Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-06-08
A Noble Letter from MIR. vanandig.

To Messrs. Richard 81. Hendrickson. n. G..
Ogiesby, John Mcclellan, William J.
Wikle, Simon Goldman, James G.. Lum-
mis-. d. 81. Peck. J. T. Hand, John 81. Jones,
A. q. Clendenning, 81. p Clough, J. G.
FAIRIES, and ". w. Settell, Middletown,
Ohio. .,..l-.
GENTLEMEN: Yours of the 9Th inst re-
questing my opinion upon certain points con-
nected with what you justly style the present
'inglorious, and it may be, bloody WARP has
been received. That opinion wa long since
formed. and was repeatedly set forth through
the press or by speech and vote in the House
OF Representatives last winter, and re-af-
tlrmed In card dated On the 18th of last
month, a few days after the commencement of
the war. But inasmuch as / never had oc-
casion to discuss this particular question at
length. / beg leave to adopt the following
admirable summary of the case in an extract
from carefully prepared and exceedingly
able speech of the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas,
in the Senate of the United States, March
18th, 1861:
81 prefer such an amicable settlement to
peaceable disunion;and prefer it thousand
times to civil war If we can adopt such
amendments as will be satisfactory to Virgin
la. North Carolina, Tennessee, and the other
border States, the same plan of paci6cation
which will satisfy them will create Union
party in the Cotton States which will soon
embrace a large majority of the people in
those States, and bring them back of their
own free will and accord; and thus restore.
strengthen, and perpetuate the glorious old
Union forever. l repeat, whatever guaran-
tees will satisfy Maryland and the border
States 1.-THE States now in the Union) will
create a Union party in the seeded States
that will bring them back by the voluntary
action of their own people. You can restore
and preserve the government in that mode.
You can do it in no other.
"War is disunion. War is final, eternal
separation. Hence, disguise it as you may,
every Union man in America must advocate
such amendments to the Constitution as will
preserve peace and restore the Union; while
every dlsunionist, whether openly or secretly
plotting its destruction, is the advocate OF
peaceful secession, or of war, as the surest
means of rendering reunion and reconstruc-
ton impossible. L have too much respect
fol-, his intellect to believe for one moment,
that there is man for war who is not
disunionist per Sc. Hence do not mean,
if l can prevent it, that the enemies of the
Union-men plotting to destroy it-shall
drag this country into war, under the pretext
of protecting the public property, and en-
forcing the laws, and collecting the revenue,
when their object is dsunOn. and war the
means of accomplishing cherished purpose.
1.-The DisuniOnists, therefore, are divided
into two classes; the one open, the other Sc
cret dsuniOnists. The one is in favor of
peaceful secession and recognition of indie
pendence; the other is in favor of war, as
the sureSt means of accomplishing the object,
and of making the separation final and eter-
nal. L am Union man and hence against
war; but if the Union must be temporarily
broken by a revolution, and the establish
ment of de fdctO government by some Of the
States, let no act be done that will prevent
restoration and future preservation. Peace
is the only policy that can lead TO that result.
But we are told, aud we hear it repeated.
everyW here, that we must find out whether
we have got q vernment. Have we a |
Government is the question, and we are
told we must test that question by using the |
military power TO put down all discontinued |
spirits. Sir, this question, have we Gov |
ernmeut?' has been prOpounded by every ty- |
rant who has tried to keep his feet on the |
necks of the people since the world began. |
When the barOns demanded Magma Charta |
from King John at Runneymede, he exclaim-
ed, have we Government? and called for |
his army to put down tue discontinued barons. |
When Charles l attempted TO collect the
ships money in violation of the Constitution
of England, and in disregard of the rights of
The people, ana was resisted by them, he ex-
claimed, have we Government? We cannot
treat with rebels; put down the traitors; we
must show that we have Government
When James III was driven from the throne
Of England for trampliug on the liberties of
he people, he called for his army, and eX
claimed, let US show that we have a Gov
When George LII called upon his
army to put down rebellion in America, Lord
North cried out Justify, mo compromise with
raitOrs; let US demonstrate that we have a
ILL
'ose upon their tyrants all over Europe, and
guarantees for their rights, every |
crowned head exclaimed, have we Govern
nentT and appealed to the army to yindicate
heir authority and enforce the law.
''Sir, the history of the world does not fail
% condemn the folly, weakness, and wicked
less OF that government which drew its sword
lpon its own people when they demanded
guarantees for their rights. This cry, that
We must have a government, is merely fol-
owing the example of the besotted Bourbon,
Who never learned anything by misfortune,
lever fOrgave an injury, never forgot an al
ront. Must we demonstrate that we have
got a government, and coerce obedience with
'ut reference to the justice or injustice of the
complaints? Sir, whenever ter million peo-
Die proclaim to you, with one unanimous
yoice, that they apprehend their rights, their
iresides, and their family affairs are in dam
,er, it becomes a wise government to listen
o the appeal, and to remove the appreben-
ion. History does not record example
7here any human government has been strong
nOugh to crush ten millions of people into
objection when they believed their rights
nd liberties were imperiled, without first !
onverting the government itself into des- | I
otism, and destroying the last vestige of s
'eedom" Il
These were the sentiments of the Demo-
ratio party, of the Constitutional Union
arty, and of large majority of the Repub-
can presses and party, only six weeks ago.
hey were mine: | voted them repeatedly a
long with every Democrat aud Union man t
| the House. have seen nothing to change, I
uch to confirm, them since; especially in the
.cessioD within the last thirty days, of Vir-
mia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennes- c
e, taking with them four millions and a 3
alf of people, immense wealth, inexhaustible s
sources, five hundred thousand fighting n
en-, and the Srdues of Washington and Jackson
shall vote them again.
Waving the question of the doubtful le- :.
llity of the first proclamation, of April .
tn, calling out the militia for "three :,
onths," under the act of 1895, l will yet y
tie to pay them, because they had no motive VI
1t supposed duty, and patriotism. to move
EN-; and, moreover, they will have render
almost the entire service required of them
fore Congress shall meet. But the auda-
Gus usurpation of President Lincoln, for II
1ich he deserves impeachment, in daring, b
ainst the very letter of the Constitution, N
ID without the shadow of law, to raise and 50
pport armies" and to ''provide and main Sc
10 navy" for three or five years, by mere s.
cutiue proclamation, will not vote to sus-
10 or ratify-never. Millions for defense;
It man or dollar for aggressive and Of
lsiye war. in
The war has bad many motives for its COM re
sncement; it can have but one result, &c
lether it last one year or fifty years-FINAL, "
ERNAL SEPARATION, DIsUNIoN. As for con- p1
est and subjugatiJn of the South. l will W
It impeach the Intelligence of any man ne