Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-17


am candidate TO represent you in the
first Congress of the Confederate States of
America under the permanent Constitution.
The election will be held on Wednesday, the
9th of next month, and the Congress will as
semble in Richmond, Virginia, on the 18th
day of February, 1862. Esa.s -14
1t would afford me great pleasure to take
each voter of the District by the hand. and
Of public affairs The limited time, however,
which intervenes before yOn are called on to
make your selection of Representative, viii
DENY me this satisfaction. 1 therefore address
you this brief letter. sf1.1s.
We are in the midst of revolution-tbe
end of which no man can fOresee. 1t may
terminate in six months, and it may not IN
as many years There is but one way to Sc
cure peace, and that is to conquer it.
NV devotion 10 the Union formed by our
fathers, is well known. Iclung to it so long
as there was hope of its preservation. That
my position. past and present, may be clearly
understood, let me add, that did not reiin-
quish this hope until 1 read Lincoln's procia-
nation of April last. That document carried
war upon its face; proposed Union,
not of affection, but of military force;
arrayed one section of the country against
the other in line of battle, and inau-
gurated policy of coercion, which
have always believed destructive alike of
the Union and liberty it professed to defend.
Its results have strengthened these early con-
victims. Under pretext of sustaining the Com
stitution and laws, Lincoln and the madmen,
who control him, have trampled both under
foot. They have set up bloody partizan
creed as the ruling idea of their Administra-
ton, and have utterly annihilated every prin-
ciple of freedom 1t is worse than idle to
think or dream of such Union as once claim
ed the fealty of the entire country, or to look
forward to any future other than our own
unity and independence. zs-
Such being my deliberate judgment, feel
| all the indignation that true Southern man
can feel against those whose hands are black
| ened with these crimes, and who would add
to their guilt, the subjugation of the South,
| and the reduction of its fair States to the
miserable slavery of conquered provinces.
have said that no one can tell When this
war will end. But it does appear to me that
it requires but small share of sagacity TO
predict hoas it will terminate. As sure as a
just God is offended with the oppressors OF
mankind, so sure will its close witness our
independence. On this point do not enter
tain one single doubt or apprehension.
Old political issues belong to past era
old party lines are now effaced-old personal
grudges and contentious are receding before
an enemy to each and all of us-and the
freemen of the South are standing in solid
column, throughout which beats but one
heart of defiant courage and purpose. With
ered. be the tongue, which. for its own selfish
objects, would mar this patriotic harmony OF
feeling and aim. With myself, old party
quarrels are sealed book. So shall they
remain, at least during the existence of the
present war. 1t will be time enough to settle
past disputes. if we have any to settle, when
peace is restored to the South, and her States
have won their independence and recognition
| from our oppressor and all the world. And
L viii further say that heartily endorse the
following letter from President Davis to Mr.
Nelson 49,. - - - .l.-a.-1.-i z