Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-02

. tional amendment last winter, seems not yes " ~
n been visited with the signal dsapproval OF IN
constituents Il appears to me, therefore, aitogetl
improbable, that the state of popular teeilng ~
North il at all more favorable now to SOUTHERN
stitnfions than it was at the period OF Mr. Lincqi
4 election. will not here remind you OF the eAl
ordinary scenes which so lately occurred, 10 ~
was known as the Peace Conference ~ Washdng'
city a majority Of which most insultingiy
fused adopt, every material proposition OF cons
tztional amendment upon which you have neen
long earnestly nsistng-nors shall Ibe SO ungracio
as to allude specially, to the unkind and dsrespet
full refusal on the part of both houses of Consres
to incorporate, in the Federal Constitution, u
propositions which emanated fromlthe Peace Col
ference, meagre and unsatisfactory as they wer
But, suppose for the sake Of argument. that sac
guarantees as you have heretofore claimed IN q
half Of the South should hereafter be actually one
ed. do you suppose it to be likely that the STATE
who have seeded would reconnect themselves wit
the Federal Union? If you expect any such r
| sumption of the ancient confederate ues, now
| completely severed, hereafter to occur, am sur
! you could not yet have read the able ana mani
speech delivered by Vice President stephens, 10 IN
city of Savannah, few days since. Examine,
beseech you, that lucid and statesmanlike address
survey with attention. the picture which he define
ates of national quiet and happiness under the new
y formed constitution of that infant hepuDnc "nc,
is now beginning 20 command the respect ana al
miration of the civilized world; scrutnlze dlspas
sonatey that constitution itse-retaining as 1t does
all the better features of the one under which we
have SO long lived and avoiding those defects which
the experience of seventy years mas olsciosed
and you will no longer imagine II 10 oe
even possible that our brethren OF the
Southern Confederacy, will ever again voluntarily
place themselves amidst the innumerable dangers
and perplexites from which they are now so hap
PLY relieved. / assure ycu that have In my pos
session indubitable evidence OF the true condiaon
of public feeling in the seeded States; and l am
oafiu uAaI kl,okc nqnnV
people have never been delineated upn the page of
history. All party dissension among them is at an
end; no controversy is anywhere in progress upon
any of the questions which recently divided them
they are no longer in dread of abolition encroach-
ments upon their most valued rights of property;
they feel assured that for long period Of time at
least, they have relieved themselves from the num-
berless corruptons and abuses to which they have
been heretofore subject under the Government
from the authority Of which they are now released
they are confidently expecting, in few weeks at
most, to be recognized as an independent nation,
by most of the principal powers of Europe and they
feel that they have future before them replete with
everything necessary. to the complete enjoyment
of unalloyed civil and religious freedom, perma
nent domestic repose, and unsurpassed power and
dignity, as great, enlightened, virtuous, apd ttl
co1,queTdble Republic Indeed, my dear sirlit is a
great mistake to indulge the faintest hope that the
Union of our fathers. it formerly existed, will
ever again be restored. The unprincipled faction
sts of the North, whose heartless and tyrannic op
preston has at last effected its destruction, will be
held responsible before the world, by the present
generation and by all posterty for this great and
most deplorable calamity. They have been thou
sand tunes warned of the result which they have
low consummated, but in vain and / doubt whe
her even now the chiefs of the Black Republican
party are at all repentant the mischiefs which
hey have brought upon the land. They yet cry |
'ut, with one voice, as no one knows better than
yourself, that nothing but unconditional submission
10 the authority of the Government, without any |
additional safeguards for Southern rights, COM
nand either their sympathy or their respect. They
Inow that they have the slayeholding interests Of
Border States of the South completely within their
'ower, and they are only postponing the day OF I
heir destruction until their long. g.chershed scheme
4 injustice can be executed without involving the
Nree States of the North in the Inconvenience and
offerings of bloody civil war
Now, in all earnestness, desire to PROFOUND to |
ou question: Suppose it shall be found impossible
o persuade the seeded States to return to the I
osom of the Confederacy suppose that after all
he efforts which shall be made they shall still pre-
er to remain in their present Independent condition
Fould you then consent that they should be coerced
ito submission? know you would not Younow
eclare yourself to be infexibly opposed to this
ccursed coercive policy in all its aspects and bear>
lgs. And yet do you not plainly perceive that |
ttempts to execute this policy must inevitably occur
the existing condition of things be too long con-
nueQ, ana II IDe recognition OF the seeded States
hall be obstinately refused? l observe that Mr..
rumbull, of the Senate, has already introduced a
esOlution looking to the enforcement of the 1,cS in
the States Of the Southern C0nfederdcy The Fede-
Il troops are not yet withdrawn from the South.
