Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-22
;,s.2ace or War.
2 FN~ VI
ProIs,Ss, Journal Of Commerce.


This is the 9SSon which is now presented to the
people of this sfsntry, and which is 20 be met,
practically, at r1sstaut day. Are they prepared
to decide upon "a I'd to determine what shall be the
policy of the .sfSsry question of such impor-
lance to the mo- the civil and the material inter-
ests of the pop'ason, in all sections of the Union
Ihepe Is pc HilitY and only possibility of an
adjustment of ssEsent difficulties, without final
separation of ~ Southern from the Northern
States. The ST. & probability is, that we here
after to have " ~ eparate Governments, independ-
ent of each otbElnd pursuing each its own policy,
upon the quest Entering into their political econ
omy, and in tss WSSltions to other nations
The great 81 zion then is, shall this separation
be peaceful?or - it followIa bloody and calamitous
war Upon N{sssue the people of the free States
are unhappily Isl ded; one portion, while deploring
the calamity W "a has brought our country to the
point of disso AE1n, preferriDg, since separation
must take pla$4 to make it peaceful to conduct
the proceeding*& as to promote the happiness .har
mony. and fqAaN prosperity and interest of both
sections. Then ouid look upon war between the
North and the Eth; as the greatest of earthly mis-
fortunes - climax of folly and wickedness ;
which ought "a severy consideration of humanity
philanthropy AZ morality, to be avoided. This IS
the opinion of ssyery large number-we hope and
behave of a srity of the people in the Northern
States.
There is, hovs,i er, another class-conposed of
the ultra rqdca. fanatcal, and unrefeoting portion
of the Norther tReople, who, while conceding that
separation no& $geems inevitable, nevertheless talk
of coercion oisSssforcing rights; OF recovering
possession of tlfpublic property; in short, the
favorite phras =, of ascertaining whether we
have govern,E:nt." This point is particularly
important in characterization, and they mean, so far
as they can inf snce public opinion, and So far as
they may be able to control the action of the incom
ing Admin On, that it shall be settled--at
whatever expe of treasure and blood TO the peo-
pie Of the free aAd the slave States. The advocates
Of this poItS do not expect through its instru-
mentality to prevent a separation,-to compel the
seeding States return willing allegiance; but,
like the belligerent school boy, they want to try
their prowess and whip their antagonist before tho
the final ser ,rstion, Whas folly what stupidity,
what wiOkedAess thus TO plunge nation into war
in order to crafty spirit of revenge, where no
substantial g5bd is to be accomplished through its
agency 1t must not shall not be.
A common argument with the friends of coercion
is that we must recover our property, which the
seeding States have foFciby seized and appropriate
ed to their own use. How our property, more than
theirs? The Notifications the sea coast were
constructed for the purpose of general defence;
those at New York to protect the entrance to our
harbor-those atCharleston to defend that city and
State from aggression on the part of foreign pow
ers: and SO of all the seaboard offences whether in
the hands Of the Government or the secessiolists.
If we are going to fight and sgbjugate the South,
and hold the as conquered provinces then the forts
and arssnals and dookyards within their limits, are
necessary fof 1ur purposes. If we intend to sepa
right to- suc)s possession. They constructed at
the general 81 Jense Of the whole country,-they be-
long to the ,:siqmon property, which, in the event
of final seFkT alton, should be subjected to equta
be division The property is as much theirs as
ours; and h = i6ye nc night, moral or equitable,
forcibly to ria that portion on Southern soil one
moment lohsE+r than we claim to exercise power
and governuyt ever the Southern States.
No one wilfH further or do more TO win back
the ssoednq EJ,&es than those WIG hold the doc
trineg aboye \ 4 sgnced. It is the coerconiss who
refuse ali CO 81 ZION and compremise The friends
of equal rglskto all the States-of performing our
constitutional ations, and restoring every mem
ber of our E.$eal Union TO its original status, op
posed the al of force, and in the painful event of
a failure to fltIst matters so to preserve the
Union will x&heir Southern brethren 60 in peace.
They will nd #tempt TO compel States to remain
against their Ynor will they favor the
sion of FIRE R public into a despotism. If the hap
py relations Iich formerly eYistsd between the
TITO seetiops SRlnot be Eestored-H our attempt to
Sustain &c fnment coextensiYe with our vast
possessions & St prove failure,-the world shall
be SHARED Il N sgusting spectacle of brethren war
ring against Bsthren and shedding each Others
blood simpl W crafty momentaFy passion, and
with no hop8 thereby advancing the welfare or
the happinea NJ either party.
We are nc let prepared to believe the new Ad |
HFi adopt the war policy, so madly !
urged upon Nv portion of its friends. We cher
ish the hone Nat Mr. Lincoln will listen to the coun-
sells of coole Nnd wiser men, of whom there are
thousands Ms own party, and that his policy vii
be one Of pcR J. He eenIqt,-aEd we nay add, he
dare not ad,s# any other To believe him capable !
of this wou1& he to charge him with willingness
to DEFY the Pigment of the civilized world. We !
trust he has ~ wish thus to outrage the plainest
dictates of n Som and duty: