Brownlow's weekly Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1861-1861, 1861-08-31
SPEECH OF
SPEECH OF
COL. III. r. AUSTIN,
Delivered at Odd Felloyvs' Hall,
February 10, 1851.

PUBLISHED 81 REQUEST or THE NETTING.
M UNION FRIENDS The question ! pro-
pcse 20 discuss hare been forced upon US, aud
must soon be decided by submission or rasis-
lance 10 the Black Republican Administration
.boat u be inaugurated at Washington. The
STATE Of Tennessee is in false position, from
which nothing but your prompt action can
redeem her. The Governor, at your request,
convened the Legislature for the purpose Of
calling a Convention TO determine what action
DE State OF Tennessee ought TO take in refer
sCce 10 the new relations which have arisen
1erween her and her late eonfederates in the
Union our fathers formed. difference of
opinion ia regard to the proper action Of the
proposed Convention defeated il; and, by
'oung " No Convention" Tennessee, iB effect
declared TO the Black Republican Govern
Geui, soon to be inaugurated at Washington,
laal she will submit TO Black Republican rule,
Eith or without an adjustment of the slavery
question. Now, am sure that Tennessee did
lot nd to maze any such declaration
Tennessee will never submit TO the usurpa:
lions OF a hostile, sectional majority, whether
that majority clothes itself in the robes Of the
Union il has destroyed, or of the higher law
sovereignty, which holds in contempt all Con-
stitutional restraints. That the Union our
fathers formed is actually dissolved, seems
100 plain proposition 20 admit OF argument;
nevertheless, there are many good men-true
Southern len-who still close their eyes, aud
viii not see that the Union TO which they
cling with so much idolatroGs devotion, has
allen 20 rise DO more forever that a new
niOn has already been formed, of seven Of
ne sovereign States, which in part composed
The old Onion that a Southern Confederacy
S now a recorded fact--An existing reality.
Nv Union friends You have been educat-
j believe that al the blessings Of political,
evil and rel igiOus liberty you enjoy are de-
rived from, and would terminate with, the
tH'oH our fathers formed you have been
,agght 10 veneTate the character Of Washing
ION aud his co-patFiots in the American reyo-
.zIon you have been taught to regard the
Constitution they ordained as the perfection
4 wisdom, and the Union they formed as in
ilspeBsable TO the preservation Of your lib
-fty yoa have been taught TO glory in the
-ap4d extension Of the government OF the
I niOn over the American Continent and to
rrJOIee ia the hope that the star-speng led
banner would forever wave over the free and
Independent States Of America az 9 united
and IndH .sible people you have been taught
- boast Of the power and grandeur OF your
,rest central government, and to look with
contempt upon other nations less favored, less
prosperous, less glorious THAI your own you
1ave gr0WR rich, and o6erfal, aud pre-
.umptuOus, and in the excess Of your vanity
YOU have disTeFarded the teachings of history,
sld shut Jour eyes 70 the elsments Of disso-
.7tion which were bOuad up ia the Union, and
,-cau the work OF dissolution the moment the
mon was formed you have been taught 10
gsI;eys that the Union our fathers formed was
,sered compact, ordained Of heaven, aRd
-aerefore iadcstructible you have been
:.ryhr 10 believe that a dissolution Of the
Cnios would entail npon you and your
ttsld-en al. the horrors OF endless civil war
short. YOU have been taught to believe that
ar revolutionary fathers Bere endowed with
Si wisdom, aud invested with exclusive pow.
70 dissolve the political relations establish.
i D. their fathers, and 10 institute a new
Political system which should remain Ga-
hanged and Interchangeable forever. And
sow, standing as you are 10 the midst Of tbs
'eVarsd ele meuts OF the Union you have IDOL
I'D as the embodiment Of ell that is great
'aI glorious Ia human Institutions, you 70.
Fadiats the evidence of your senses, aad IN
'oSe all tie powers OF earth sud heaven 10
preserve the Union which has accomplished |
'ag en4 FOR which il was formed, anil with the
ra'sous upon which IL was founded, has eeas-
=! 20 exist.
Fay.shoaid we expect the Union our faith. /,
r. formed 10 escape the common fate Of all |
h0usR oontFiFances. The history of the /
Naid. from the beginning is but the history (
TIE rise and fall Of political systems, Of the /
sL'on aud dissolution Of States, Kingdoms |
81 Empires. The Uuiea our fathers formed