Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-29
ADDRESS Of TIE
HON. Ell. S. FOOTE,
no the voters of naridson Oountr.

- C4Ne hls Ma W. = hAs
To the Voters of Davidson County.
FELLow CITIZEN: am candidate to represent
you as delegate in the approaching State Convention
Being personally stranger 10 most of you, and the
few days allotted for the canvass now commencing
not being sufficient in which to make that ora
Interchange OF sentiment with you which to ms
would be so highly gratifying, / have supposed
it 20 be my duty TO make this early and explicit
disclosure of the views which entertain touching
the grave and weighty concerns which will occupy
the attention of the Convention and the course
which would expect to pursue, should be chosen
to represent you. 1t is not my wish to obtain the
suffrage of any citizen, either by the unnany con
cealment of my opinions and designs, or by false
and deceptious professions of any kind whatever
He that would seek promotion by such means would
be utterly unworthy of the high trust of represent
ing you at this most trying and fearful crisis Upon
the momentous questions which have so long agi
tated the country solemn appeal has been at last
taken TO the People-who now, in their highest
sovereign capacity. are called upon to determine
them. The People themselves, are entitled to know
the precise character of the to them
do not understand certain artfui and designing
persons are now asserting in your midst, that the
question which you have necessarily to pass upon
at this time is Union DiSu7ioR; and do not In
tend, if can prevent it, to allow the popular mind
of Tennessee to be thus mised. The real question
is this Shall the People of Tennessee, at this peril
with all our fellow-citzeus of the South, and with
such of the nonsaveholding States of the North as
shall be found willing to cooperate Wild U.S. unite IN
demanding, courteously, but firmly, such just and
wholesome amendments of the Federal Constitution
as shall be deemed necessary to future safety and
power? Shall we make this demand at such a time,
and in such a manner, as will be most likely
to secure its being granted? Shall say, in plain
and manly language as Virginia will undoubtedly
say in less than thirty days. that these Constitu-
(xubi of
Republic knows to be indispensable to Southern
curtyl must either be granted, or full assurance be
given that they will in future be incorporated in
Federal Charter at some period anterior to the 4th
of March next before Mr.. Lincoln and that arch
iend of mischief VIM. H. Seward shall have gotten
into their possession all the power of the army and
navy, and the whole enormous mass of Federal
patronage, capable of being welded for our des-
tTuction! These the issues of the present cam
paign; and. these you, and your felow-citizens of
other counties in Tennessee, have to decide in the
choice of conventional delegates. Trust not those,
beseech you who are persuaiing you to toda for a
settlement with your Oppressors, until the power to
continue your present grievances and to plunge you
into the most degrading yassaage shall have passed
into the hands Of those who have long decreed your
ruin. If you permit the existing sectional differ
ences TO remain unadjusted until Abolition shall
have become firmly seated in the high places of
power, your destruction is inevitable | knew the
INSCRIPTIONS men with whom you have to deal,
wei; their accurseQ 1actl0n ana It's ScneI0eS OF
policy | have been studying for more than twenty
years; and l now aver, before Heaven and my
countrymen, that / entertain not the least
doubt that if the constitutional guarantees demand
ed shall not be obtained before the 4th of March,
they 1oiH be The fact that there are now prom
inent public men in Tennessee who are counselling
this ditaoTy and patSilanlOuS course is one of the
most alarming signs of the times. 1t manifests
either most surprising insensitvness to coming
danger-a want of correct views as to the princi-
pies and designs of the Republican party, total
and most unnatural sympathy with the enemies of our
domestic peace, knowledge of which, being once
dIffused in the North will utterly paralize the
gles of those who struggling for rights in the
National Legislature, and perhaps render all future
peaceful adjustment of our sectional troubles lpoS
Sibe. The least wavering or vaclllation now would
certainly be fatal to our hopes of redress The de-
claration of willingness postpone the presentation
of our ultimate demand will be equivalent to Srrend
er. Not to insist on full and complete settlement
before the Inauguration of Lincoln, is, in my judg
meHt submission yea, submission OF the most de-
grading character
Such being the view which take of the matter,
should you choose your delegate, shall adopt
as the basis of my action the late enactment of
own Legislature providing for the sending of dele
gates to Southern Convention. and nstructng those
delegates to the cha acter of the constitutional
