Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-26

VISTA T-eruexse ratIfy the EOa.Ds =
efon7
- =. -, ,o,v remain of the present Admin
- On Monday next the sectional anti
= so,;,at;op Of Abraham Lincoln viii CON-
49," For the first time in the history of our
nel S.,,1t rule viii be initiated which owes
~ .,,ocos, to the exclusive votes of party
- a uarticular section of the Union and which
! .vowedly hostile and insulting to the portion of
the Ccnfederacy in which the destiny of Tennes-
scans is cast. This party has been fighting for pow
er, under various Names for quarter of century.
Under the plausible name of Republican" it has
at length succeeded IN the face Of the warnings and
protests of the South in obtaining possession of the
Federal Government and Decorating the flag that
floats over the Capital to its own unholy and fra>
tricidal purposes 1t will be the darkest day that
the Union ever knew-the gloomiest period in the
annals of civil and well regulated iberty-the most
portentous to the glory of the Confederacy
But the fat has gone forth. LINCOLN was at ieass
elected according to the forms of the Constitution
as his followers boast. Happy would it be ior tne
people if its spirit had not been debased ana Tram
pied down in the contamination of the foul anu i'"i
deed
Tennessee has elected to await the issue ana 10
try thsexperiment of Black Republican rule truSt
ing to the sober second thought of the dominant
party which is about to make its first entrance
no,ro. ,sbss with victory and drunken with the
desire ofheyenge We have distrusted the pohcy
and have 10 confidence in its WISDOM we nave
locked in vain for any rational ground OF
m returning sense of justice in the Black RepuD-
ko.r marty. We have seen no settlement of the
issres betyveen the North and the South that were
at m lust or honorable, proposed by that party On
tbs contrary. we have witnessed the summary re-
lection of the most moderate propositions OF South
ern men, by an Overwhelming vote.
We have seen an army quartered at the Federal
capital upon mere pretence of military chleftaln
shown to be destitute of evidence to sustain IT, by
committee of Congress. We have seen force bhls'
voted for by the dominant faction for the purpose
of making war upon seeded States we nave
hoard declaration after declaration from the leaders
of the dominant faction, that the revenue viii be
collected by blockade, and the forts retaken IN the
States that have declared their independence OF the
Faderal Government. and have deliberately resumed
the bowers hitherto delegated by them The question:
then presents itself forcibIy TO the minds OF lhe
peope of Tennessee will they not set their races aS
flint AGAINST this bloody and fatal coercion doetrle
| which must consolidate all power IN the hahus oi
the Federal Government, deny the right OF people,
ca clearly declared in the Tennessee Dill OF
| r;obts N alter reform or abolish their form Of
Government in such manner as they may think prop
az and which must eventually convert the Federal
mower into central military despotism. Even II
Tennessee should ultimately herpostion in the
Confederacy of the North it is her part, as sister
/ boxyi m
stitution assailed by common foes, common sympa-
thes and common associations In the past 70 Doiuy
and firmly declare that this fFatricdal war snail NOT
90 on without manly and united resistance on the
part of her citizens This much is due to the cause
of peaoe. humanity and fraternity. If virginia
Tennessee and the Border slave States VIII
unite. hand in hand, in this declaration, they may
preserye our country from one Of the most desola-
ing Hand bloody civil wars that ever dlsgraceo
the annals of civilization. They may preserve
neace. restore the steady channels Of business and
checkmate the bloody designs Of the coerclonlsts.
Let them say that, in no shape and under no pre-
tence shall war be inaugurated or force used viii
the seeding States Let them declare that all cause
for dispute shall be removed by selling the forts
arsanas and backwards in the seeded States to thu
authorities thereof, and that the independence o
these States shall be formally acknowledged, by Con
gress. OF Convention of the States, as soon as j
can be done. and the question of peace or war vii
be settled The seeded States propose to pay &c
the Federal Governmen. a just compensation FOL
the property of the United States within their limits
and they are not willing that frowning fortresse'
and menacing redoubts shall defy their power anC
threaten their rights They declare their READINGS;
at any time to enter into negotiation to settle &C
counts fairly and Justly with the Federal Govern
ment, not only in respect to these fortresses, ou
also to other public property and the com
mon debt. How much more humane, just
wise and christian would 1t be 1oF ll'
Border States of the South, assisted by such o
the Northern States as may agree on the PROPOSE
ton to bring about such settlement, than to desc
late the land by civil and fraterna war, and afte
the expenditure of the blood and treasure OF thu
country and the destruction of all business interests
) to arrive at the same result in the end
The sickening cant Of ssme Black Republicans
that it is necessary 20 demonstrate that we have
Government, by coercing seeded States shoai'
never be listened to by proud and chivalrous Ten
nessee 1t is the same brutal cry that inspired In
ministers of George the Third to make war upo'
the American colonies and thus hold rebels IN cheek
At the end of seven yesrs disastrous war; he wa
; compelled to acknowledge the independence Q
} the United States, and thus to have eXtoFl
ed from him what he might have Vo
UNFAIRLY acknowledged at first, ard save
the British Parliament and people the humi
iatou of doing, under duress, what they might an
ought to have dope, of their own free will and a:
cord.
Let Tennessee, Virginia. and their sister States
} the Border. then take the high ground THAT ther
shall be no coercion no war, and that the ndepeI
dence of the Confederate States of the South shout
) he speediIy acknowledged and they will do SCI
vice TO the great principles on which American il
denendenee is based, and to peace and humanit.
) that will gain tkem Fenoyn unsurpassed Dy an
that their former achievements have conferred upe