Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-03-15
Something for Tenne..eans TO Pom
der.

der.
We are panied TO see disposition on The
part of many of the political journalists of
this State to array The people in our ap-
preaching elections in violent autsgoEism.
and to perpetuate the strife incident to past
eordition ct affairs We have often, since
the November election, deprecated the con-
tinued appeal to partiZan feeling and preju-
dice, and insisted that the entire change in
our political affairs which has occurred since
then, should have the effect to release all
former partizau allegiance, and give full
play to the sober judgment and patriotic i'm
pulses OF our people. The opinion of Ten
nessee in the impending national emergency
is important and effective only in proportion
to its uuaniInty. If it is nearly divided in
the next August election, on issues tbaG may
be presented to the people by caucuses or
conventions, its effect will be neutralized on
both sides, and the voice of Tennessee. which
should be potent, will be rendered in great
measure impotent. 1t is our first duty to
guard against such result. In order TO do
go, the people must think and act indepen-
IDENTIFY Of past party obligations. For, if we
are 10 regard the IDEAS which have controlled
our political action heretofore. we shall most
certainly lose sight of the great questions OF
the present; and thus act upon a condition of
things having little or no relation to present
duty. We must, there fore, as far as possible.
ignore the details of the governmental ad-
ministration, and fix cur eyes upon grand
and paramount results. For our part we
are willing to shut our eyes to every thing
but these.
The question which We and the people are
10 decide in August, is not whether this or
that man shall be Governor, or whether this
or that individual shall represent US in Con-
gress or in the State Legislature, to promote
psrtizan or local aims but it is whether we
shall sustain and perpetuate The government.
which the ordeal OF blood and the power of
wisdom gave to Us in I776-17S9. This is
the single question for you and me and all
the people of Tennessee to consider and de-
termine nor. From this great issue We should
noI ~ DG Inverted DV alY
caucus or any convention. in whatever guise
it may speak, or through whatever appeals il
may address US Tennessee in the past has
stood upon the Constitution, and she will
now neither demand more nor accept less
than it contains and guarantees to her. We
now invoke the people to stand precisely OF
that ground. yielding nothing, asking moth
ing which is not their right or the right of the
people OF any other part of the Union under |
that sacred instrument. If they stand on !
this ground they will stand on an impFegna- |
bic rock, which will drive back the broken |
waves that may dash at its base, and proudly |
defy any storm, whether evoked by the f.uat- |
les of the North or the disruptiOnists OF the |
South, that may attack its permancnce. Ii |
is the ark of our political covenant which |
must be preserved if we have any desire or |
hope of reaching the political promised |
land.
We fear that there are schemes in progress, |
or ideas abroad, TO entice the people from this |
position. We think We eeindications of the |
development of opinions, which, if allowed |
to prevail. will topple the State from her |
proud position on the ramparts of the Con- |
aud place her in the ranks of the |
or align her practically with |
the supporters of the Chicago PLATFORM
These schemes or ideas will assume the form |
OF unconditional secession or unconditional |
Union. Let the people beware of both. We |
are not prepared to appropriated out of the |
Union, because others have seen proper TO go |
out on the supposed right of secession, |
nor are we prepared TO stay in the Union, |
in the event that the power of the Govern
ment is attempted to be used to exclude the
people of any of the States from equal rights
under the Constitution. We are for preserv-
ing aud perpetuating the Union; and for
bringing back all the States into one COM
mon fold under that instrument; and we are
satisfied that this cannot be done either by |
secession or by full acquiescence in the |
dogmas of the Republican platform adopted |
at Chicago last May. If the government is |
10 continue we must eschew extremes. We
must labor for its salvation and not for its |
Such is our view, and such also is our |
ground. 1t is the only one which is sound |
and safe. 1t is the ground upon which an |
overwhelming majority of the people of Ten
lessee stand at this moment, and we appeal |
70 them with earnestnsss 10 stand by it |
throughout the approaching contest as one
nan, and not he persuaded or driven from it
y any effort or any Considerations that may
'e made or urged from any quarter.