Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-30
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Nashville, April 18th, 1861.

The President Of the United Statas-elected &C.
cording 10 the forms of the Constitution but upon
waDtonly inaugurated an internecne war between
the people of the slave and Notwithstanding States
/ of this Union, / have convened Won araiu
at the seat of Government for the purpose of en-
ablng you TO take such action as will most likely
contribute the defence of our rights the nreser>
walton of our liberties, the sovereignty of the State
and the safety of our people all of which are now
in imminent peril by the usurpations of the authori-
tea at Washington, and the interruptions fanaticsm
which runs riot throughout the Northern States.
The war thus inaugurated is likely to assume an
Importance nearly, If not equal to the struggle Of
our revolutionary fathers, in their patriotic eff
forts to resist the usurpaIions and throw off the
| tyranncal yoke of the English Government; a war
the duration of which and the good or evil that must
result from it, depends entirely in my Judgment upon
the readiness with which the citizens of the South
harmonic as one people, and the aacritv with
which they respond to the demands of patriotism
do not think it necessary to recapitulate. at this
late hour the long train Of abuses to which the peo
pie Of Tennessee and sister States the South
1 have been subjected by the anti-repubcan spirit
that has for many years been manfesting itself in
that section and which has at last declared itself
| open and avowed enemy. In the Message which adj
dressed TO you at your called session in January last
these things what deliberately referred to,
| as constituting in my judgment, the amplest reason
| for considering ourselves in imminent danger and
as requiring such action on the part of the Legsla
| ture would place the State in an attitHde for
| defence, whenever the momentous crisis should
be forced upon us; and, also presenting to the
North the strongest argument for peace and if pos
sible securing Reconstruction of the Union, thus
already dissolved by the most authoritative formal
and matured action of portion of the slaveholdng
States Minor differences upon abstract questions
the ardent devotion of our people to the preserva
ton of the Union, originating with their great 10y
atty to the Goyernment-and more hopeful view
Of the subject than had been able to take coupled
with the supposed peaceful intentions of the author
tiles at Washington, have resulted in leaving the
State poorly prepared for the sad realities which
are now upon us.
But unfortunate as this may be. am neyerthe-
less encouraged with the belief that we are at last
practically, united people. Whatever differences
may have heretofore existed amongst us, growing
out of party divisions to the right of Secession
as Constitutional remedy against Federal usurpa-
tion all admit the moral right asserted by our faith
ers OF each and every people to resist wrong, and
to maintain their liberties by whatever means may
/ be necessary; that Governments derive their lust
| powers from the consent of the governed and that
| whenever any form Of government becomes des-
tructive of the ends for which it was created it is
the right of the people to alter abolish it, End to
institute new government. laying its foundation
| on such principles and organizing its powers in
such form them shall seem most likely to eff
feet their safety and happiness" Standing by this
| common sentiment; with the bloody and ty-
| ranical policy of the Presidential usurper
| fully before us; in the face of his herdes
of armed sodieIy marching to the work of
/ Southern subjugaton the people of the proud
| Commonwealth of Tennessee true to their honor
1 true to the great principles of free institutions
true to the lessons of their fathers, and true to
their brethren of the South, the subjects of CON-
| mon oppression-have united, almost with one
voice, in declaring their fixed resolve to resist the
yrant; aid in pledging their lives. their fortunes
and their sacred honor to the maintenance of their
rights and the rights of their sister States of the
South.
