Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-23
a word of Caution and counsel.

word of Caution and Counsel.
The American people are at this moment
making chapter in their history of the
most serious import The test of the capa-
city of men for selfgovernment is being ap-
piled with the seyeress and most trying sur
roundings. The question is soon 10 be deeid-
ed and declared, and by the people them
selves And in thus calling attention to the
fact. we embrace the occasion to remind them
that the decision must proceed from all the
sanctions of sober judgment-not from the
hasty conclusions of passion. We desire that
this great fact shall sink deep into the heart
of every citizen of Tennessee and the Union
Especially is it important that discretion and
prudence and caution should guide The helm
for the next six weeks
We have apprehension that the people of
this State are on the threshold of an excite
ment such as has never been witnessed in
their history; and that in the midst of that
excitement great errors may be committed.
bitterness of feeling engendered, and alien
alton among friends. disastrous to the CON-
munity as individuals and as State. We
zee manifestations, the ineipient evidences OF
this fact every day aud every hour. In the
cities and towns and villages it appears first,
but like fire In the stubbleit will spread over
the valleys and ascend the mountains. Ii
will require the united efforts of all right
thinking and eoolheaded men to check its
progress and prevent incalcuIable injury.
We have watched with great care the passing
Of events, and to our deep chagrin We now
see their approach to our own doors Are
We prepared for them2 We have stood thus
far in the crisis substantially together, aud
are We now ready to leap into the vortex of
strife, of elimination and recrimination which
madly seethes at our feet7
Extremes are never safe. Governments.
such as ours, are not constructed in fhe mo-
ment Of heat and passion, of enmity and ha-
tired. They proceed from peace and concord,
and rise clothed in all the great sanctions of
deliberate judgment. If such governments
are worth preserving, they must be perpetu-
ated in the same way. II is utterly impossi-
BILE 10 uphold and maintain a Republican
government by force, OF to promote its pros
perity or happiness by the agencies of init
midation and fear. If these agencies are
called into exercise, it will finally degenerate
into a mobocracy, or simply a government
of factions, the one holding the reins to day,
the other tomorrow, and each holding solely
by the tenure Of brute force. OF this fact
we have melancholy example constantly
before our eyes in our broken and unhappy,
turbulent and miserable sister Republic of
Mexico. Are we ready to become her sister
in woe as well as in name? Let Us pause
upon question so momentous.
Tennesseans, at least, are one people. The
power of all is the power of each; the pros
perity of all that of each; the hopes Of all
the hopes of each; and the great interests of
all the interests of each. For what then
shall we stir up the bitter waters of e0Hteu-
ton among each other? The Union is of
precisely the same value to one that it is to
another-disunion the same 10 one and all.
1t is proclaimed that these are the issues. and
that there is no halfway ground. We deny
the correctness of this opinion, but if it be
true in its longest and broadcast extent, the
difference must not be settled under the aus
pices of passion, but under the guidance of
prudent Judgment upon deliberate survey
of all the facts. We believe that if the peO-
pie are true to themselves they will be sub
stantially of one mind. There are few un-
conditional and immediate secessionists in
the State, and there are still fewer uncOudi-
tioaal Unionists in the State: but the body of
the people are for exhausting every possible
remedy to preserve the Union and the just
equality of Tennessee and all the other States
in the Union. If, after resOrting 10 every
honorable effort to accomplish this great
and patriotic object. we fail. then the
people of Tennessee are for such other
government, either alone or in union
with such as agree with them, will
secure equal justice and Republican liberty
to all. We do not desire, therefore, 10 see the
erroneous issue, of immediate secession or
unconditional submission foisted upon the
people at this time. 1t can do no good, bat
will do infinite mischief We have not reach
ed that point yet-we may reach it in few
months, for events may occur which will
noHc II HCOCcsaiJ. We W IL.
when it comes, in such manner as shall be
consistent with the honor and dignity and
courage of Tennesseans.
We caution the people further in this con-
nection against the insidious influence of de-
msgogues, false prophets who will spring up
all over the State to lead them astray.
Times like these are extraordinarily prolific
in this character of men. Fix your conf
dence in men whom you know to have
neither hollowness in their hearts nor guile
upon their l'ps-true earnest men, capable
and willing to deal with the facts ofthe hour,
under all the responsibilities which they may
involve.
~ The winter is very severe in Great
Britain. The London papers say the heavy
snow storms and keen frosts now visiting the
country find no parallel, even in the RENE ~
hrance of that veraeious indi yifuaI The Sold