Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-07
NUMBER 2I3

of whom had been originally much interested in
carrying out the rebellion against this country.
At last it was agreed that they should unite so Tar
that there should be Central Government and thai
tney SHOULD have the power Of Ievying the general
tA4es, making peace and war, and negotiating with
torelgn countries. Yet to show how carefully
nose States went into the original confederation be
fore signing the articles, " read you an extract
from the instructions sent 70 the delegates of Ma-v
ilazd-that State which at the present time il kept
II terror by the Northern troops -
| Although the pressure Of immediate calaulities
tue dread Of their continuance from the appearacs
| Of disunioH and some other peculiar Circumstances
may have induced some States to accede to the pres
eat ecnrsry to their own interests
Judgments, II requires great share of foresight
TO predict that when those causes cease to operate
the States which had thus acceded to the Confed-
Grafton wiz consider it no longer binding and will
early embrace the first Occasion Of asserting their
just right and securing their independence
That was the idea OF the people before they even
Joined the Confederation We find that subsequent
y to the union Of the States the same broad ques-
ton srose. Large sums had been borrowed by
soma States, and some by others, and il became 4
question whether each State should be left 70 pay
its own debts; and Jefferson tells US he was only
induced, as Q member Of the Government 10 vote
for the Congress adopting the whole debt from the
fact thst many Of the States had threGtensd 10 Sc
cede. In the year 1927 we have the fact that
thoroughly acquainted with his eountrymen,1 wrote
on his retirement from Office, an epistle which At
the time rendered him very unpopular, to the effect
that, II at any time any portion Of the States a.
sempsed 20 carry their Own interests 70 the detris
ment Of other States the Republic would break up
In the year 1925 the Government Of Georgia feel,
ing Itself III ussd BY the General Government res-
peeting some Indian land the Governor called upon
the people Of his State TO !" stand BY their arms'
and warned the General Government that it would
Frao4 II lie
South Carolina pronounced the national tariff to
be unauthorized BY the Constitution null and void;
not binding on South Carolina, its Ofcsrs and eitis
zens."
quote these examples to show that the question
of secession is a. old as the States themselves
They agreed to form Confederation and Union;
but at the same time it Was well known that as
soon as the interest Of one section Of the States
differed from another they should seeede and the
more amicably that takes place the better it will
be for human nature. As sn instance Of what
our own country has done in zach questions /
would recall TO your recollection thst at the time
We emsncipated the slaves in our colonies the
Dutch settlers on the Cape Of Good Hope obiseted
to it, lefr their territory, and settled on the
Orange river; and England had since always re-
cogniZed that territory as independent. Again, as
far back the year 1850, ireland objected to our
governing If, and carried resolution into is par
lament that it only recoeniIsd the Irish Legiala-
.ure, and George the III. as King of Ireland and
not of England.
We had then undergone the sad experience Of
the American war, and we recognized that Inde-
Dendence, and il was only BY sound argument and
lot by attempted force, that we had brought then
back again. have endeavorea 70 bring the ques,
on before you in three points-hrst that the ques-
ion of cotton has nothing to do with the question
If slavery, and that We do not stand up for the
North or the South secondly, that the question Of
laVery is only introduced from interested motives;
md thirdly, that Of secession which the Americans
all rebellion, is simply large population, nun.
oerlng over nine millions, and covering an area Of
$50 900 square miles, wishing TO govern themselves
'ut are stopped by their neighbors.
After reVernDg TO the general features Of the
American war, Capt Jarvis observed with refer
nee to the power OF the President Of the United
tates to declare war, or to announce blockade,
Without the consent Of Congress, that he would be
atished with the authority Of Daniel Webster. on
llmilar case, % years ago, when he said:
" l, for one, protest IN advance against such rem
dies Rs have heard limited. The Administration
self keeps profound sileEce, but its friends have
poken for it We are told, air, that the President
MI Immediately employ the military force and At
nee blockade Charleston! A military remedy, .
emedy by direct beIligerent operation has been
lggest0d as the intended means of preserving tha
nion. Sir, there il no little reason to think shat
lis reason is true. We cannot be Altogether nm
lindful Of the past; and, therefore, We cannot be
together unaPprehensive for the future. For one.
T, raise nay voice beforehand and aQRinst ths
. horized employment Of military power, and
RQpersediDg the authority Of the laws by an
ice, under pretence Of putting down Multi
= tJn. TIE President has ne authority to block
lie charleston; the President has no authority TO
nploy military force till he shall be duly required
do 30 by law, and by the civil authorities His
1ty is TO cause the laws to be executed. His duty
to support the civil authority"
In conclusion, Captain Jervs pointed out that the
I'D Of emigration which had hitherto been open
America for our Surplus population was now
osed and that therefore, they might expect re-
I'm Of those who had in former years left Eng
nd, and to become . burden upon the rated. BE
sured them that he should exercised the greatest
secretion in giving any opinion upon the subject n
e House Of Commons, for the question was once
vital Importance not only a. regarded CONNER
al transactions between the two countries, but As
cessitating US to endeavOr to maintain good
cling among the working classes under the hard
ips which they would eneVitably suffer. The
norabe and gallant member resumed his seat
nd much applause.
The Mayor then briefly rendered the thanks Of
audience to Captain Jervis, and proposed three
asrs for him, which, having been hartily given,
!sssembly separated.