Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-25
Al Few words for Honest Union Men.

You will admit that the Constitution Is the
sole basis of the Federal Union. Without 1t
there could have been no Union in the past,
and can be no satisfactory Union for the fI-
ture. The fram-rs OF that instrument. 10 the
preamble to it. thus set forth its design and
objects We, the people of the Unit, d
States, in order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice. insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defence. promote the
general welfire, and secure the blessings of
Liberty to ourselves and our poSterity, do or
dain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America" Such was the
foundation and purpose of the C1nsiit ton.
Within the past three months every one oi
these ObjeeIs have been defeat c.
Ist. Instead of more perfect Union we
have one Infinitely less perfect than that
which held the States together before the
adoption of the Constitution. Prior to that
time the Stats were at peace with each 9TH
er. They recognized each others rights and
sovereignty But now they are totally and
irrevocably disunited, and one portion of them
are making a cruel, atrociods and unnecessa-
~ war upon the other portion. The first
Object has, therefore. totally Jailed.
2nd. The establishment of justice has
equally failed in that the G ,vernment has
been perverted in its public administration
into positive engine OF iuj Istice aud Oppres-
sion. Ii seeks to deprive one portion of the
people of essential rights which it secures to
another por ion. 1t denies TO the Southern
people the rights which it guarantees to the
Northern people. to go into and occupy any
portion of the common territory with proper
ty of any and every description, which they
may see proper to carry with them That Is
the rankest Injustice. as the mere statement
of the proposition shows.
3rd. How far II is made tn inEnra dOmes-
tic tranquility let the unexampled wal
preparations of the hour, and the clangOr OF
arms throughout the country, answer.
4th. Instead of providing for the common
Defence the Constitution is held out By the
administration as the warmest, not orly for
not providing for the common defence, but
the actual invasion and attempted subjuga-
ton of one section by another. Whilst tn
government, established under the Constitu-
ton. was designed 10 protect every portion
of the country from invasion from every qIar-
ter, aud ifinvaded, to defend, by the common
blood and treasure, snch invaded part, it is
so perverted as to be made the authority for
attacking The citizens of States. which the Adj
ministration expressly holds 20 be under its
protection.
5,h. To what extent it is made 'to promote
the general welfare may be inferred from
the universal gloom and disaster which over
spreads the land, and which threatens to over
wheIm the bests interests of all classes in
both sections.
9Th TO secure the blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our pOsteTiIy, is not now with
in the range of possibility under the present
administrative agents of the government. or
aug future ones holding similar opinions
The party in power is moved by principles
in direct opposition to the liberty and equal
ity of the Southern city n. and it is now sus-
tanned by the united voice. power and re-
sources of the North. IT. fist act Is one of
active, aggressive. bloody war upon The
South Ii denies Us rights which we consider
essential to cur welfare, and the right to al
ter, change or abolish our government. when
il fails to secure our comfort and happiness.
Instead of securing our liberty, it attacks and
seeks to overthrow it
Such is the total defeat of every objrct
which prompted the Union. Every one of
its purposes has ben violated and over
turned, in the aggregate and in detail Do
you still cling TO u Union which has forfeited
every claim to your conf ience and allegi-
ancef One out of which all of life and Vi
tality, virtue and justice has drpdrt,d for
ever. Do you still embrace the skeleton
when the life and q ssb have vanished Arisel
shake of the prejudices of the past, and strike
for the future and for Liberty.