Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-09
To the PeopIe OF ma..ouri.

1t is due to you, as well as to myself, in
the present juncture of our affairs, that the
motives should be announced which have in
duced my temporary absence from our State
Believing that our true interests'dem anded
open, immediate and vigorous war upon the
authors and abettors, from Mr.. Lincoln down,
of the rebellion against our State sover-
eighty on the 10th of May last, and conf
dent. from the Judgment of competent mill
tary men, that Missouri was then better pre-
pared to resist, than the Lincoln insurgents
were to carry out, their plans of annulling
our State rights, dissented, though 10
friendly spirit from the policy of our Gov
ernor in making concessions to them in his
earnest desire to preserve peace within our
borders. Aware that some arrangement
with that view was about to be made, and
entertaining the firm belief, since fully justi-
fed by events, that, as a truce would be en-
ergetically used by our enemies in compile
ting their arrangements to war on US, no
time should be lost in making up for previous
neglect in preparing ourselves for the newt
able conflict, left our Capital on the 10th of
that month. Reaching Arkansas, by rapid
travelling, on the third day thereafter, l was
fortunate in meeting Gen. Mccullough i'm
mediately on his arrival at Fort Smith. Since
then, in Arkansas, Tennessee and Virginia,
my efforts have been directed increasingly. to
the best of my limited ability, to the promo
ton of our interests, indissolubly connected
with the vlndication of our liberties and our
speedy union with the Confederate States. In
view of Gov. Jackson's declarations in his
proclamation of the 18th ultimo, it is due to
him that should mention the fact that |
have at no time had, and have not now, any
agency of any kind from him; it is due to
my self to add that since that proclamation,
have cordially exerted myself to procure
him support in the stand he has taken against
our foes.
Rest assured of the profound sympathy
with which the people of the Southern Con-
federacy regard our condition; though engag
ed in a war against powerful foe, they
would not hesitate still further TO tax their
energies and resources, at the proper time,
and on a proper occasion, in aid of Missouri.
The avOwed and decided policy of the Con-
federate States is to add TO their number as
soon as her sovereign people desire the coHnec-
ton. That dessrc being unquestionable by
any one acquainted with their real senti-
ments, her union with her Southern sisters is
merely question of time and the oppOrtu-
nifty which the course of events will, sooner
or later, certainly afford.
You will not expect me to be more explicit;
nor would the silence | have hitherto Observ-
ed be now broken, had not several patriotic
Missourians advised this address, with the
hope that it might contribute towards con-
firming your determination to free yourselves
from the despotism low seemingly triumphant
in our State.
| rejoice to learn from various sources that
even amid the present gloom, you remain
confident of final success. We are draining
to the very dregs the bitter cup of federal
usurpation; but the medicine was needed to
cure the diseases of the body polite. The
military advantages lately obtained by our
oppressors are not surprising, for your peril
GUS uprising at the call of our Governor was
made without that previous concert with your
Rural allies which was almost Indispensable
for success. But the fortune of war is prone
to change; be ready to take advantage OF II.
Do nothing weak, nothing rash. Wherever a
favorable opportunity occurs, rally to the
standard of your Governor, or those cooper
ating with him; but partial uprisings, in de-
fenceless positions, or without due concert of
action, are worse than useless. Watch the
to strike with effect. Meanwhile
let each one of you quietly prepare; nearly
all of you are doubtless now aware that your
ordinary rifles and shot guns with Minnie
balls are equal to the weapons Of your foes,
and in your practical hands will rarely fail
of their marks.
Be not impatient of delay. Success in
war depends greatly on proper comblna-
ton of preparation. precaution and daring;
on blows surely given at the right time and
place. You have this inestimable advantage;
if the hopes given you, by me now or by
others. of effective aid, should incite the enc
my to increase his forces in Missouri, he but
weakens himself elsewhere and hastens in
Virginia his own defeat, which is your victo-
ry; if he remains inactive, he but shortens
the time of your captivity. Be of good cheer;
be true to yourselves, invoking the aid of
the Almighty who has visibly favored the
Southern cause, and sooner or later, the day
of your deliverance will surely come.
With the limited Information obtainable
here concerning recent events in Missouri is
difficult to form a judgment about our imme-
date future. But as our enemies claim that
they are about to capture Governor Jackson,
you will, L trust, not consider it ostentation
in me to give you this public assurance that,
to the best of my ability, endeavoring to
mingle prudence with energy and frmness,
though with painful consciousness of the
and responsibility of the charge,
shall, in humble reliance on the guidance and
support of Almighty God, unhesitatingly I'M
dertake amp constitutional duty events may
impose upon me. And should, unfortunate
ly, any vacancy in the executive office oc-
cur, which under our Constitution authorizes
a new election for Governor, earnestly hope
that no State officer or authority, exercising
or claiming the power of Governor in my
absence, will order an election until, by the
expulsion of the enemy, the choice of the
voters can be rendered perfectly free.
The difficulty of speedy communication
with Missouri being great, respectfully re-
quest the newspapers friendly to our cause
in djoning States to publish this address,
and thus give it surer opportunity of reach
ing our own journals.
THOMAS C. REYNOLDS,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of Missouri.