amendments which they are expected to de-
mand. | feel absolutely certain that the
only means left Of saving the Union is the firm
and resOlute maintenance of our rights; never al
lowing even a suspicion to be entertained that We
viii be content with less than are now claiming,
Dr. that we would be willing to postpone the moment
Of our deliverance for a year, for two years
Dr. for three years, some among us are now
The present is the moment for action,
md he who is not for prompt and energetic meas
lres, disguise it as he may is for submission As a
rue lover of the Federal Union do urge these
views. AS one who never yet has been able to agree
with those who assert the right of secession as con-
StthdiOnal right, do | insist upon bold, manly and
'esolute policy. AS one who zealously supported
he compromise enactments of 1850, and opposed
he effort to break up the Union then made; do l
declare that the Union of these States is dear
% the blood which gives vitality to my physical
ystem- Just in the same spirit, and in accordance
With the same principles upon which the Union
men in the Southern States acted in 1sin-l,
10 ! now counsel my fellow-citizens of Tennes-
see to act. For it should never be for
gotten that the supporters of the Union cause
EN- years ago, in Mississippi, in Georgia, and
elsewhere, unequiVocally avowed that, though
hey were in favor of acquiescing IN the compromise
and were opposed to disrupting the
Union on account of their passage, yet las they also
leclared) in their judgment, there were causes
which would justify secession as revolutionary
sXpedIent; and they moreover solemnly pledged
themselves that should any one of certain infrac-
ions specified in the Union platform at that time
ever be perpetrated in the future they
would themselves take the initiative in the work
If discovering the Confederacy These historic par
iculars took pains to make known last summer IN
he North, in printed speeches and letters, by way
If seasonable admonition to those who were then
10 fercely supporting Mr.. Lincoln, and / warned
hem solemnly against the dangers which they were
70 recklessy bringing upon the country but re-
yret to say without the smallest effect. GU have
right TO ask me what l would recommend to be
lone IN the event of constitutional guarantees not
being obtained before the 4th Of March. have no
lificulty whatever in answering this question and
irst will say, that even then should not regard
accession the proper remedy. This eXpedlent
seems TO me to be necessarily attended with several
and dangers which should be In
ayor of avoiding if possible. Dtsu'pQn III no
orTa, would ! advise. ] regard the Union now
Existing having existed in the days OF our
colonial ancestors, long before the Revolution !
Try struggle, and that these ancestors were, |
or many purposes. one people, connected with |
ach other by many ties, uniting their forces in |
everal important wars, and legisatng together |
general fraternal Congress Of the colonies more
han thirty years anterior to the battles Of Concord
nd Lexington. This same Union continued under |
Id Confederation; was not destroyed by the destruc-
ion of the confederative fabric and the buldng up
# the present Federal Government; and would still
,e preserved, as hope and believe, under new |
Constitution or rather under the present COnstitu-
ion Yead0pted and suitably amended and be produc-
i've Of al those blessings which we have heretofore
as associated Herewith. As Union |
u
linging to the Union firlay and devGediy; preserv-
ng the line of historic tradition pnbrokeGy; keep
ng the National Flng ''stl high advanced" oyer |
he land and the sea-" retaining our great and
lnsullied National name "The United States of |
America; and when all hope of redress at the hands
{ our Black Republican oppressors shall have /
ecome extinct, of entering at once peacefully but
ctively upon the work of governmental reconstruc-
on under the auspices of Virginia, and others of
he border StQtes Of the Union4who are evidently |
lready taking the initiatOry steps towards our
eliverance. 1t is tins grand result, a. / I'M
erstand it, that Virginia aims to attain in
roposng Ito all such States, whether slave
gliding sor non-savehodIng, are willing to
mite with her" in earnest effort TO adjust the
resent unhappy controversies, "to appoint COM
lissioners to meet the 4th day Of February next
] the city of Washington, other Commissioners
by herself TO ''consIder, and if practca-
is agree upon some suitable adjustment" If this
fort shall fail no means will be left OF savein8 the
nol save the e<pediept ope construction as already
eneated. Now am in favor Of TerBessee coop
rating heartily with Virginia in this noble scheme
National pacifcation | am in favor Of the whole
outh remaining united, and preserving the present
onnecton also with all such States OF the North as
nall be found willing cooperate with us in this
oble Union-saveng movement II in spite of all these
Kali 1n Na MI