Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-12
The Inflammation of BLACK RePublicanism

The Inflammation of BLACK RepubIIcanisms
Was there ever any thing like it When before
= We're ever such appeals made to men 10 power
without effect? Admonshed by all the experience
of the past. admonished by the farewell address
of the father of his country admonished by all good
men of the age of the danger of attempting to gov
ern the country according to the dogmas Of sec
tional platform, admOnished by one whose expe-
rienee as chief executive of the nation had made
him acquainted with the heart of the whole nation
sdmonished by him whose ability had made him
the candidate of the largest division of the Demo-
cratic party, admonished by him who stood
deservedly at the head of the great Union par
ty of the South that the election of a
sectional President, upon sectional platform the
cardinal feature of which hostility to the inst
buttons of the other section section would dissolve
the Union; admonished by the good sense and pa
triotism of SO many eminently wise and just men;
the party persisted nevertheless, with zeal worthy
Of better cause, until it has at last thoroughly
succeeded in arraying the one section against the
other and thus placing itself at the head of the gov
eminent. ~
Speaking for ourselves individually, and those
with whom we have acted we have little to ask, nor
have we expected any thing at its hands. Fsnat.
cism never yet suecumbed to the voice of reason
never yet laid down its weapons until conquered
by the strong arm of power, or exhausted by it.
own exertions. We have fought it if not wisely
yet boldly persistently and defantly. Others have
opposed it, we will not say with less PATRIOTS pur
poses, but less violently. They have confded more
than we in its honesty and have trusted therefore
more to persuasion, Cancellation and the genter
arts of peace, hoping at least, if not believing
that in view of the mighty interests at stake, the
party when it had once attained to power would
lift itself above the grovelling tricks of the
sectional demagogue and embrace within com
prehensiye patriotism the interests of the whole
section.
The Union party of Tennessee and the border
slave States, condemning the action of the Gull
States precipitate, resolved to stand by the Adj
ministration and await further developments as to
the policy by which it would govern. They dared
hope, notwithstanding all the evidences to the con
trary thatit would yet be just to the South, and il
so,that the Union might yet be reconstructed. But
though unwilling to encourage farther disinte-
grafton by iustfying the action of the seeded
States they felt in their hearts that the actof
sion was at least so far palliated, by the wrongs,
and the insults which had been heaped upon them
and us, that they would not back the Government
up in enforcing obedience at the lannon's mouth.
In consideration of their own forbearance they
felt that they had right to demand that their coun-
ellis should be heard and respected, and their hands
strengthened the patriotic work Of restoring the
Unino To this end they demanded peace forbearance
Cancellation and such concessions as shonld at last
calm public apprehension as to their future policy.
How these just expectations have been answered
each man will judge for himself. Every important
Office within the gift of the President except those
of purely local character has not only been con-
ferred upon Black Republicans, but upon those
whom it was believed, each in his particular sphere
would exercise the largest influence iHiprgudcing the
interests Of the South. We shall be represented
abroad in every nation with which we have inter
course, by men who will glory in the opportunity of
defaming US and tanning the flames of prejudice
which have already been excited against u.s. by their
previous SANDERS
Al this is humiliating enough, yet it might have
been borne, had peaceful policy prevailed But
while patriotic men of the South have been aboring
for a reconstruction of the Union at the very mo-
ment when Virginia is giving her whole strength to
the Hercuean task, the last hope is blasted by the
insane attempt of the Government to subjugate the
seeded States. tits than mockery to pretend
that the Government is standing on the defensive
To provoke war, without the manliness to strike
the first blow, is simply an act of cowardice and
meanness unworthy the character of great nation,
and deserves only that contempt with which its i'm
becility had already partially inspired the whole
country. The people of Tennessee have tried what
virtue is in persuasion, they will not fear to try the
only argument which tyrants dread.