Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-21

Ny colleague went On to argue that every single,
solitary foot Of Southern Territory had been ac-
CURED by Northern treasure and Nor.hern votes;
that they had williDgly-yea, willingly yielded
to the South every demand that had been made.
What are the facts in regard to this question of
the acquisition of territory and of the admission
of slave States into the Union? Let the record
sneak It shows that every foot of slave terrific
ry has been acquired with the aid of a few North
ern Democrats who have stood by eserin the hour
of our peril but against the reatmajorit5 Of north
ern votes. It shows that every slave State that
has ever been admitted into the Union has been ad-
mitted against the great majority of Northern votes
against the efforts of the Republican party now In
power, who assume to take possession of purse and
sword and administer this Government. My col
league SAYS that the South got the Missouri compro-
mise and they repealed it. How did they get the
Missouri COMPROMISED Why, sir, it was taken rs a
poor boon to the South to prevent the North from
saying that Missouri should only be admitted with
slavery forever excluded from her territory against
the will of that people, expressed In their constl
tuition; and when they refused faithfully even to
carry out that it was repealed. The record shows
that after the Missouri compromise was adopted,
the very next session, when she presented herself
with slave constitution at the door of Congress for
| admission. sixty-one Northern Representatives in
this House voted for the repeal of that compromised
and for proviso declaring that no slave shOudex-
list within the limits of the State of Missouri q
| And so it has been with regard to every slave
| State-Florida, Arkansas and Texas. My colleague
says that are indebted to Northern Representa-
tves for tie acquisition of all these Territories and
he refers particularly to the Territory of Louisiana
Does he not know that the greatest portion of that
territory, slave territory it when we acqui-
red it. is to-day Free and in the hands of the Repaid
cans?-this party planted upon the declaration too.
that not another foot Of slave territory shall
have; upon the declaration that, in defiance of
| the Supreme Court, we cannot carry our property
in this common territory; with President who de-
elared in speech at Chicago, July 16, 1853
"If l were in Congress. and vote should come
up on question whether slavery should be prohibit
ted in new Territory, in spite of the bred Scott
decision, would vote that it should 81
Sir, was asked just now to specify some Of the
charges against the Republican party Allow me to
| make some slight specification by substituting a
| short extract from a most eloquent and powerful
speech of Southern Senator the other da in part
ing forever from that once august body. In speak
ing of this fanatic spirit of the North which Is the
every breath of this Republican party, he said
" 1t denied US Christian communion, because it
could not endure what it styles the moral leprosy of
slavehoding it refused permission to soourn, or
to pass through the North, with our propertyi
it claimed freedom for the slave if brought by his
master into Northern State itvolates the Consti-
tuition and treaties and laws of Congress, because
designed to protect that property it refused any
share of lands acquired mainly by our diplomacy
and blood and treasure; it refused property any
shelter or security beneath the flag of a common
y
fused to restore it it refused to deliver criminals
against our laws, who fed to the North with our
property our blood upon their handst threaten
ed us, by solemn legislative acts, with ignominioas
punishment if we pursued our property into .
Northern State it murdered Southern men when
seeking the recovery Of their property on Northern
SOIL it invaded the borders of the Southern States,
poisoned their wells, burnt their dwelling, and
dered their people; it denounced US by deliberate
resolves of popular meetings, of party convictions,
and of religious and even legislative assemblies as
habttua Volators Of the laws of God and the rights
of humanity; it exerted all the moral and physical
agencies that human ingenuity can devise or diabol-
ical malice can employ to heap odium and infamy
upon US, and to make us a by-word of kissing and
of scorn throughout the civilized world -
The gentleman says '.with sword in one hand
and torch in the other, he will go home and fight
disunien" The question of Union or dsunion is
not now for Tennessee to SETTLE Six States, making
mighty empire, stretching from the Atlantic to the
mississippi are already out of the Union before
another week to be followed by one more, with a
domain almost as large as all the rest The only
question which will be left for Tennessee is, will
she join these, her Southern glorious sisters or will
she link her fortunes with the Republican North?
What does the gentleman mean by his torch and
sword and following the flag of his country where
ever it foats2 Doeshe mean sir if that flag foated
over hostile armies marching into the borders of
Tennessee to subjugae the people of that or sister
State, that he would be found fighting under it |?
II PoA1L MN " tile
following resolutions, passed almost unanimously
by his own State:
ResoIved by the General Assembly Of the State of
Tennessee, That this General Assembly has heard
with profound regret of the resolutions recently
adopted by the State of New York, rendering men
and money to the President Of the United States to
be used in coercing certain sovereign States of the
South into obedience to the Federal Government.
ReS0tUed, That this General Assembly receives
the action Of the Legislature of New York as the
Indication of purpose upon the part of the people
of that State to further compicate existing difficult
ties, by forcing the people of the South to the
tremity of submission or resistance and so regard
ing it, the Governor of the State of Tennessee is
hereby requested to inform the Executive of the
State of New York that it is the opinion of this
General Assembly that whenever the authorities of
that State shall send armed forces to the South for
the purpose indicated in said sFesolutiOns, the
people of Tennessee, uniting with their brethren of
the South, will, one man, resist such invasion of
the soil of the South at all hazards and to the last
extremity
This sir is the spontaneous and patriotic voice of
the proud freemen of Tennessee. Let me tell the
gentleman too that the author of these resolutions
is his own constituent and member of his own
party. Can it be possible that, should the flag of
his country be prostituted to the base and despotc
purpose of subjugating sovereign States, he would
still be there? That under it he would lift fratri
cidal hand with Z" torch and sword ?" Ny first and
highest allegiance is to my State and / pledge
now, that when this ensanguined war shall come,
(Which may God in His providence avert y the
brave men of Tennessee will rally to the standard
of their States and resist unto the death any inva
sion of the soil of the South it matters not under
whatsoever banner the invading foe may come.