IN forts, and no one Is prepared TO say when
hey will be withdrawn Meanwhile, ships of war
a manner decidedly menacing, are known to have
zen dispatched to the Southern coast. Large
'dies of soldiery are now being concentrated at
lrious important points in those States conectured
be most exposed TO attack. IA collision between the
,posing forces of the two governments may at any
oment occur. The shedding of blood in civil
rife, when it shall once have taken place. will in
| probability result in the most sanguinary and
,structive conflict that the world has yet known.
solemnly implore you then my deeply venerated
lend, to lock st once to this grave and weighty
after, and aid your eountrymen, as it is in your
'wer TO do, in warding off the menaced evils
here is but remedy that can be confidently re-
ID upon lin this pressing emergency, and that is
cOqntiOn formal, instant. and unconditional recoqni-
IN Of ls Independence of the seeded STATES. This
one can prevent war. This alone can restore
iendly relations. This only can preserve
at peace, which you profess yourself
anxious to secure. Why then NAV
e not expect you to become, without delay, the
alOus and effective advocate of this recognition
,liey? ] am persuaded that you can do more to-
ards the attainment OF this most desirable object
an any other man. Your years, your high char
ter, your great popularity, your known disinter-
tedness of purpose, eminently fit you for this
eat undertaking, and if you will come forth i'm |
ediately and announce yourself the advocate Of
cognition. the political managers now occupying
e high seats of authority in Washington will be
mpeled to bring our civil troubles at once to a
cife termination.
/ hardly suppose 1t to be possible that constitu-
NAL lawyer so eminent as yourself, will. in the
ist degree, doubt the competency of the Federal Z
in the exercise of the treaty-makng
ugoP N no lnapDpndpnPQ of tha
The language of that clause of the
which delegates the authority to make
eaties, is such to shut out all reasonable doubt
its having been intended by the trainers of that
qualified manner. Such is the view of the subject
ken in the numbers of the Federdist, in Marshalls
fe Of Washington, in Jefferson's correspondence
Rallies work On the Constitution in Judge Story's
lebrated commentaries, and by all our leading
ltesmen and jurists who have at any time ex-
essed their opinions upon the point in question.
hat any other nation can do By treaty the United
ates can do. What England did when she recog- a
zed, by treaty, the independence of her American
onies in the last century, it is certain that the
lited States can do at the present time in regard
the seeded States To be sure, il NAV be found
nvenient to convoke Congress in special session .
r the purpose of enabling the chiefs Of the Black
publican faction 10 dUide the responsibility of this
1ue and important mOUensea with the President
d his Cabinet. 1t may even become desirable to &
oppose the holding OF a NATIONAL ConYenton Tor tie .
rpose of settling the terms Of separation in man.
satisfactory to the whole country. But the tirs.
20 towards peace and reconcieent s recognition BY
qty in the customary mode, after which all minor .
tails would be very easily adjusted.
Let me implore you, in conclusion, not to allow
ur afeetiOnate and reverential regard for the :
esent Federal Union, to prevent your entering
artily and energetieally upon the work to which
lave thus taken the liberty of inviting you. Your
We of the Union, however ardent and lnhexible, :
not been able, heretofore to presarue Il, nor
is sentiment however praiseworthy in Itself, be
W of potency sufficient 70 restore those ties of
nneetiou which are at this moment completely ex-
ct The Federal Union IS gone; you and l had no :
nd in destroying it, but let not refuse to par
in all proper efforts to preserve those great
.erests which have heretofore been upheld and
sintainod in connection Herewith. Will it not be
tier to have tDo Governments and ttco Unions, than
experience the horrors Of . sanguinary and des.
active civil wars Is it not possible, if we csn
W avoid unfriendly collision with our fellow Z
izens of the North that several neso and oarishing
nfederacieS may be seen to spring into existence
here heretofore there has been but one-between
aich the closest ties of smity and confrater-
" may be established; bound together, by aTresty
ansive and defensive of nature to constitute