Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-30


to military operations. Unity Of movement TO Sc
unity Of purpose in attack or defence is abso-
lutely necessary to success The people of the
whole South, thus united by firm political COM
pact moving under the direction Of one Govern
ment, and animated by the sense Of common perils
and by unanimous determin ltion 20 their
rights, liberties and institutions, are invncible and
must speedily conquer an honorable peace. The
war must necessarily be protracted or brief in pre-
/ portion to the Union among themselves
/, therefore, further recommend that Won perfect
on ordinance, with view to our admission as A
member of the Southern Coufederacy, (which. it Is
| evident, must, soon, embrace the entire slave
I holding States of the South) to be submitted
| in like manner, and at the same time, but soma
rately for adoption rejection by the people !:
| so that they may have the opportunity to approve
the former and reject the latter or adopt both as
in their wisdom may seem most consistent with the
future welfare of the State. However fully salts
fed the Executive and Legislature may be- IS to the
urgent necessity Tor the speedy adoption of both
ese propositions, it is our duty to furnish the am
plest means for fair and full expression of the
popular will.
In the opening Of revolution fraupht with such
| consequences, and the close of which no one can
foresee, it is matter of the highest moment that
we determine, as speedily as possible our future
political relations, delaying only long enough to
reach the Will and voice of tie people Under exist
| ing circumstances, can no propriety for en-
numbering the people of the State with the election
of delegates, to DO that which 1t is in your power
| to enable them to do directly for themselves The
most direct as well as the highest act of sovereignty
according to our theory, is that by which the peo-
pie vote, not merely for men, but for measures sub
mited for their approval rejection. Since it is
only the voice of the people that is to be heard
there is no reason why they may not as readily and
effectively express themselves upon an ordinance
| framed and submitted to them BY the Legislature
as if submitted to them by Convention. The
Southern States, all Of whom are now engaged in
resistance to the encroachment of Abolition power
will necessarily encounter endorsements arising
from want of unity of action, until such time as
| they shall all be united under a common GOVERN
| ment
| The mode of action suggested in addition to the
advantage Of its being the speedest of all Others
will be attended with less expense to the State.
which Is of far greater importance now than at any
former period of our history, owing to the general
embarrassment of the people, which must continue
at least during these troubles and the heavy ap-
preparations that you will have necessarily to make
| to defray the expense of cur defences.
If, however, it should be deemed advisable that
convention, representing the sovereignty of the
people, should be called by the General Assembly.
| IN preference to submitting an ordinance of indie
pendence directly to them, though deem the latter
measure more expedient, under the circumsta nces
am not prepared to say that harmony and unani-
nifty will not thus be effected. The Senators and
Representatives. coming. as they do, directly from
their constituents are the best judges of this meas
ure. 1t cannot be regarded other than a aues-
ton OF detail, inasmuch very large majority of
the people regard themselves as being forever abb
solved from all obedience to Government that has
developed the coolest and most deliberate purpose
| to inaugurate civil AID sangunary war among
] them.
deem it proper to remark in this connection that
the Constitution of the Confederate States while it
retains all that is valuable of the Constitution of the
former United States, is an Improvement in many
essential points upon that instrument, as conceded
by those even whe were uHfriendIy to the mode and
| manner in which it originated
The only additional matter to which shall call
your attentioR-and first in importance-is the ne
cessity OF such legislation will put the State upon
war footing Immediately. Will not insult your
intelligence or question your patriotism so far as to
resort TO argument to prove the necessity of this
measure but content myself by recommending the
passage of law regulating the raising and thor
ough organization of an efficient volunteer force for
immediate service, in any emergency which NAV
arise, and thorough and perfect organization of
the militia, so that in case of necessity the whole
force OF the State can be speedily brought into ac>
ton.
In my message to your extra session in January
last laid before you the repor. of the Keeper of
Public Arms showing the number character and
condition OF the arms of the State TO which refer
you for information on that subject Since that re-
port was made, have ordered and received at the
arsenal, fourteen hundred rifle muskets If upon
this subject further or more accurate information
of the proper officer.
II requires no argument from me to prove the alb
solute necessity of an immediate appropriation of a
sum sufficient to thoroughly arm and equip such
military force as the state may probably need in the
prospective difficulties which lie before u.s. In ad-
dltion to which, respectfully recommend that you
appropriate sum sufficient to provision and main
tain such force as is intended for the field and an am
pie contingent military fund, to be subject to the
order and disbursement of Military Board under
AZ unoN
The establishment of Military Board to consist
OF at least three persons aud invested with power
to make all needful rules and regulations for organ
lzatlon and maintenance, regard as indispensably
necessary to a perfect military organization and
equipment in the State and the fact that the Legs-
lature cannot foresee and provide for the various
contingent expenses, necessarily incidental to state
of war justifes and makes necessary the contingent
military fund referred to.
trust gentlemen, that have not so far mistaken
your intelligence and patriotism as to render it ne.
cessary that should invoke you in the name of all
that Is sacred and dear TO as people-even the
sanctity of our domestic fresides-to forget past
differences and whatever may tend in the least to
distract your counsels in the present momentous
crisis in which we have been involved by the I'M
provoked and tyrannical usurpation of people who
forgetting the lessons of their fathers have over
thrown the falreSt Government upon earth in the
mere wantonness of unnatural sectional preiu- |
dice amounting to sectional hate and disregard ]
OF those great principles of justice and equality upon
which the Fedesal Union was based trust that |
today there are in Tennessee no Wings, no Demo- !
Gratis but that we are one people-all patriots, all |
brothers, Recognizing a common interest and |
common destiny and that we will stand as one |
man in defence of our honor and of our rights |
pray you to cultivate feeling of this kind and to
disseminate 1t amongst your constituents 1t is only
by such united and determined action on the part /
of the people of the whole South that we can hone
to avoid the caamities of the bOodiest and most /
devastating civil war that has afflicted any nation
IN the history of the civilized world
trust that few days will be amply sufficient |
to dispose of the busine which have laid before
you Your presence may soon be needed in the
field, and if not. will be required at home for coun
sci among your constituents.
Trusting that an All Wise Providence may watch
over your deliberations and direct you in the adop
ton of such measures. as may most subserye the
of the rights and liberties of the pee
pie, submit the determination of these matters to
your hands. IsHAM G. HARRIS