Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-18
Hon. Jere. Clemens.

This gentleman, elected from Madison
county, Ala, To the State Convention as an
opponent Of secession. voted for the seces
sion ordinance The following remarks, in
explanation of that vote, were made by him
when his name was called:
Mr.. President Each member Of this
Convention. however anDTetsnding may have
been the oIscuTity uf his past life, this day
writes a name liz history which will endure
long after we ourselves shall have passed
from the stage of action. In honor or re-
proach; in glory or in shame, there 1t Is
stamped, aud stamped forever Under such
circumstances | feel that word Of explana-
ton "a 10 my course will not be ont OF place
| shall vote for this Ordinance; but frank
ness and fairness requires me to sag that L
would not vote for it il its passage depended
upon that vote. II it was left to me TO de-
eide whether this plan of resistance, or an
other, should be adopted, L have already in
dictated strong preference for that other
which you have voted down.
As matters now stand. my vote will not af-
feet the decision of the question here in one
way or the other. l am looking beyond this
Hall, aud beyond this hour. The act you are
about to commit, Is, 10 my apprehension,
treason. and subjects you. if unsuccessful, to
all the pains and penalties pronounced
against that highest political crime, or no
blest political virtue, according TO the mo-
tives which govern its commission. What
ever may be my opinion OF the wisdom and
justice OF the course pursued by the majority,
| do not choose that any man shall put him
self in danger of halter in defence of the
honor and rights of my native State, without
sharing that danger with him.
j give this vote therefore. partly as an as
surance that intend in good faith to redeem
the pledge which l have made again and
again. in public and in private, in speeches,
and through the press, that whenever the
summons came to me TO defend the soil of
Alabama, whether it was at midnight or mid
day-wbeiher l believe her right or wrong,
it should be freely, promptly answered.
Sir, never had 4 doubt rs TO the course 1t
became me to take in such an emergency as
this. | believe your Ordinance to be wrong
If | could defeat it would; but know L
canuOt. Ii will pass, and when passed it be-
comes the act of the State of Alabama. As
such | will maintain and defend it against
all aud every enemy, as long as | have
hand to raise in It's defence. As an earn"7f
that l mean what | say, L am about TO p:-e
myself in position from which there can be
no retreat.
| have other reasons, Mr.. President, which
do not mention here, because to do so would
in some measure cOunteract them. They are
known to my friends, and there l shall leave
them, until time aud the course of events
shall render their publication proper. For
the present it Is enough to say that l am
son OF Alabama; her destiny Is mine; her
people are mine; her enemies are mine. /
see plainly enough that clouds and storms
are gathering above Us: but when the thuu-
der-bolts and lightning flashes. trust that /
shall Deither shrink nor cower-neither muir
muir nor complain. Acting upon the cOnvic-
tions OF lifetime, calmly and deliberately l
walk with you into revolution. Be its per-
ils-bc its privatiOhs what they may, L shore
them with you, although as member OF
this Convention l opposed your Ordinance.
Side by side with yours, Mr.. President, my
name shall stand upon the original vote, and
side by side with you | brave The consequent
ces | vote in the affirmative.