Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-26

direct from the people, in the articles of Con-
federation, they give unqualified meaning to
the articles OF the Constitution just quoted. in
the following strong and striking language !;
The United States in Congress assembled
shall have the sole and exclusive right and pow
er OF determining on peace or war. except in
cases mentioned in the sixth Artiele''--and
the sixth Article provides the occasions in
which state as in case of an invasion or IN
surrection, may of itself engage in war and
call on the PRECEDENT for aid if needed.
Now how stands the case The PRESIDENT
has declared war, and called for over loo. 900
men to prosecute it. He has not only done
this, but he has done it againts Sovereign
States be processes TO believe are yet iu the
union. He has not only not waited for Con-
gress in its regular assembly, or at the nearer
time of his own convocation, but directly in
the face of the action of Congress at its last
session he usurps this Us rightful prerogatIye.
That Congress failed, nay, refused to pass al
force bill; refused to do what the President
of himself assumes to do. Fort Sumter was
then beseiged; the army of the Confederate
States surrounded it in hostile array; the
determination and policy of that government
with respect to it were known to all the
world-was pronounced and reiterated in
both houses of our Congress; the attempt to
reinforce it was declared to be an act of war
by the government of the Confederate States
All lille w dS huONu 10 that OOLRT6cs, dBu
still it. wisely and humanely withheld its au-
thority from the President. Meanwhile, the
Union party of the States sought peace-ob-
tanned assurances that it would be the policy
of the administration TO preserve it; and
while thus holding the country in anxious
yet hopeful suspense, all the power of the
government was being arrayed to do. at the
point of the bayOnet, what Congress, the only
rightful authority in the premises, had SOL.
rafI1 cd IN do than a.
usurpation of the President. He assumes the
power OF Congress. He attempts what they
refused to authorize, and insOlently calls on
you to send him regiments of men to baptize
the soil of your brothers who have had the
manlIness 10 dare to take care of their own
responsibilities in their own way. Nothing
but the crash of arms viii answer his lifted
ambition. Let him have it then, and as man
TO man we meet in death rather than submit
to wrongi Let him have it, is the clarion cry
from the mountain top to the valley low. and
every man, aye, and woman, if need be, is
soldier to-day In response to the insolent pro-
clamation- So may it be, for so it will ever
be with people born to be free.
But from constitutional law and its fragrant
violation we descend, or ascend, if you please,
to the very nature aud basis of all Republi-
can Institutions in the consideration of our
rights and duties. What do we mean by Re-
publican Institutions? From technicaliIies
We ask absOlution before this plain and prac-
teal people, and we come into the midst of
the question in just and practical estimate
thereof. The right of every people to recog-
niZe their own rights and the responsibilities
they involve, and to direct in legislation and
moral aud physical appliances their use and
defence. Seven States, in the exercise of this
Common, and especially American. right, in
view of grievances they could not otherwise
redress. and dangers hourly accommodating In
the antagonism of Northern and Southern
forms of civil Jurisprudence and social inter-
ests, calmly. deliberately, solemnly separated
from the Federal Government. and in peace.
good order, and dignifisd demeanor, interior
ing with no power, right or conscience of
state or people, formed government OF their
own. Had they, or bad they not, this rigbI
In nature and in God. who dare dispute it
aud still claim to be Republican, a freeman.
4 Kentuckian, a Tennessean, a VirgInian?
Perish the memory of Washington, NJ adison,
Henry, jeff .rson, Jackson, Clay, the day you
impale OF impede the body of that principle.
Why, fellOw-2iIizens: it is simply right 10 q
right. Capacity gives rights. Constitutions
and forms of law recognize them in the meas
ure of wisdom which time, age, country
attans You yield the right to your home,
to the fruits of your industry, the privilege of
being a man in God and nature born, the
very moment you deny the power of people
10 form or make, to alter or amend, their
own government. The technicalites of Sc
cessiOn discuss not. Your President de-
MED the right But he issued Proclama-
ton that converted peaceable technicality
in legal discussion into practical Revolu-
ton. Revolution and war, then, meet all
the disputes On this question among a homo
geneous people, and there is not Republi-
can in the Southern States that will not an
MIR revolutionary war for indpnpndanca
Invaded aud the rights of man despised. Re
b-liOn to Tyranny is Secession, Revolution,
State or united, resistance to the death. This
is a democratic, a republican, human an
swer, and no man understanding either Wing
or Democratic patriotism or manliness, will
shrink from the issue.
Would you be free to make your OWN
laws, to regulate the defence of your own
lives, homes, hopes, responsibilities, duties?
Would you preserve the glory of your State
independence and the measure of freedom it
secures? Would you have an honorable ba-
sis in common right on which to form a
union with a people of common lineage, in
terests and hopes, and leave it open to Gods
children everywhere to come not to trespass
upon what you have gained and Inherited,
but to extend, perfect and beautify it? Would
you not bow the knee to Pharisaical cant aud 4
bigotry. taking an intermedling H
espionage over your kitchens, your families,
aud your own life? In the name of all that |
is true and good in Republican Institutions,
you must resist this usurpation to the last. |
Better die to man than submit for one hour |
1t may bring On a day of toll and a night of |
sorrow, but if true TO ourselves, this will onlY
serve to make US men; to make us what Nall
ture and Natures Gcd designed US to be.-l
You are told that great calamities impend |
the threatened invasion of our foes The |
OlOrV Of tho of
our people is to be sacrificed. and anarchy, |
misrule and instruction are the pictures |
drawn to brighten us out of our rights, liberty |
and honor. What! Our brethren of the gall |
orious Union to invade our homes; to desc |
late our fair fields; to incite our dependent |
African laborers to blood and rapine; our |
Trade to be cut off; our ports blockaded; our |
people imprisoned and subjugated? And |
with all this, still talk Of a government, d |
government of a free people, an equality ot1
rights, a common heritage! Great GodI
What duplicity! What perfidy! What hy-ll
pocrisyl Let me tell you, aud let all time \
attest he truth of what l say: No calamity |
can happen to man, State, or people, |
equal To that of being unequal TO the day and |
hour OF his or its TRIAL; NONE! Who does not |
know that, had all the States threatened by A
the fanaiicism that installed the present Gov
at Washington, been equal to the u
hour of It's election a. a sectional party, we |
would have no war? Who does not know that |
The hope of dissention invited to the base and
cowardly betrayal that now threatens an in-I
vasion upon the homes of the very people who |
voted Union in honest purpose and sacred |
devotion of soul? We must, indeed now |
stand OF perish. 1t is right that We should |
Our fathers thus stood in the day of their |
trial; and they became the heroes of the |
world. We. their sons, must stand in a time
that will try US by the soul we have or all is 4
gone. If we are unequal TO the duties and |
courage necessary t maintain our own rights, |
of course we will fade before the invading |
forces, and we ought to fade. But tell il not |
in Boston nor point the periods of shallow |
eloqurnce in Washington, that Kentuckians |
anu Tennesseans ever were or ever will be |
unequal 10 any task or any battlefield, that |
Nnrtharn invaders NAV ann0int Hnacnol \