Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-03

which exist between US, nor without leaving
myself open to misconstruction in several
influential quarters where can scarcely hope
to receive even simple justice. 1 can, by no
means, fatter myself that I have-contributed
in any considerable degree, as you seem to
have supposed might be in my power, to aid
your deliberations as one of the trusted leg
islatire functionaries of the State of Tennes-
see and rejoice to believe that your own
sound Judgment and patriotic heart will
guide you. without admonition from any
foreign source, in the pathways of rectitude,
| of honor, and of patriotic duty.
Here should be pleased to conclude, bat
you have propcunded an interrogatory in
reference to the authority and true policy of
the Government towards the State of South
Carolina in her present anomalous attitude.
which feel bound to answer in frank and
explicit language. You wish to know what
L think of the policy of eOerc,ng South Caro-
lima into a submission 10 Federal authority. This
is truly a delicate subject, and one upon
speak or write without giving more or less
offence to some class or other of our fellow
citizens. 1t is we'll known to you that 1 have
not been one of those who have approved the
conduct Of the State in question touching
this measure of secession. Her claim to
withdraw from the Union, by the authority
of the Federal Constitution, at her own plea
sure, with or without prOvocation, have
never yet admitted, and never shall aeknowl-
edge. l am certain that it would have been
more just and more courteous to her sister
States of the South, had she postponed all
action upon this important subject until she
had previously conferred with them in regard
to movement so deeply involving the safety
and happiness of all of them. entertain no
earthly doubt that all her present troubles,
aud those which seem yet to be in store for her
proudand high-spirited people, were the natur-
al and inevitable result of her own rash and
| precipitate action. She finds herself at this
moment in actual conflict, single-handed and
alone, with the whole power of the Federal
Government whilst that Government is yet
| standing in solid and unbroken strength, and
| is understood legitimately to represent the
united authority and dignity of all the States
| of the COnfederacy including those of the
| slave-holdng section well as that which is
not slave-bolding. | am sure that she has
| acted unwisely, and not as her great entomb-
ed sages would have couuselled her to act
had they been yet living. l cannot doubt
that could her people now retrace their
steps, without shame, they would lose 10
time in With the views which /
have ever entertained in regard to the charac-
ter of our political system, l am by no means
prepared to admit that the authority OF the
Federal Government is at this moment ex-
tinct within her borders.
hope that our fellow-citizens of the noble
Palmetto State will make no attack upon Fort
Sumter whilst the stars and stripes of our
National banner are pendent over il. Deep
ly agonized should I be at learning that the
Flag Of the Union had been trampled in the
dust by the descendants of the men of '76.
Bitterly should I repine over the slaughter
of the gallant Anderson and his dauntless
associates in arms Profoundly should l sor-
row over the untimely death of single son
Of South Carolina in struggle for mastery
with brothers of the American soil May
kind Providence prevent these terrible con-
sequences! AS to the sending of an armed
force within the confines of South Carolina,
for the purpose of overcoming her people by
military violence, and compelling them to
submit to the authority of the Federal Gov
erment, (thus beginning an internecine con-
fict which would in all probability terminate
only in the destruction of the whole Southern
people and their beloved institutions,) whilst
yet our sectional grievances remain unre-
dressed II have never doubted for moment
that such action would be unsOise iahunaan
and dnti-Republican; nor have 1 ever met
citizen of Tennessee who did not so declare.
1 need hardly declare that am altogether
opposed to the proUincidlizing system which
has been recently foreshadowed in certain
high quarter. The proposition to su5jugate,
either now or herafter, under any circum
stances which could be mentioned, sovereign
State of the American Confederacy, and thus
to easlaUe her people, is the most dangerous
and indefensible dogma which has ever yet
found utterance in our public councils. This
prouincializing policy is the very rock upon
which all the ancient Republics were shivered
to atoms, and l venture to say that the man
is not living who can defend it in free and
open debate. 1t is repugnant to the very
spirit of our C0ntederatiue system, and regret
that l have not now time to explode it
thoroughly, as shall certainly endeavor to
do hereafter, should no one else perform this
essential duty of patriotism. 1t is the daring
illumination of such radicalism as this which is
doing more harm to the Union cause than all
things besides; and which has most signally
discouraged the conservative statesmen in |
Washington in their noble efforts to rescue
the Republic from subversion. If the provin- |
eializing power be once admitted, there is no |
end to the process. When South Carolina |
shall have been provincialized, Virgi- |
MIA, Tennessee, and all the other States. |
may be expected, in their turn, to feel |
the application of this terribly een.ralizino |
expedient, until, at length, there will be no |
vestige left either of State Rights or State
sovereignty. and one gigantic system of I'M
relenting Despotism will be seen to over
shadow the whole land.
In connection with this subject let me call |
your attention to resolution adopted By our |
meeting of last Saturday, which 1 had the |
honor of drawing up and which is clearly |
expressive of my views. 1t reads thus:
RESOLVED, That we regard it as the duty of |
all good citizens to use the most active eyer |
tons to suppress undue excitement, and pre-
vent further unkind controversy among citi-
zens OF the South upon the questions which |
have so long distracted the country; that it |
is our clear aud undoubting conviction that
the language of unkindness, of insult, or of |
menace, either in regard to individuals or to |
States of the South, would, at this alarming
copjuncture, be alike unbecoming and I'M
profitable, and that the most strenuous exer
tions should be made, in order to bring about |
harmony of sentiment and of action among |
the whole body of our Southern people, upon
the basis OF the Constitution and he Lq,o.