Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-28
COMMUNICATION.
Dur countrv ia 1870 and I'm 1sel-Separa
tIou, NecessnrT-Peace, not war.

80. r.r.s-.rr-Peace, not War.
A, .ho ,,t;icst;ou of the Constitution by nine
Seats pthere was ito be Unionlto that extent
whether the other four Seaees Jo11su ~ rslaDi
When Virginia, New York and hnooe tslAna
o..'sa,.os fhev reserved the right to withdraw
delegated by this covenant. The
,+ ~ Virginia TO DO so now Is Constitutional
t ,ast Il Is the contract The tribunal is her
Isg'4' oIe None other can speak act for her.
Each State must act separately Inc free states
-. ;rafed the Constitution, and any one has the
r;sbt to withdraw, all are equal This is seces-
What was our country when the compact was
nrr.ed 10? There were thirteen States, and our
present institutions existed an twelve OF them We
had an area of country composed of $4,000 square
miles. A population of S00O,000. APresident who
was loved BY ell citizens and residents.
Now instead Of one free State, there are nineteen
with an area of 100000 square miles, extending
! from Maine 70 Texas, and from Ocean TO Ocean,
with population Of Sl,00000O, spread from 26 deg
north latitude 10 40 deg. In this range of % de-
grees of latitude, there is fixed difference in eli
mate, in production, and pursuits. These natural
! laws make perm anent impressions upon the people
and hence the difference in character. French
man and q Norwegian are not, and cannot be the
same people. Massachusetts and Maine viii pro-
duce different people from Carolina and Louisiana
The people Of Africa enjoy most health and Figor
under the sun. Heat is an Indispensable element
| for them; so it IL for cotton, sugar and rice.
These natural laws have made two nations in TINS
country. The African descendants are advancing
towErds the sun, and have developed the cetton
mines, the sugar and rice fields. The African taml
" have been removed from the higher TO the lower
attitudes in obedience TO natural law. the lower
ATTITUDES which is our South they have grown from
600D00 TO 1900 O00-the best organised, working
force on the glole. The most productive portion OF
it is under a sun, which would be destructive 70 the
scit race. The continuance Of this domestic rela-
ton between tile white and black races, must be
maintained or the valne of the Southern States is
DESTROYED and their fields laid waste.
The North hilf of this nation have brought
themselves to believe, that this condition of the
black man is an and it is part of their religious
duty. to set him free. The South say, this cannot
and shall not be dene, Upon this, rests the present
crisis which is alarming in its consequences be-
cause it threatens ctUil lcGr. f..
This religious sentiment in the North half of this
nation, which threatens the destruction of all the
seeded Safes has banded together party, who are
now in the majority in nineteen States, and they
have put at the head of the nation man, whose
only merit is elaHty to the South and her property
and prosperity. Can an enlightened nation of thirty
millions of people be controlled by thisfhalfw
village politician who proclaims his willingness and
readiness to wage war on fifteen States, because
they refuse to adopt the religious sentiment of his
pdrtg Is not this direct attempt to destroy the
property in these fifteen States, because they differ
in religion from the North? They say, that slavery
it is is national sin, and their religion requires
them to remove it, if it take the bayonet and the
sword. free exercise of religious opinions is one
of the guarantees of the Constitution Their reli-
gion Is higher lao0 than the Constitution, and now
they threaten to use the joint army, navy and
treasury of all the States, to force this religious
sentiment into the Southern States.
No man pretends to assert that the Southern
States owe anything, which they have not paid. No
| one pretends % say they have not been ready to
meet in battle the foes Of the nation. History re-
CORDS her courage and loyalty upon every battle
i field of the land
What, then. is the cause of complaint? Why is it
| that threatened with the sword and bayonet?
Not for refusal to bear portion of the burdens
of Government; not for debt; not for violations of
the Constitution; but because we refuse to adopt
their religion by the Constitution, have right
to opinions the subject of religion They
say the Bible teaches them that the position the de-
scendants of Africa occupy in these States is sin.
