Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-14
From the corr:nth (saiss} Advert tssf, Feb. 9.
The Position ofthe Cotton states.


Recent developments point with lnerring
directness to the greatest struggle yet fonghs
between the friends and enemies of the
American Union Virginia, the mother of
States and Presidents, has, by an almost
unanimous, voice declared for its -preserEa-
ton. and to-day Tennessee will, We hazard
the opinion. follow in Der. foot steps, Their
action will control the action Of all the bor-
der States If the Peace Conference at Wash-
ington shall settle upon plan of adjustment.
That that body viii agree upon an adjust
mens we have every reason to believe. which
will force upon the Cotton States who have
seceded, the question OF reunion. In con-
sidering their probable action we must con-
suit their previous history upon this point.
Even the Convention of this State, so unani-
nous in its passage ofthe ordinance of secess-
ion, voted down by large majority, n rosolu-
ton against reunion. If the Convention. under
the excitement of highly wrought sensatio
dispatches. would refuse to pass such reso-
luton, it certainiy-is safe to assume that the
people, who, in many cases were induced to
vote for secession candidates under an assu-
rance that they were not dsunionists,
would by large majority favor re-
union. Indeed, so conscious were the
disunionists of the opposition Of the peo-
pie to secession, that they refused to refer the
question back for their approval. But, Mis-
sissippi-saying South Carolina and Florida
lis the most of all of the States now out
committed in sentiment against re-construc-
ton; therefore, her citizens will the more
readily agree to reunion when Alabama and
Louisiana agitate tor the repeal of their Sc
cesson Ordinances. If for no other reason,
interest, the great prompter of human action,
would force them to acquiesce in the nrcessi-
ty and bow to Federal authority. OF one
thing, at least, we believe the intelligent
looker-on is fully convinced, viz: that civil
war or reconstruction is unavoidable. Ertn
The first iery for the government has eraspe
rated the already 6urdened toz payers, as to only
require leader 10 induce them 10 resist the coliec-
ton of the taz. That leader, ere long. will
be found there can be no doEbt, unless turn
in public affairs shall lake place; for many.
now quiet under the belief that the burdens
of an independent government will be Oh
Waited by reconstruction, tciU become iasuh0r-
diae chen hope is lost for reoonstruction and The
border sldrs STATES refuse 10 enter Tie Southern
alliance.
In a passionate review of the whole field.
the mind is forced to the conviction that the
question in the seeded States, will be re-
union or separate existence. That it will be
Unexpectedly discussed is as sure as that
the question is the most exciting one that
could be presented to the voter. nor can it
be disguised that the minority party will be
FESTIVE under defeat. If the border States
refuse TO secede, as we think they will, and
the cotton States refuse to go back into the
Union, strong prejudice will at once be
engendered between these sections, laying
the axe at the root of the tree of Southern
progress, for none who know human nature
can doubt that realiat0ry legislation ,oiN be
adopted By the cotton States TO force them on, of
the Union, uiich a0iN merely erqsperate them in
return to a like policy. elimination aud recrim-
ination will be the order of counter legisla-
ton, paving the way to the sure destruction
of both
If the border States had been consulted,
and had consented to dissolution of the
Union, the numbers and power of the new
government would have given confidence,
and insured the obedience of the citizen; out
to-day, by our precipitate action, zoe hare lost
The confidence Of the other States, as ,ceU as Of our
o,On citizens many Of a0hom consider the uhole
proceeding illegal and revolutionary, and look acifh
pleasure at the probable enforcement Of the loaos of
that government to achom they claim to QUE supreme
allegiance. That this is now question in
North Mississippi we think there is no doubt,
and it must grow into solid proportions be-
fore the regular State election, this fall is as
clear No longer ago than last Saturday we
saw letter from the central part of the State
complaining of the States action, and asking
for material aid from friends, stating that our
financial troubles, coupled with the failure
of crops, would force many of our best citi-
zens to seek protection in the non-secediug
States against what is considered onerous
taxation.
Arkansas and Tennessee are now looked
to by those who abhor civil com motion, as a
retreat in the last resort; while many are
forced, as per necessity, to stay and fight
through the revolution, there being no sale
of lands or other property at half the origi-
nal prices. These considerations, the most
potent, will surely bring crisis this summer
to be decided at the ballot-box or in blood.
Mark the predictionl