Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-14

/ cohs rCSdu-t tue eAbt0-lOn fcSITlcLlOl Oh
/ slavery. as they well know, depends now on
causes which are more controlling than any
mere act of Congress. 1t has proved most
unwlse and unnecessary feature in their po-
| litical creed. 1t was Inserted, | apprehend-
for reason similar to that which has caused
| certain dominant party in the South, for
| years past, to make the negro issue para
| mount to all others-fo carry an election. And
at last our southern friends have found, to
their sorrow, that this Sambo game is one
that two can play at. / hope, as they have
! lost stakes, they will resort 20 no other
means Than the ballOt-box to regain their
party power. / implore you to avoid the
| dire alternative of disuniOn; trust to that re-
! action in public opinion which is sure to
I come in every case where wrong or error ex-
| lists, ard reason is left free TO combat it.
And it is because | have faith in the sober
second thought of the people everywhere,
that L propose to appeal from this Congress
10 them. Ii, sir, you have grievances, are
you disposed to break up the Government
| rather than ask the people of the free States,
| your brethren and kindred, to consider them!
No; let us adjourn this unhappy quarrel to
| the people, the real people. to whom this
Government belongs. Il is but eighteen
| months until this whole dispute will be trans
frrred by the Constitution TO the whole
| people of the United States; but L IMPURE
(, you to transfer it to them now; and L appre-
bend those who persist in refusing so reason
able a demand will be consigned to retire
| ment aud obscurity. / am not afraid 10 trust
the people, and shall be content to abide
| by their deliberate decision upon all these
| questions when made.
| | ak. again, why destroy our country be-
cause this Congress may fail TO agree upon
| specific legislative measures or constitutional
amendments. which have been before the
| country hut q few weeks, and upon which
he people of the States, North and South,
| have had no means of passing a dnal Judg-
| men'? | protest against it.
When sir and under what circumstances,
was this House OF Representatives chosen
| The members from the free States we've near
ly all elected in 1858. They were elected
amid The excitement and indignation which
pervaded all classes IF people in the free
States. because the power and patronage OF
| the Administration had been invoked, not to
cOcrce ii STATE, not to expel State from the
! Union, but TO coeIce Territory into The Union
with a constitution that its people abhorred.
In that Indignant uprising OF the people,
when party lines were eradicated, men who
were most violent and extreme in their views
| were chosen by the people. They were elect
ed, as | have said without regard to the
-peclic measures now before Us. Other men,
bers from the fee States We're elected at that
time with a special reference to the alleged
eXtravaganceS, frauds, and corruptIOns OF
the present Administration and its advisers.
And how was it in the last presidential elec-
ton? Mr.. Lincoln, it is well known. was
not elected solely because OF bis sympathy
and connection with the Republican party.
All the odds aud ends, all the opposition
which Mr. Buchanan's unfortunate adminisra-
tion had aroused, was invoked to the support
of the Republican candidate, to prevent the
election of Mr. Douglas, who was regarded as
the most formidable rival. For Mr.. Lincoln,
it is known, every element of opposition to
the ruling power was most earnestly and sue
cos>fuliy invoked The Democratic party. it
was known, had great resources. Its leaders
were artiul and industrious, ready TO resort
to every siraiagem for success. The idea
generally prevailed that they knew how to
keep open the ballot-boX until they got votes
enough. fLaughter.l These things were
known or believed by every one; and
throughout the free States, with rare excep-
tons, all who felt that the overthrow of the
present Democratic party was demanded by
the interests Of the country. voted for Mr.
Lincoln.
There is another reason why disunionists
should have no apulOgists or defenders.
Were Mr. Lincoln the monster they affect to
regard him, it is well known-and to none
better than themselves-that during his
whole admins ion the Senate would have
been politically opposed to him. The next
House IF Representatives, if the seeding
States are represented. will be also largely
opp psed to the Republican party; while The
Supreme Court. heretofore claimed as the
sheet-anchcr of those who are now disuniOn-
lists, is composed almost entirely of the poll
tical opponents OF Mr.. Lincoln With these
facts before Us. we behold the seceders run
ming away from dangers which they have the
t.. ..Vsg-f cannot therefore firmly
tear. IN common parlance. they have
80 spiked their cannon, burned their gun car
riageS, AID retired Tor safety" to Fort Dis
union. [Laugitcr1
There are g ntIcmen on the Republican
side OF the House who refuse to agree TO
what / regard as reasonable proposition
for compromise or adjustment, because, as
they say. it will not correspond with their
former political records. Political consis-
tency is desirable only when it sccords with
wisdom. There should be no hesitation be-
tween apparent personal consistency and the
of the country Great emer
seneies often demand a seeming sacrifice;
and should the sacrifice be demanded now.
trust we shall all be found ready to offer it
upon the altar OF our country. / appeal,
then, first to you; and should you, as Repre-
sentdtives, fail 10 meet the just expectations
of reasonable men, 1 will appeal from you to
tiers.
The people of the South, who have most
at stake will be found TO counsel prudence
and moderation. Wise men. conscious of
that power which is inspired by being in the
right, will not embrace the precipitation and
madness of the times Whatever they may
desire our northern brethren to do, they will
make known in firm yet respectful and fra
te: nal way. Whatever your politicians may
a fbsa. aF ba Narfh tr-iif
meet US, If time is given, and moderation
prevails, in a reciprocal spirit erchange
of opinion will lead, no doubt. to the best
results. aud we wills yet preserve in all its
glory that country still so dear for it's bless
ings.
Air. Vallaudingham. L want to ask the
gentleman from Tennessee aquestion which
may control my vote upon the pending pro-
positions, and trust be will give me cam
did answer. a-.Er f5
Mr. E heridge will.
Mr.. Vallandingham. If his statement of
the case between the slaveholding and the
non-slav aholding States of the Union be true,
0ygh the people OF the free States TO humiii- |
ate themselves by proposing any constiu- |
Iional amendment, or any additional legisla- |
lion?
Mr. Etheridge. Mr.. Speaker, so persistent |
have been the misrepresentation of the lead |
IDg men IN all sSCtiOuS OF tue u nlOn--''mf5 /
apprehension" is perhaps a better term-so |
persistent have been these misrepresenta |
ions, made even at the North, and under |
which our people are laboring, in regard TO |
" hat the Republican policy is to be, that ma
~ of the people of the South seem almost |
the expression--..tO believe
. lie that they may be damaed.n Laugh |
er.l Now. sir, will give the gentleman
pecimen. f1E 1f "a
: Mr. yaIlandi gham-Ought the people of |
he free States so do anything inconsistent |
With their selfrespect2
Mr.. Etheridge 1 will not ask them to do |
lnything which selfrespect forbids. But it
5 known that a portion of the people of /
he South are Ikea tempest viii not call |
hem mad, others have called them insane.
do not Inquire why they are So; they ought
loI to be so but @e are advised, in some |