Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-31


share Of las reyshue That is tie sort Of coercion
which George IL atsxpted to pat in force against
the revoltsd American eolonies. He made war upon
them fof no other purpose but to compel them 10
pay The tea tax and the stamp dsfy Is sucb a war
consistent with the principles of American freedom?
Ii 60, then you can prosecute your war for fac pur
pose of collecting the revenue, AID yet use ne CO.
ercion- suppose the Constitution Of the United
States made 1t the especial duty Of the Government
to coerce every Stats that was not willing subjects
to its control; what would you do? You would
only enforce the law; the very thing, sir YOU now
claim that you will do, and yet you will not CO.
cree.
Mr.. Chairman, let this thiag be attended %. not
that invite it, but let 1t be attendedto: or wbs can
imagine the terrible consequences that nst resr.g
Is At not known that one, FIVE fifteen States can
not be conquered and held in srbjeceion9 Il can
not be done; do claim that we can cououor the
Norts. What did 10 cost this Goyernment5to get
hfteen hundred Seminole warriors out of tho ever
gladss Of Florida We expended more than thirty
million dollars out of the public Treasury in that
little war; and now, when you talk Of conquering
States, the whole arithmetic fails ia figures to cOupt
the cost that will follow the attempt / submit
THIS not as threat, but 90 the plain consequences
OF an act of this character. If such roicy as this
lsto result in no good to any porten Of the Uaion,
out IN intermiraoe evil, submit, why is it Reees-
sary or expedient? And let me say, here. that all
that is ssid or done upon this subject Of conauernr
OF using force, or coercion, bat adds fuel 10 the
flame through the whole South II this Govern
ment had manifested a more pesceabe disposition.
and had, from the commencement Of this excite
ment, proclaimed through Congress that no force
would be used, believe that not more than ono
Slate would have, been out of the Union AZ tins
time. We should have had more time for ssttle-
NETT of these difficulties
The remedy, if remedy there be. is in ooncilia
tlont Read, II you please, your writers upon the
subject Of national laws and they universally con-
cur Ia the idea that tbs true and proper mode Of
putting down civil war is to grant to the people
what they ask. And what has he South asked
which should not be granted! She has never come
into the Congress Of the United States and asked
for the passage of law favoring and establishing
slavery upon any portion Of tho continent She
has only asked that all the rights we have shall be
protected oy the Government. We do not,get lights
from this Government We have them over and
above the Government. The Government does
not create rights, but only protects them Gov
ernments are established to protect rights !,
and We only ask that Congress shall pass laws
to protect rights which we already possess
If this matter il to be settled-snd possibly it
may bet must be done by q concession Ald
what do you yield What do our Northern friends
yield Nothing absolutely nothing. They will
have the same rights in the Territories which we
will have The feeling all over the South is seoual-
ity IN the Union, or independence cut of it." That
Is tae watch word That is the feeling of our SEQ
pie of all sections. SO far as my information ex.
tends y.
My constituents have not been, nor have been.
for secession. We have hoped for safety in the
Union, and have desired that all means to effect
that end shall be exhausted before resort is had to
disunion. But while we waited for your returning
sense OF justice towards US; disunion has oyertaken
us; four and perhaps five, States have seeded ana
the forts and srsenals from North Carolina to the
Rio Grande, are nearly all in possession Of the Sc
cedlng States We can be content with no adjustment
that will not unite the South with US. The South
ern States have common interest and common
destiny.
You censure the Southern States for their precip-
ltsncy. Upon this subject We # ts~ Norder slave
States have more reoson to conplainthan 70 l. They
end we have told you fer years IA .Ae most solemn
manner, that we could not submit to your agrees
sons, and, entreat you forbear yet you have not
Needed but have nsulted US aad told ms that it was
with us mere boastfulness.
You complain that the seeding State have seized
the forts and sother public property. These forts
were permitted to be erected in these States for their
defense, and the arms that have been taken were
placed there for the same purpose. The Federal
Government has no rigat to use this property for
any other purpose. And whenever the peo-
pie who had granted The sites Of the forts
Tor their defense discovered that they were to be
used for the opposite purpose-ef sn attack upon
them-it was not only just but wise, for them to
see that they were used for their Defense the legi
mate purpose for which they were erected.
You claim that Florida and other States we're
purchased and paid for snd that they cannot there
fore, sscede Gentlemen are surely for revivng the
doctrines Of the dark ages Of the common law, by
which they would make the inhabitants of the pur-
chased territory williams in grcss" attached to the
freehold, aud bought and sold with it. Florida cost
S5,0O0,000 Every State of the old thirteen was
purchased They cost the blood of the Revolution
"a price greatly above that paid for our subse-
quent acquisitions. In all the treaties acquiring
territory, we have stipulated for their admission as
States upon terms of equality with the original
States. This fact at once answers this objection.
The States. new and old, equal il rights in
every particular.
You could have quietei the country, and restored
peace and prosperity, at no sacrifice but the yield
ing of yeur prejuiices We cannot, without rain
and dishonor, in the language Of q distinguished
SoutherneT:
"We may for q generation enjoy comparative
ease, gather up feet in beds and die in peace
but our children will 60 forth beggsred from the
homes Of their fathers. Fishermen will cast their
nets where -FOUR proud commercial navy now rides
at anchor, and dry them upon the shore DOW cover
ed with your bales Of merchandise. Slapped. cir
cum5ented, undermined, the institutions Of your
soil will be overthroWn; and within five and twenty
years the history of st. Domingo will te the record
Of the South. If dead meas bones can trembe
ours will move under the muttered curses Of sons
and daughters, denouncing the blindness and love
Of casa which have left them an inheritance of woe
This calamity we will avert; peacefully if we esn,
forcbly if We must