Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-21
The Patriot submits to us the following

LIST. Whether il THE Union and Americoal is in
favor Of any further effort of any SORT on The part
of the people of Tennessee, to continue tne Cnon'
and to restore il to its integrity as whole.
2nd Ii So in what shall that effort consist ana
whatpropositions shall it embrace
3D. Is il in favor Of going out Of the Union uncon-
ditionally, and joining the Confederate states at
onceS
zEh. If not, would it accept the proposition sub
mitted by the late Peace Conference, as sumcient
to iustify Tennessee in remaining in the Union :
These questions are based on the existing status
Of the country, and are not propounded IN view OF
anything that might happen hereafter, such as civil
war, or direct attempt on the part OF the kepuo-
lican Administration to interfere, by legislation,
with the rights of persons or property, either IN the
States or Territories. And in order that our res
pected contemporary may have no hesitation on the
subject and that it may have no unsatished curlosl-
ty as to our own views, we answer, for ourselves,
the first question in the affirmative the second, In
favor of the Peace Conference proposition the
third in the negative; and the fourth in the affirm
alive.
The Patriot is aware that we have ever been ex-
ceedingy prompt in responding to its interrogations
notwithstanding the fact that queries for its
consideration have not always been answered.
Without circumiocuton we reply toit: LIST. We will
favor any effort of any kind that will probably re-
store the Union "to its integrity as whole" I'd.
We mention as one effort the proposal by Congress
at its extra session or during the present year. such
amendments to the Constitution of the United States
upon the subject of slavery as have been en-
bodied in the Constitution of the Confederate
States. Oar answer TO the first and
second interrogations embodies our answer
to the third 4th. Without regard to Ulion or Dis
union we consider the Peace Conference proposition
as surrender of essential rights, which we now
have under the Constitution, as construed by the
Supreme Court of the United. We are not willing
to surrender anything further to keep Black Repub-
lcan States in the Union. These answers ARE based
on the existing status of the country" We regard
the policy Of the Patriot calculated if not intend
ed, to direct the public mind from the practical
Issues which are now forcing themselves upon US,
whether we viii or not. The question of Peace or
Civil War The question of the Independence or
Subugation of the seeded States Can the people of
Tennessee We reflected upon all the horrors all the
heart-rendng calamities of war the SORROWS Of the
living and the groaLs of the dying when they talk
of refusing to acknowledge the independence of
their Southern brothers and friends, and threaten
their subiugation if they resist the enforcement of
the laws OF the United States.
Can there be any one so blind as not to see that
next to an impossibility? Black Republicanism
anti-slavery is triumphant throughout the North
The fend of fanaticism will not, in its flush of
pride, yield to the demands of the Seceders the
Border States. We might PROFOUND questions to
the Patriot. We might ask whether or not it would
be willing to secede if the Peace Conference prop
osItion should be rejected by the North How
long is it willing to wait: If Tennessee secede,
will It favor going into the Southern Confederacy,
forming Middle ConfederacyH With whom ought
Tennessee to act, if the Southern Confederacy re-
sist blockade by the United States, the enforce
ment of the Federal laws? Is it for BELL or JONI
son for the Senate? These questions which we
might PROFOUND to the PGtrio. We do not insist
upon an answer to them. We have no desire to
embarrass the Patriot or mislead the public. Cues
tiOns too momentous are now pressing too heavily
upon the attention of the people.