Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-02

A few days since we clipped the following from
the Cincinnati Commercial, Q.NoOLN)
The Illinois State Journal, published at Springfield,
and Gifted by nephew of the President elect, pub
lished on Tuesday an article under the head. The
Republican Party Stands by the Constitution" Inc
Journal says that the Republican party wants no
legislation that does not square with the Consutu-
ton, but insists that the Constitution must be re-
spected and the laws enforced. 1t publishes the
oath taken by the President Of the United States
upon his Inauguration and says Mr.. Lincoln VIII
not try to eyade the performance of his duties how
painful under certain circumstance, these du
ties may be, by - sophistical construction Of the
Constitution. Sworn faithfully to execute the laws
he will do it." The Journal says further that Mr.
Lincoln will enforce the laws in all sections, and
will Doubtless construe his oath Of Office to mean
that it is his duty to enforce all the laws and not
one particular law alone" On the secession ques-
ton. the Journal says the Republicans occupy the
Jacksonian position and Mr.. Lincoln stands
there" Some strong expressions from Jackson's
message of January It. 1888, are quoted, and the
Journal concludes by saying:
t'The Republican party IS, are satisfied, planted
immoyably on Jacksous ground. The Democracy
of the North cannot well occupy any other We
think Il might IoeA get abroad among the people maj
the incoming Administration ,oH be constitutional anti
secession and la,O-eforciEg. Pass the loord.'
We understand the foregoing to mean and
nothing but war We cannot tell whether Mr.. LINCOLN
thinks the Federal GoYernmentha the right coeTce
sovereign State 1t is probable that he may avail
himself Of the recent popular dodge that coercion
of State is unwarranted by the Constitution. but
that he has right to enforce the laws in the Sc
ceding State at the point of the bayonet, and that
while he cannot coerce the State he can shoot and
gibbet every man who refuses to obey the law of
his State rather than the law Of the Federal Gov
eminent This is making a distinction without a
difference.
What mighty difference might there be
Twixt twsedle-dum and tweeale-dee.
We have as yet been unable TO see the difference
between State and the people Of State. 1t is
not the land, the rivers, the mountains the houses,
the personal and real estate that makes State
We borrow quotation used by Gov JOHNSON in
his reply in the Senate to Mr.. BELL:
What constitutes stats7
Not high raised battements or ls5or'd mound
Thick wall or moated gate;
Not cities proud with spires and turre.s crowned
Not bays and broad srnld ports,
Where, laughing al the storm, rich naTies ride
Not star'd and spsngled courts,
Where low broW'd baseness WATTS perfume to pride
No. men. high minded men,
With powers far above dull brutss enduet,
In forest, brake OF den,
As beasts excel cold rocks and brambeE rude;
Men, who their duties know,
But know their rights, and knowing dare maintain,
Prevent the long aim'd blow,
And crush the tyrant while they reud the Chain
These constitute State.
Lie enforcement OF lLG NtuSTol laws allol inc
people of State after they have dissolved their
connection with the Union, is coercion. Neither
nor less. And that is just what the people of
the whole South viii resist in any and every man
ner. The threats which are now daily pouring in
upon us from the North seem to indicate that the
disposition Of the South is to be fully tested. II it
must come, let it come. Major General Wool may
bring down his army of invasion and subjugation.
But he will find 100000 Southern soldiers, both to
the man-Rer and manor born, who viii give his
100000 followers a JrGrm reception. The Indica-
tons should impress our Legislature with the impor-
tanoe of at once putting the State a position for
defsnce. Let all the munitions of war of the most
improved and elective character be p,,.--.. "a
Let the militia of the State be thoroughly organized
Not only this let volunteer companies be organized
in all parts Of the STATE 4 knowledge Of military
tactics i'll prove insterestng aud valuable, even
though we should have continued peace. al history
teaches us that nation when fully arme2 always Sc
cures the best terms Of adjustment. m conclusions
we have to say in reply 10 Dir. LGSceNs organ that
We think It might as ,reH get alrood among Tie people
Of the North Ha Ge South is C~s'7nined to hare fur
Tier guarantees or Giqt they wa disso!ne tie C"on
Pass The lrord.