Itcannot be overlooked that in assuming an attitude
OF this character-forced upon US by the remarka-
bic exigency of the times-we are in effect dissoiv-
ing our connection with the Federal Union. As es-
tablished by fathers, that Union no longer ex-
| ISIS. However much we may have cherished it
heretofore, no intelligent and candid man can deny
that it has ceased to. be blessing, and has become
curse that it is no longer high and sacred means
OF protection, but engine of oppre sion that it
has ceased TO be bond of brotherhood and has be-
come hateful connection between communities at
war. 1t would be idle, therefore to speak Of our
selves any longer members of the Federal Union;
and while it is believed by many, whose opinions
entitled to the highest respect that by reason
OF the subversion of the Constitution by the author
tiles in power, inaugurating revolution between
the States thereof, each and every individual is al
ready released from his former obligations 10 that
government yet, as best COMFORTING with the dign
ty of the subject, and also from due regard to
those who may hold different opinion-and far
action-I respectfully suggest that our connection
with the Federal Union be formally annulled
IN such manner as shall involve the highest
exercise of sovereign authority by the people of
the State, and best secure that harmony much to
be desired IN times like the present upon questions
even of mere detail. Until this is done many con-
scentiOus citizens may feel embarrassed in their
action from their supposed relation to the General
Government. In emergencies like the present
while it is our duty to act with due elaboration
TDhi noCf 70 h1oh Nv xyo;fo
ment or prejudice, it is nevertheless OF the highest
importance that we should act with prompttude
and decision.
Whatever grounds ofhope may have been supposed
to exist heretofore for adjustment of the difficult
ties between the two sections of the Federal Union:
however anxious we may have been to continue
members of the same common family with the peo-
pie of the North, such hope and expectation no
longer exist In the mind of any rational man, who
desires to maintain the honor and equality of the
State and the nviolabty of her peculiar institu-
tions.
The present Administration, elected upon avowed
purposes of hostility to the South-purposes which
all knew then well as now, could not be carried
into effect, without an interncine war and dissolu
ton OF the Union-has exerted every energy resort
ed to every strategy, and disregarded every const
tutiona barrier in order to hasten the accomplish
ment of the unhoy mission for which the people of
the Northern section had elevated it to power |
They have lost no time-they have neither hest |
their Administration was inaugurated-trusting |
while conceding nothing, to lull the South into |
fatal security furnishing ground for divisions in the
Border Slave States, while constant though secret
preparation for the work Of subjugaton was going
on, is now exposed and leaves Us no alternative |
but independence out of the Union or subjugation |
in it. The dishonorable and treacherous practices
which have so far characterized the authorities at
Washington admonish US, that in the impending |
struggle scarcely to expect the rules of hon.
orable warfare. Having its origin in a dis
ordered moral sentiment of the North-not find.
ing the ordinary restraints of patriotism among
their people-deriving its power from usurpaton |
and perYersion of the functions of Government
having no battle-ground short of positive subJuga
ton of the South defeat which exposes its dis
grace to the civilized world fear the time has passed
when peace can be hoped for by the moral force
OF united South without a trial of arms. Having
succeeded in confusing and dividing the border
slave States they have had ample time for military
preparations. The veil which concealed their re-
cent movements has been thrown aside. The note |
of war has been sounded and in the imperial procla
nation, recently issued, the people of the Confed-
crate States and all who sympatbze with them are |
treated as rebels and twenty days allowed them to
and return to their allegiance to the au-
thorities at Washington Without waiting for the
expiration of the twenty days. in addition to the |
regular army and naval forces, a militia force of
seYentyive Thousand has been called into the field
to execute this edict by the power of arms. As if
purposey intended to add additional insult to the
people of Tennessee. l have been called upon, as
their Governor to furnish poi ton of these troops
have answered that demand in my judgment
became the honor of the State, and leave the people
to pass upon my action.
The Federal Union of the States thus practically
dissolved. can never be restored; or if ever thus
restored it must by the very act to be Union
Of free end independent States, such our fathers
established. 1t will become consolidated, central
lied government without liberty or equality, in
which some will reign and others serve--the few
tyrannize and the many suffer. 1t would be the
greatest folly to hope for the reconstruction of
peaceful Union upon of fraternity and equali
~, at the end of an internccine war; There can be
40 desirable Union without fraternity And if we
could not have that before the unholy crusade which
IS now beng waged against us, we cannot have it
litter they shall have wautonly imbrued their IN
holy hands in the innocent blood of our people, from
10 worthier motive than desire to destroy our
equality and subvert our liberties.
Therefore. respectfully recommend the perfect
ng of an Ordinance by the General Assembly, for
nally declaring the independence of the State of
of the Federal Union, renouncing its au