Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-19
WASHINGTON. Jan. 6. 1851.

Georgia.
WASHINGTON, JAN, 6, 1861.
Gentlemen Having been elected by a confiding
constituency to represent them in the most impor-
tant Convention that ever assembled in our State
trust you viii not consider it amiss in me- the Re
presentltiye of the same constituency, to advise
with you upon the present condition of National
affairs For years past the rights of our people have
been assiled by party who havelabored to secure
the CONTROL Of our Genral Government. Their eff
forts have been crowned with success. need not
describe TIE intense excitement that pervaded the
South at this unfortunate result The institutions
of the Southern States were threatened with over
throw and demolition; for the prevention of this,
parties were ignored and party lines obliterat.
ed-new issues were presented for considera-
ton. Some, already satisfied that the South could
no longer remain in this Union, were prepared for
immediatei action others, beleveing that by con-
sutaton and conference among the Southern States,
! some adjustment could be effected and our rights
secured without dismembering the Union, urged
cooperation and delay All 1 believe, were actH-
ated by the metives-the maintenance of 0ult-
e17s interests and Southern honor. Knowing
you were co-opperationists from desire to do
simple juitiee to those sister States who Sre
identified with our peculiar institutions
and that you would resist aggressions upon your
rights, come whence they might am prepared to
believe that you will be as prompt to act as
the foremost of those who make holder pro-
fessons. That you believed your rights had
been assailed no one will doubt-that you
were ready to maintain those rights / do not
for moment question, but you believed they
could be preserved under the Constitution aud in
the Union. Such hope, | own, animated me-.
could not believe that American citizens descended
from a common ancestry bound together by the ties
of revolutionary memories, were so lost to every
sense of justice, to deny equality in common
heritage. knew that for party purposes, they had
advocated principles which supposed they would
hesitate to carry into execution and that, crowned
with success, they would then be just. So believ-
ing, hesitated to commit myself to any policy be-
fore one more effort could be made TO secure our
equality in this Government. That effort has been
honestly, fdrLy made. A Committee was appointed,
in both branches of our Federal legislature to de-
wise some mode of settlement some measure of re
dress. Those Committees met, and every Uroposi-
ton that favored Southern equality was rejected.
The Senate Committee were soon discharged. Most
Of the Southern members of the House Committee
have abandoned it. despairing of satisfactory adj
justment Of existing difficulties.
That il might have been otherwise had the South,
in solid phalanx, presented her ultimatum a con-
dtion of peace and union / cannot doubt; but en-
bOldened lby the divisions in some States and the
seeming Indifference of others, they have persist
emily refused every demand every guarantee. In
view of these facts, 1 decided in my own mind,
Georgia Sboatld not submit, and Immediately tele-
graphed my convictions to the people of my own
county urging cooperation with those States who
were preparing TO be equals in the Union or indie
pendent out OF IL"
The action of the Cotton States and the danger
that threaten the Union aroused the Representa-
tiVes of ali parties Of the border States They met
in Convention. Hope again revived. The bow of
promise was indistncty seen through the surround
ing gloom. They agreed upon the Crittenden Com
promise, which had been previously rejected
though not satfactory to the South for the sake of
harmony and Union, many favored il. Yesterday
the result of their action was presented to the
House, when the Republicans so far from sustain
ing it, refused the South the poor boon of recsiUg
and printing TIE resolutions. Their action is in
accordance with the a resolution passed in caucus
to oppose al compromises. They plant themselves
upon the Chicago platform, nor will they aban-
don it.
Recent Developments Cooking to ooerciTe meas
ures,) have made them more bold and resolute. al
hope IS gone The most credulousa despair
We cannot be equals IN this Unton Shall we become
serfs and slavesT know you win answer never
for we have no " portion in David. neither have we
inheritance in the son of jesse What course
then does duty dictate: To your tents, on Israel
Cooperate toitb hose States seho hare determined upon
Independence unless some adjustment shall be effect
ed between now and the day of your action. We
shall have the cooperation desired. Eight States
will soon be in Southern Confederacy. Others
will soon follow. Georgia has been true to the
Unon-she Is also true to her Southern sisters, be-
cause she is identified with thera in feeling and in
terest Let Georgia, then. be unit in her Con-
Vention. Already the Republicans plead, in
extenuation Of their course, that respectable
minority IN our state las well as others are opD0s
ed TO action and fdeOr submission do not believe
it. | believe if my countrymen knew the stats of
affairs here-the determined opposition to them and
their insttutionsthey would nat hesitate to strike
for independence. By so dong, we may avert civil
war for if or two States only act, the General
Government, presuming upon their weakness. may
attempt to coerce them into subsection by force Of
arms. Could Georgia be neutral in such Conflict =
A common sympathy. common interest a common
destiny all force negative response. The first gun
fred at a citizen Of a sister State would summon
our men TO arms for none are so base, hope as to
be hstless in such cause. Let US, then be united
Then will Georgia concerted actiOnspeak thunder
tones to her sister Southern States of sympathy and
cooperaticn-to her Northern sggrsssors, Of resist