Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-03

Noft1iess, 6nQ tnercDy anDfnliaI.Eg IN efeCt
erty worth thousands ofmlllions or dollars. This
party. thus organized, succeeded in the month of
November last in the election of its candidate for
the Presidency Of the United States
In the meantime. under the mild and genial eli
mate Of the Southern States and the Increasing
care and attention for the webeins and comfort Of
the labOrng class dictated alike by interest and h
mainly, the African slaves had augmented in num-
Der from about 100000 at the date of the abortion
OF the constitutional compact to upwards of 4000,-
600. In moral and social condition, they had been
elevated from brutal ssvages into ociIe nteIlicent
and civilized agricultural laborers, and suoplied
not only with bodily comforts but with careful re-
iigious instruction. Under the supervision of a su
perIor race their labor had been so directed as not
only to allow gradual and marked anticipation of
their own condition, but TO convert hundreds of
thousands of square miles of the wilderness into
cultivated lands, covered with prosperous people;
towns and cities had sprung into existence and had
rapidly increased in wealth and population under
the social system of the South: the white population
of the Southern slavehodiog States had augmented
from about 1850 900 at the date of the adoption
of the Constitution, to more than 5000 n 1860;
and the productions Of the South in cotton, rice,
sugar and tobacco, for the full development and
continuance Ofwhich. the labor of African slaves
was and is, Indispensable, had EoIlen to an amount
which formed nearly three tourhs of the exports of
the whole United States and had become absolutely
necessary TO the wants of civilized man.
With interests OF such over whelmng magnitude
imperilled the people of the Southern States were
driven by the conduct of the North to the adoption
OF somej course of action TO avert the danger with
which they we're openly menaced. With this view,
the Legislatures OF the several States invited the
people to select delegates to Conventions to be held
for the purpose of determining for themselves what
| measures were best adapted to meet so alarming
| crisis ia their history.
| Here it may be proDer to observe that from
period as early as 1898, there had existed in all of
the States of the Union party almost unnterrupt-
eddy in the majority based upon the creed that each
State in the last resort the sole Judge as well of
| its wrongs, of the mode and measure of redress
LODGED 1t is obvious, that under tire law of nations
this principle Is an axiom applied 10 the relations
of independent sovereign States such as those which
had united themselves under the constitutional COM
pact The Democratic party of the United States
repeat in It's successful canvass in 1856 the decla
ration made IN numerous previous political contests,
that 1t would faithfully abide by and uphold the
principles laid down in the Kentucky and Virginia
resolutions of 1898. and IN the report of Mr. Madi-
500 to the Virginia Legislature in 1898; and That il
adopts those principles as constituting of the
| main foundations of It's political creed"
The principles thus emphatieally announced. en-
brace that to which | have already adverted the
| right of each State to Judge OF. and redress the
wrongs of which it complains. These princI ,,l s
| were maintained by overwhelming 4jorities of the
people OF all the States of the UnIUn at different
elections especially the elections of Mr. Jefferson
| in 1905, Mr.. Madison in 1909, and Mr.. Pierce in
| 1857
In the exercise of a right so ancient. so well
established. and so necessary for selfperservatIun
the people of the Confederate States in their Com
| 'entlJns- determined that the wrongs which they
hal suffered. and the evils with which they were
menAced, required that they should revoke the dele
CATION OF powers to the Federal Government which
they had ratified in their several Conventions They
consequently passed ordinances resuming all their
rights sovereign and independent States and dis
solved their connection with the other States of the
Union.
Having done this they proceeded to form new
compact amongst themselves, by new articles of
Confederation, which have been also ratified by the
conventions of tie several States with approach
to unanmity far exceeding that of the conventions
(which adopted the Constitution of 1887. They
have organized their government in ali its de-
parments; the functions of the Executive, Legisid-
tive, and judicial Magistrates are performed in ac-
cordance with the will of the people az displayed,
not merely in cheerful acquicscence, but in the
enthusiastic support Of the government thus estab
lisned by themselves and but for the interference
OF the government OF the United States In this legl-
| innate exercise of the right of people to sefgOv-
ernment'peace, happiness and prosperity would now
| smile on our land.
