-
taxable terms were the Southern States notified
that in oil future time, were they to be excluded
with their rights of property, from the common
Territories of the Union. Missouri, passing under
the yoke Of compromise, purchased her right of
admission % e-clgsisn, Ct hersef and sster South
ern' States fr0El the occupancy AID Esa Of all
Territory North of giyen line. The OCCASION Of
passing this compromise filed the minds of the
surviving patriots of '76. with moat serious
apprehension to tho future OF ikair
country, one Of whom, the author of the Declare
ton of Independence, exclaimed in dependency
But this momentous question, like FIRE bell in
the night, awakened ana ulieQ me with terror. |
considered it at the knell Of the Union. 1t
is hpsrsd, ipdeed, for tho moment. But this is a
repreve only, not FINAL senieTcs. AgeosraEhica
line coincidiRg lcitb ETted principle zgordg G1G
pelaaI, Gase senesiEeG, and held up to the angry
passions Of Ken, viii ReveF be ohiitsratel, snd !
every new irritation will mash it deeper sad deep
err" How prophetic As State sfter State, whose |
people we're identified with the Institution of slavery
have sought admission they have been met with |
opposition, not Withstsnding the compromise Rap |
idly upon tie heels Of English emancipation in the
West fndiS ISLANDS game the North, besiegirg the
halls of Congress With pstitops eeeEng the des= |
FRICTION of sacred constitutional rights And u1- |
der one preteEt and another since 1884 have ag-
itstsd the question, So % ts produce constant
mess threatening TO your pease safety, and hSppi
ness and therein the very object Of all government
When our sons. daughters, and kindred had |
built for themselves an empire in foreign land,
and coming to.ask that they might fellowship with |
zig at the same family affairs, and share with US a
eonnou government, they were sought to be repuls-
ed The erims Of Kexasssas siageFy, Whal oUt Of |
common treasury flled by our mechanic, oHr |
lsborer, and our planter, We had bought wheu By |
the Joint libations Of the blood or brothers and
our fathers we had baptized and conseeratei to our
use a common territory, We are hsughtily told we |
shall not despOil ard curse it with our property.
The bones Of gallant fsnEssseags that whitened |
the plains Of Mexico, together With those Of the |
devoted and patriotic cons Of the South, whilst |
forming kprcud monument 10 their loyalty, |
failed in their appeal for justice to tho North,
and vhilst yst they we're struggling with he
roic bravery against i've aEneq enemy and his /
ally, gsunt disease and the dying sn3 dad EolI- |
ier's family at home were battling with priyatisn,
he was scornfully told that from the fruits Of
his glory and his labor, he, his kith, and his
kin were to he excluded. But again we list
ened to the voice OF eo1pEawise. The South
responded to 1t, after in vain urging lac
former adjustment and accepted the promise Of mons
Intervention and tie return Of their fugitive slaves
as provided in the settlement of 1850 1t was fond
~ hoped by the loyal South, that peace would for
ever dwell Yth our Union But 10! the result No
sooner Ess3he adjustment Passed than in its essen
tis features it vas opsniy and dehantly spit Epan
and rejected The fugitive slave lsW made foa ysur
protection, in conformity to an express provision
of the Constitution was proclaimed to be repugnsnt
to the consciences of Northern men. Official perjury
and treason we're excused by 9 Law taught to be
higher than the Constitution. Theft and murder
IN defeating the Southern in his Constitutional
rights OF property Vere ineulcated ss ths highest
duty to GOD Your brethien id the preseSutoR of
their legal rights if not fOplly murdered, sre I'M
prisoned and compelled to give onerOus bonds for
the benefit of their slaves, released either by mad
dsned, fanatical mObs, or under the sanction Of