Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-10
The Nashville Press.

1t is with the most sincere qualification that we
announce that the Press of Nashville religious and
political, are unanimously in favor of Tennessee's
formal, declaring her independence of the LIN
COLIN Government, and forming immediate polit-
cal connection with the Confederate States. We
extract from the leading editorial of the Banner CT
Yesterday the subioined. 1t is well known that
our contemporary has been one of the most
devoted adherents to the old Union. After say
ing that the position of those who desire to
continue their connection with the LINCOLN Union
sis too palpably absurd and untenabe" ito be Ion
ger adhered to even by the few who occupy
it." the Banner proceeds:
The next queslion-and the one upon which we
apprehend the most likelihood of a division of the
peOple of the State at the June elections TO the
adOption of the Constitution Of the Provisional
Government at Montgomery. We have heretofore
thought that that question should be left open until
after the conclusion of the war. when ii should be
considered more deliberately, and when the charac-
ter of the constitution. and It's adaptation to the Pc
cuiar interests and character of the people Of Ten
Dessee and of the Border slave States, cOnld be
calmly and fully considered. These reasons still
hold good but the exigences of actual war which
are daily pressing more closely upon suggest
other considerations which, in our judgment,
should outweigh all the objections heretofore
urged to the adoption of this constitution by the
Union-entirely and finally. No one can anticipate
the remotest change for a reconstruction of the
whole Union, and no one now cOntemplates, or even
did contemplate the permanent severance of Ten
nessess from the South and It's Union with North
eru Confederacy The idea Of a middle COnfeder
acv which by the way never met with the approval
of our Judgment was based mainly upon the
pecton that the Southern tier of free States, and
perhaps some OF the middle free States, would be-
come parties to it. The position of those States at
mind of every man. This alternative is therefore
effectualy disposed Of Then what are we to do
Where are we to go: The opponents of an imme-
date political connection with the Confederate
States admit that that's inevitable destiny even
tuaIly, but they urge that should be left to
take their course and should content ourselves at
nresent with close military league Ii we are to go
there eventually-and no one can doubt that must
inevitably become part of that government-why
6elay9 Why temporiZe? What are we to GAIN To
eli intents and purposes we are severed from the
Black Republican Government We repudiate and
scorn and spit upon the men and the spirit By whom
and bv which the best government the world ever
saw has been perverted into engine Of Oppres-
sion to one half of its people because they held an
institution, recognized in the fundamental law, OBJ
noyious to these Union savers Our attitude to the
Federal Union is hostile any action OF our law
makers or our people can make It. by military
league with the South give up to the Contedera-
CIV practically and in effect, as exclusive and full
control of our destiny by full political connec
ton. In the former case we are without represen-
tation in the cOunses of that government-ln the
latter our voice and our influence will be heard and
felt and our local and peculiar interests protected
Il is objected. however, that the Constitution OF
the Confederate States recognizes the doctrine OF
secession. and therefore no consistent opponent o.
that heresy can conscientiOusy vote for It. Admit
that tins doctrine is recognized, and the constitution
an other respects uneXcepuonable. In the position
which Tennessee now occupies-her allegiance to
the old Constitution finally thrown Oh, and her att-
tude OF actual hostility to the government claiming
10 act under It clearly and boldly assumed-her al
lance with the Confederate States openly proclaim
ed, and her res ourCes taxed 10 their utmost ca
pacl;y ID make good the terms of that alliance
should she hesitate upon this single objection TO an
abstract principle, to make the Union with the Con-
federacy complete in political sense, and secure
for herself all the advantages as well as encounter
all the peris and eXgencies of this change of her
political status?
But what is secession and why should its presence
in or absence from the Constitution of the Conede
rate States influence our action? As An abstract
precipe it is absurdity. It is simplv IN claim q
constitutional right to rebel against the Constitution
1t is assumption that the trainers of the Consti
tuition made provision in the instrument itself for
its d struction, the though the builder
Of steamboat. upon which he is TO emhort he
family and his all, should anticipate contngancI,
when he would desire 10 see the whole establish
ment blown up, and should instruct the buiIdar &c
the boilers TO make provision for that Contingency
But practically, what is secession Merely another,
name for revolution an inherent and inalienable
right which 40 people can delegate TO makers of
Constitutions OF trainers of governments Ten
nessee is in a state of revolution. She has re-
volted against the Federal Union, but bases her
right to act upon higher grounds than a Constitu-
tional right The recognition Of the right of seces-
sion then amounts TO nothing, practically an9 it is
the same whether the right is acknowledged in the
fundamental law of government or not; when
ever that fundamental law-is perverted, and its
sTIrt destroyed to the Injury and oppression of any
part of its people, they will assume the RESPONSE
biity of secession or revolution, as has been DEM
pnsrated by the recent action Of the people Of the
South. As long as the honor. interests happiness
and prosperity of free people are consulted, and
their constitutional rights secured in the admins
tratiOn of the government long will that govern
ment exist harmohioJsly, and the minority cheer
fully submIt to the majority. But right or no right
Of secession, no government can be long maintain
ed which Utterly and hagranty disregards these i'm.
portant and indispensable requisites of peTmaneney
and security.
A CAUrIoN.-We beg to suggest to oil Southern
papers the propriety of emitting all mention of t6s
movement of troops, within our borders word