Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-13
Mr. LincoIn,s Position.

By reference to our Geographic columns It VIII
be seen that Mr.. Lincoln Swallowed forth the policy
of his administration toward the Southern Confed-
eracy in his speech at indianapolis on Monday. He
concludes his remarks there by saying that he as
serted nothing but asking questions for his au-
dience to decide what was right and what was
wrong 1t will be noticed however, that he did an
swer each Of the questions proposed by himself
Would marching an army into South Carolina
with hostile intent be invasion He answers, q" l
think it would and would he coercion also if South
Carolina were forced to submit" But if the uni
ted States should merely hold and retake its own
forts and collect duties or withhold mails where
they are habitually violated, would any or all of
these things be coercion or invason" Mr.. Lincoln
answers, "If professional Union-lovers resolved to
resist coercion think So their idea of preservation is
exceedingly Gin and airy What more en-
phatic answer could Mr. Lincoln have Civ
en- to his question? No one can insist that
the United States shall carry the mails into and
through the Southern Confederacy any more than
they could insist that Great Britain should carry
them into and through the United States. But
when the United States attempts to refuse to DIS
pose of her forts within the limits of an independent
government, and attempts to recapture those that
may be in the possession of that independent
government, it is coercion, and as such will be
resisted while there is brave heart left beating
upon the soil of the government that is thus
attempted TO be coerced. So, also, with respect to
the collection of revenue at foreign forts. The
Southern EConfederacy is to-day just as free and
insependent of the United States of the great
Powers of Europe. Mr.. LINCOLN and his admins
tratiou must acknowledge this fact or war is
inevitable We regret to believe that the dominant
party. whose controlling spirit is fanaticism, will
risk war with all of its horrible consequences rather
than permit seeded States to depart in peace If
Tennessee had followed up her anticoercion resolu-
tons by placinghe mosteective at the disposal
of her brave citizens and calleda convention of men
who would have assured Mr.. LINCOLN and his party
that the dav for delay was past-that the hour for
action had arriyed-that our rights must be ac-
l5nowledped and guaranteed, and that uickly-
BLACK Renublicanism might have recoiled Bat in
stead of that. the voices of JOHN BELL, ANDREW
JoHNsoS. and their followers, have emboldened
Rlack RepubIcanism and misled a patriotic and too
conadinp people at home Unless the prompt action
of Virginia shall cool the impetuOus ardor, and
shake the settled purpose of our triumphant ag-
cressors. war is at our very doors Without arms
or ammunition, without even militia system wor-
thv of the name. the Convention voted down, Ten
nessee presents a most pitable spectacle, relying
for protection solely upon the bravery Of Kentucky
mon and the deadly aim of Kentucky rifles These,
M- BKrI. thought, rendered the armng Of Tennes-
see unnecessary. A deceived people viii yet rise
= t,er MIGHT and hurl to the dust their betrayers
amendments of the Constitution.
ssmpch has been said of late about amending
the Constitution, we publish the Article of the Con
titutiou f5th) which provides for the amendment of
that instrument;
ARTICLE V.
The Congress, whenever twothrds OF both
to,sas shall deem it necessary, SHAH propose amend
nts 70 tins Constitution, or, on the application of
L. Taisatrres of twO-thirds of the several States,
III Ell Convention for proposing amendments,
bcb in either. case, shall be valid, to all lntents
~ ,Irnoses as part of this Constitution when
,tfed bv the Legislatures OF three-lSIfIhs Oh tne
severai States or by conventions Ia Hree-tourt
Shoreof as the one the other mode OF rauncation
NAV he proposed by the Congress proVldeI t.t no
All Isa5 eight hundred and eight, shall IN auy
s",,a afact the first and fourth clauses IN the
;tl saction of the first Article; and that no otaVe
.,,ot Ire consent shall be deprived OF It's equa
suffrage in the Senate -
H. ill he seen that no amendments can be propos
"A ;,l,t She intervention OF ceHgress. Two-thlrds
Of ho,S Houses c6ncurring, Congress can propose
tho or,e,1n,ents or on the application of the Legs
iatur.s NJ tothirs Of eke several States Congress
shall call Convention for proposing amendments
In either event the amendments proposed must he
ratified bv three fourths Of the Legislatures OF the
several States, or by Conventions IN threel0ur.n'
thereof as may be determined by Congress 40