| That peace is ardentIy desired by this government
and people. has been manifested in every possible
| form. Scarce hA you assembled in February last,
| when, prior to the Inauguration of the Chief
Magistrate you had elected, you passed resolution
expressive of your desire for the appointment of
commissioners TO be sent to the government of the
| OHlteu CtAtes iOF purpose VI
| ly relations beween that government and the Con-
ederate States of America and for the settlement of
all questions Of disagreement between the two gov
ernments upon principles of right, Justice. equity
| and good faith
1t was my pleasure as we'll as my duty, TO coope-
rate with you in this work of peace. Indeed. in my
address to you taking the oath of Office and be-
| fore receiving from you the communication of this
resolution, ha0 said, "as necessity, not choice,
| we have resor ed to the remedy of separation. and
| bpnppfOpfh energies he directed the
| conduct of our affairs and the perpetuity of
| the COnfederacy which we have formed. If just
perception of mutual interest shall permit US peacea
bly, pursue separate poiir al career my most
| earnest desire will be fulfilled.
1t was in furthsrance Of these accOrdant views of
the Congress and the Executive, that made choice
of three dis rect, able and distinguished Citizens who
| repaired to WASHINGTON. Aided by their cordial
| co operation, and that Of the Secretary of State
every effort compatible with self respect and the dig
nifty Of the COnfederacy, was exhausted before al
lowed myself yield to the conviction that the gov
eminent of the United States determined to at
temptthe conquest of this people, and that our cher
| ished hopes of peace were unatrainable.
| On the arrival OF commissioners IN Wash
ingtOn, the 9Th of March, they postponed, at the
| suggestion OF friendly intermediary, doing more
than giving informal notice of their arrival This
was done with view to afford time 10 the PresI
dent, who had just been .naugurated, for the dis
| charge of other pressing official duties in the
| ganiz alton of his ministratien, before engaging
| his attention in the obj -ct of their mission. Ii
was not until the 18th of the month that they Off
cially addressed the Secretary of State informing
him of the purpose of their arrival, and stating 10
tn. language of their instructions their wish TO
make to the government Of the United states over
lures for the opening of negotiation, assuring the
government of the United States. that the President
Congress and people of the Confederate States,
earnestly desire peaceful solution OF these great
questions: that is neither their interest their
| wish to make any demand which is not founded on
strctes Justice do any act to inJure their late
cOnfederates.'
| To this communication no formal reply was
ceIved until the Sth of April During the interval
the commissioners had consented 10 waive all ques
iOus of form. With the firm resolve 10 avoid wa
if possible they went far to hold, during
that long period, unofficial intercouI Sc through
| Intermediary. whose high position and character,
inspired the hope of success, and through whom
constant assurances were received from the gov
eminent the United States. of peaceful Intentions
of the determination to evacuate Fort Sumter: and
further, that no measure, chlnglng the existing
status PR ia licially the Confederate States
pecially at Fort Pckens, was in contemplation but
thar in the event of any hange of intention on tht
subject notice wouli be given to the Commission
ers The crooked paths of diplomacy can scarcely
furnish an Die wanting IN courtesy, IT. can
dor and directness, the course OF the United
States Government towards our commissioners in
Washington. Fur proof of this. refer to the an
nexed documents marked -. taken IN connec
late:
Early in April the attention Of the whole country
as well as that of our Commissioners, attract
ed to extraordinary preparation for an extensive
military and naval expedition in New York and
other Northern ports. These preparations COM
menced in secrecy for an expedition whose destin-
alton was concealed only became known when
nearly completed. and the 9th, 9th and 9Th April
transports and vessels of war, with troops, mum
tons and military supplies, sailed from Northern
ports bound Southwards. Alarmed by so extraor
binary demonstration, the Commissioners reques
ted the delivery of to their official com
munIcation of the 18th March. and thereupOn re-
ceived, on the n April, reply dated on the 18th
of the previous month from which 1t appears that,
during the whole interval, whilst the Commissions
ers were receiving assurances, calculated to inspire
hope of tie success of their mission the Secretary
of Safe and the President of the United States had
already determined to hold no intercourse with
them whatever: refuse even to listen TO any pro-
posals they had to make and had profited by the de-
lay created by their own assurances in order to |