Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-06


q departed cchfsdsiaey, herself shern of her
power, niaershls fragment of anti SLAVERY Union.
hold that, inentertaining these Sentiments an,
friend Of the Union Of these States. + Confess
that to me il is strangely incomprehans;b1e how
wenlniormea gentlemen can take such grounds:
that they will fail below, far below ALI meas,,res
proposed by the propositions of nv distineu;sbed
friend, yetdeclare they are par ercsDenca Union
men. when il they will reflect. thew ,nst Ino-
that the erect of their policy is to make the sss
iion OF tne states eternal VIII il not be our poIcv
70 try course wkiehmay bring hack the Tsps.,y
rate States, upon which we can saw we fool a..
can MAINTAIN our position. our substantial r;ohtS
upon TINS baszs-stand long plead LONG m ,e,,nite
all the states; IS It not better to pursue that nol
ana propose such plan which we can get if II Is
North, If we can get anythingg wv
Now, Mr. Speaker, it appears tn me s;, ~, : 20
the states OF virginia, Kentucky Tennessee and the
other States that have indicated were To tae The
proposlnons OF Gov Crittenden, even make them
stronger, II you choose, because if ever YOU can
get II on OF the fanatcal basis and put it upon no.
litcal basis, twill be right am sure-take tbenN
OFFER them to the North and to the South
try to reunite all these States uuon This ha
sis; say to them, gentlemen, we were member of a
Cenfeoeracy OF tnlrty-four States, that has broken
in parts--we hold ourselves free TO saw how
far it shall be broken; if we find il ;mnoss;-
bic to reunlte you upon terms that we
think you can reunite with honor uno1
then it is. sir, that hold that the Commemorative
Of Kentucky would be perfectly free to pursue
whstever course her people may think consonant
with her interests and her honor Il is not sppro-
pirate for me TO go farther say what in such me-
lancholy contingency as that, would advocate II
is not within the scope of these remarks
Mr.. Speaker. hope it will not be considered dis
respectful for TO make one additional observation
/ am sure that all will agree that whatever Ken
lucky shall do in relation to this important ones
ton, ought to be done by the expression of deci
siYe majority Of her people. Here she is, and her
purpose should be just expression of clear
unmistakable decisive majority of the people of the
State. On question so momentous as this Affect
ing her future destiny majority of few hundreds
or thousand or two Of her people one way OF the
other might become subject of controversy or
dispute. 1t might be said we have been dcfrauded
or surprised in the election-we have been depriv-
ed of the expression of the deliberate will of the
State. Therefore, sir, ! hold that her action
should be the action of distinct minority of her
people. / hold, further, that when that ma
jority utters its voice, that her citizens are
bound to acquiesce. / have seen with pain and
surprise limitations that have been thrown out
that a minority of the people of this Common
wealth would add to our calamties the horrors of
an internecine war, if the majority should pursue
a course opposed TO their views. Let us not think
of that Mr. Speaker. That should be the last ca
lamity that would afaict Commonwealth.
Mr.. Speaker, have trespassed too long upon the
health ond other causes, made it difficult for me
to express the views which in so unpyetending
a manner have attempted to advance and have
done it in a lcere spirit of gratitude, and re-
spect upon the invitation so kindly extended to me-
trust, sir, that the State Of Kentucky which hss
not been precpitate, but has been loyal, true pa
tent ard forbearng, most conspicous of all States
In the attempt to restore q broken Union, and
Q broken Constitution-she, wronged people-has
advocated, with eloquence and ferVer, that cause
which had better became the wrong-doer Ken
lucky has vindieated her loyalty, her truth, her
honor. It is the of her people that she shall
make another effort, in conjunction with her asso-
ciste Border States for the purpose Of reunitiug all
the States. There ia not in this room or Union a
man whose heart would leap with more gladness
than my own II such an effort would be successful
trust that Kentucky will never forget that princ
pies of municipal constitutional liberty are more
sacred to her than even the existence of Federal
Union Of all the States-that the Union ia great
glorious, and beloved means to accomplish certain
great ends, which are life, liberty and the protec-
ton Of property trust sir, that she will persist
in her efforts. know she viii use al honorable
efforts to preserve the Constitution and to restore
the Union But, sir, If at last her efforts shall fan
If the Constitution Is to be perTerted-if ts spirit
is to be destroyed. and the habitation Of consttu
tonal liberty to be deiled, then trust that the
Commonwealth of Kentucky will gather I'D thesa
priceless principles her household GODS and that
abe wiz bear,them to sanctuary where they viii b
protected by constitutional Laws, honestly admins
tered, by pare public faith, against the combined
influence of fanaticis@, Hypocrisy and peridy.
Mr.. Speaker, return to the General Assembly my
most sincere and profound ackn0wledg for tbs
honor they have conferred upon me, which have
repaid as best could, by a simple unpretending
truthful exposition of public affairs Thanking YOU
for your attention, will trespass upon your time
no longer,