Wesay il teaches no such thing. You may enjoy
that opinion, We will not disturb you. They say,
we will compel you, to adopt our opinion, and it
shall become the religion of all the States. They
| shall be all free, all SldUs.D
This unholy presumption entertained in the face
of constitutional guarantee Is to be the cause Of
civil war, fear. That determined on there
cannot be doubt. War, based upon a religious
sentiment when the Constitution guarantees to all
freedom of thought on the subject of religion.
| We desire peace we ask the Northern States TO
let alone, and to let our religion alone. They
fuse to do so. They say adopt our religiOn-give
up your property; your four millions of slaves, or
we will lay waste your fields by 'War, pestilence
| and famine"
We do not intend to change our religion. nor do
we intend to give up our property; and have taken
the only lawful course to defend and protect it, that
i is, 10 revoke the powers delegated to a general
agent for protection not for destruction. The Con-
stitution was ratified with this reserved right.
The fifteen slave States, have one interest one
religion and the same destiny. Their policy is to
separate from the free States, take this national SIN
to themselves, and relieve the conscience of the
other States, ard thus take away their only cause
of complaint, their only cause of war. There will
be harmony, good will no friendship until this
is done. The South proposes this in lieu of war The
North's proposition to compromise is this adopt
/ our Religion that slavery is sin, and you must
unite with in abolishing it." The substance of
general Convention to amend the Constitution means
| this and nothing else. That Convention would be
| composed of nineteen free States, and four slave
| States-Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland and Mis-
| sori-Virginia, North Carolina and Arkansas will
| JOIN the Southern States. The result of general
| Convention now spoken of would be an amendment
of the Constitution, which would enable them
to force their religion into the four States men
| toned What then become Of them, when led
| into such 2 snare! Beware of general Conven-
| ton TO amend the Constitution. When it comes it
will be composea of nineteen free States and four
slave. The enemies of slavery, in Congress and
out, say they are to man for such Convention.
| No Southern man should think for a moment Of en-
| pertaining this proposition.
The resolutions offered by the distinguished Sena-
| tor from Kentucky have been denounced by the
Senators Of Massachusetts, as "cheat and fraud"
The mediation for peace and compromise by Vir-
GINA has been used 70 gain time and get into pow
err The whole tone and spirit of this wantOn party
coming into power, are that they will carry their
| religion into the South by the sword
If we are driven to defend our property and our
religion we are ready. The fifteen slave States,
| with twelve and a half millions of people, are
nation far superior to the North when the battle is
upon the present issue.
In such a conflict, when our homes and firesides
| are invaded, because we refuse to give up our
property and change our religion, we will be JUS
titled in the use Of all means Of defence and as
saut.
We will fill the sea with privateers. Capture
the public buildings in Washington City Make ev-
cry detie of the mountain a Thermopylg. Contis
! cate every debt due to the Northern States de-
stroy their credit and destroy them, if necessary.
President Davis meant what he said 4" am for
peace; my people are ready to pay their portion
of the national debt and to make full settlement
upon terms of right and justice; bat If you invade
our homes, you shall smell Southern gunpoWder,
and feel Southern steel"
Separation is our policy. All the slave States
must get together. Compromises will not settle this
religious sentiment We must take the sin ourselves.
Divide the debt-dIVide the property; let it be done
in peace. Settle the terms of intercourse by treaty.
By this division we do not change our form of
government Wedo not lose our right and interest in
the glOries won Pm the forum and the field. Our
men of talent ard merit do not lose their position.
We will pay less tax than we pay now. We will
have no conflicting element in legislation. Our po
Icy will be dictated by wants. Prosperity and
boundless wealth will be the result of this separa-
ton. El.a
The best legal advisers of the South say the wih>
drawal of the powers delegated is constitutional
right and for its exercise the offended States have
no cause Of complaint and no remedy. Coercion is
based upon superior strength. The strength is on
the side of the South but she desires to reserve her
strength for foreign foe. -t
No fanatical party, waging war in violation of
tho Constitution, upon religious sentiment, can
prevail against the yaor and true courage of South
ern men defending their firesdes and homes.
S. Z. G.
SUIT LOVengOSd,
We publish this morning short hand report of