Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-03-22


beSr We SEQ that the Virginia Convection has
recommended Conference Of The border States to
be held at Frankfort, KY, on the last Monday in
May, and that the Missouri Convention favors the
the project 1t is the true policy, and wehope that
Tennessee will take the necessary steps be repre-
scented in that Conference. II is the last hope of
satisfactory adjustment in the Union, and the Dor
erStates owe to their interests, to theroftavow-
ed determination, not TO relax their efforts until
their rights and equality are properly secured by
additional constitutional guarantees We are con-
stautly reminded, by one class Of politicians, that
pafiel and peace will settle The question satsfac-
tory without further efforts the part of the Dor
der States and whilst we will no undertake to deny
controyert this statement we must be permitted to
refer briefly to some of the reasons why patience
and peace should be backed by determined action
In the first place, all the border States declared
by Conventions and Legislatures that they would
not submit to Republican rule without additional
guarantees for the protection Of their rights and
property, and what those guarantees should be, was
clearly stated in legislative resolves and laid before
Congress. What followed2 The Republicans
rather than surrender single item of their fansti-
cal dogmss-sufiered the Confederacy to be dis
membered; Congress voted down the Crittenden
Amendments, upon which the border States had Ia
ken their stand and the same fate awaited the pro-
ask, then, il the Republicans would not acknowl-
edge the rights and equality of the South in the
Territories, in order to save the Union, whether
they will yield TO seven States that which they de-
MED to ffteen2 We do not assert that they will
not but it is legitimate to infer from their past acts
what we may expect in the future; and taking
this view Of the subject we claim that it is imper-
alive upon the border States TO meet in Conference
and clearly define the terms upon which they are
willing to continue their connection with the North
Every dictate of prudence and manly independence
suggests this course due alike 10 consistency and
security As we argued, months ago, the greater
the number of secessons the greater the necessity
for additional security to the rights and property Of
tie onseceding States butt seems that thousands
are ready to reverse the rule and in proportion to
the weakness of the border States is their disncli
nation to demand the guarantees which, alone eau
make them safe and coequal with the States of the
North In other words, thousands who declared,
but short time since, their determination to 90 for
secession if their demands were not conceded seem
willing to pass under the yoke of Republican rule
without further struggle or protest. This
was not our understanding of the position of the
Union party as taken in the beginning of this sec
tiona contest and we labored for a final settle
ment of all veXed questions, or dissolution of CO.
partnership. This we understood 10 be the posi-
ton Of all who were not for mm ediate secession
upon that understanding we acted-upon il we shall
continue to act, hoping for an honorable adjust
ment, but resolved to give no countenance to the
policy which would secure peace and union by I'M
conditional submission. If the Union is to be re-
constructed it must be through the agency of the
border States, which can effect that object only by
obtaining such guarantees as will give ample secu-
rity to Southern property in the Territories and to
secure such guarantees, they must be demanded of
the North, in terms explicit and the demand must
carry with it the weight and authority of border
States Conference. The Republicans have rejected
every proposition presented by the South, and have
offered nothing in lieu and we are forced to take
one Of three acknowledgements at once, or make
another vigorous effort to secure our rights or sub
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