Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-01-04
CT A r X s WILLIE
Friday, January q, 1861.

Ertcsy, january q, 1864.
ssss
E6s- Separate secession is Southern disunion and
Nshs State that adopts it not only abandons all its
rights in the Union but beirays the States to which
II Is bound by community of interests and identity
Of institutions. South Carolina has thus abscond-
81, and Alabama aud Mississippi promise to follow
In her wake, in very few days. These facts de-
mand Of the remaining slave States prompt action
and common purpose; and what that purpose
should be, is too clearly indicated to be Mistaken
We have repeatedly urged that united South
should exhaust every constitutional means for the
preservation of the Union before recourse is had
the extreme measure Of revolution and that the
present opportunity for demanding the full rccogn-
ton of our rights and additional guarantees for
their future security should not be lost. To this
end we have advised conference of the slave
States, and stern demand by them of all we have
q right to claim as equal partners in common gov
eminent; and if this demand be not granted by the
North, then We are for Southern Confederacy.-
This is the only policy that holds out hope of sa-
wing the Union; and if this fail, the responsibility
will rest upon the sectional fanatics who are willing
70 trample upon the rights of the Sonth in defence
Of mock philanthropy. Can the slave States con-
sstently with their honor and safety adopt any 9TH
or policy2 The leading demand of the South du-
ring the last canvass demand based upon the
elearest constitutional rights, and involving the
equality Of the Slates--was that the STAKEHOLDER
should be protected in the Territories and what is
the answer? That the Black Republicans will not
% far orego the fruits of their victory as to suffer
one foot of Territory to be trodden by a slave and
of course, that another slave State shall not be adj
dsd to the Confederacy. Where is the article in the
federal compact which gives to the North all the
Territories, and the power to declare that they
SHALL or shall not, recognize the institution Of sla-
vory3 That power is to be found alone in the will
Of arrogant sectional majority, aud is the South
prepared to back dawn from its position, and COVER
beneath an arrogance whose demands and aggres-
sions will increase with the fecbcLess Of the resist
ance with which they are met Ii So it will he a
tacit admission that the demands of the South are
not based upon justice and that all its threats were
but empty bravado-meriting nothing but Northern
contempt, and inviting additional Northern aggres-
sion.
concede nothing of rightor principle The Consti-
tuition makes all the States equal and guarantees to
them equal protection. The South demands this
protection and if it be denied by sectional major
ity, equality is at end the Constitution is viola
ted, and the agrieved party must seek redress in
revolution, if no other means prove effective. II
slavery be sin, the North is not responsible for it.
and has no right to NEEDLE with it in any shape
Let its abstract opinions of freedom he what they
may, they not of higher authority than the
Constitution, and any attempt to make those opin
ions the rule Of action in the administration of tn,
Government in the face of the law and the Consti
tuition is less revolutionary than secession itself
Were the South in a majority, and shoud undertak,
to destroy the lGborsaving machinery of the North
upon the fanaticH idea that it injurously compete
with free labor, makes the rich richer and the poo
poorer, how earnestly would thai section protes
that the Constitution protects their machineS an,
that the South has no right to interfere with krop
ery thus protected Every such machine tenh t.
ensaye the poor by decreasing the demand for thei
labor, and increasing their necessities; and a NOR
bid philanthropy may with as much jqstice wag
war upon the lahor-saving machines as iumica T.
freedom, as it may denounce Southern institution
as tending to the same end. But would the Mort
submit TO such interference with their machines p
We think not. Then we claim, for the South tn
same right to resist a similar aggression; and if
Northern majority overrule the Constitution aud dc
ny us its protection, there is but one manly an
honorable course left to pursue and that is revolt
ton, by compact and concerted action Separat
secession is cowarily, traorous and utterly d.
struclive of the ends to be attained. Cowardly, b.
canse it is flying from an enemy that should |
boldly met, and abandoning rights which should /
defended tratorous because it is a descrton
friends and allies and destructive because it diyid
the South aud fritters away the strength that unic
would give it. Give us Il united South and a un
ted demand for our constitutional rights and if tn
demand be rejected by the North then let us for
Southern Confederacy. Let this policy be adop
cd at once and the difficulty settled, one way
the other, now and forever We cannot adjourn
with honor or satety--a quiet surrender will nal
the North despisc us, and delay viii but iucrea
the danger that euyirons u.s.
neH- The year 1850 is remarkable for the up,