Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-08
NASHVILLE, January 31st, 1861.

NASHVILLE January 3lst, 1851.
Hon. Geo. 8. Peters and others.
Gentlemen ;-Yeur letter of the 2jth instant was,
from some unknoEn cause, not Teceiyed altogether
as early as would have been desirable; and regret
therefore, that the abors of the short, but necessa
rily most active canvass for seat in the approach
ing Convention, In which am just about TO enlist,
will deny me the satisfaction of complying With
your request that the address which had the honor
to deliver in the Hall OF Representatives few nights
since, should be published preserved short notes
of that address only, and should have to write
it oVt in full for the newspapers were its pubca-
ton to take place, and that would now be impossi
be for the reason above stated. seize the Oppor-
tunity, gentlemen, of Offering for your cOnsidera-
ton few suggestions
{ l wish NEST ardantly, gentlemen, that it were iu
my power to rouse my conntrymen Of the South, to
discerninent of all dangers with which am sure
they are now threatened and that ! gould INDUCE
them TO provide in time for their own s9fety and
the safety of the slaveh )ldng States. If the Com
nssioners from the Border Slave States shortly to
assemble In Washington, shall not be able to pro
cure efectual guarantees behalf Of tie South hs-
tore the Black Republican Administration shall go
into mower and the State of Tennessee shall fail 20
unite her destinies with those of the other slave
holding States against their common foe before the
contemplated Southern Contederacy shall have been
formed and have been duly recognized abroad as an
independent nation | feel confident that obstacles
are Ekely &c arise which will detsch the State per-
manenty from the cotton States OF the Union, and
Mace us forever under the control of Black kepub-
licaR Government; the effect Of which would be
our utter degradation and ruin, The conduct Of
those in our midst who aFs now caunseililg iEaCtign
and absolute submission to our monstrous oppres-
sors, is to me altogether unaccountable. viii not
believe that the people of Tennessee are Unindful
of their honor and safety and of the general well
fare and dignity of the saveholdlng States of the
Union IS e listen with favor 20 the gnoble cOunsels
which some Individuals at4ong W age log admin
stering 10 them) 1t may be thatthe limited period
allowed for tire interchange of opinion and senii-
ment among our citizens in regard to the pending
questions, may give to the submissionists tempo
rary triumph But hold 1t to be absolutely certain.
thai the day is not far distant, when people fall
of intelligence and patriotism as our: Ril rise Up
with manly indignation against the admonltions of
those who now attempting so lnsldlously to mis-
lead them and cover with inetiaceable disgrace all
who have persuaded them to hesitate one moment
in the performance of patriotic duty,
Those who know my history as politician. are
aware that have heretofore been willing TO bear
as much of aggression from our tyrannous prosecu-
tors of the North as could be possibly submitted to
without total loss Of honor, have struggled for
more than ten years, earnestly and lntleXlbly against
the counsels of those who, as it seemed to me- were
inclined 10 resort to extreme measures of resistance
with undue haste. have Warred against my own
countrymen of the Southern States in support af
thatUai0p cause, with herceness OF zeal and de-
termined energy, which few have displayed | have
preferred making thousand bitter and unGppeas-
ible enemies to yielding all hope of preventing dis
ruption of:our Federal Union. But l confess that
yth;n the last two or three weeks my patience
has become gell=1igh exhausted; and if the ultima
tum Of the Border States to be agreed OF, apG pte-
seted next week in Washington, shall be refused.
shall lose all hope of safety for section, except
in immediate and final separation from those who
have 50 long torhented us with soicitude and men
ated US With DESTRUCTION.
Wishing you, gentlemen, many years of public
,i,,oSt
to be your friend and fellowcitizen,
H S. FOOTE.