Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-03-23
from the National Intslllseneer-
.sat sen..


The Mobile Tribune, a warm Secession
journal. "regrets to see the exhibition of
some discomfort with the proceedings. or ra-
Their the authority. of the Congress of the
Confederate St.tes." 1t admits that, sin re-
spect to the authority of the body, there may
be some difference Of opinion without dis
loyalty TO the South. But (adds our con-
temporary it must be remembered that the
people of the States which voted for it gave
it something in the nature Of ple1ory poacers.
and under the belief that this was necessary
to the objects for which the Congress was
called"
We were not before aware that the people,
in voting for delegates on the question of
immediate or cooperative secession, had In
view such "pienary" prerogatiyes as the for
nation and installment of Provisional and
Permanent Government. without further re-
ference to the fountain of political power.
Yet it seems that such was the fact, or, II
not the fact, the force of circumstances has
subsequently, made the assumption of this
authority" necessity. What these circum-
stances are our contemporary very graphic
ally describes as follows:
Eve are like a number of men IN a boat at
sea. We must reach land by our boat. No
one can leap overheard without destruction
to himself Having lett the old ship-with-
out the slightest probability of returning to
it-what is the duty of every true man?
Why, to navigate the vessel into some safe
harbor; and the dissensions in the crew which
are likely to prevent this must Be suppressed
Fhen tce get ashore, then let the differences of
opinion in relation to the skill of the COM
mander have full expression. There is no
doubt that as soon as we get settled there
will be party disSensions. We shall, no
doubt, have parties; bnt wait for these new
phases until ace kTl0ac eractly tchere Te are about
to land trfh our Utsstl "
Could the infelicity of separate State Sc
cession" be more satiricaliy characterized
Yet tho Mobile journal neans 10 be gravely
argumentative, and is not at all facetious.
The Montgomery (Alabama) ADVERTISER,
also a leading secession paper, concurs with
the Mobile journal in enforcing the duty of
present submission to the assumption of
''pIenary powers" by the members of the
Southern Congress. 1t says:
'.These mea have already exercised author
ity, which, under other circumstances, may
not have legitimately belonged 10 them.
They have. for instance, elected Provisional
President and Vice President. But those of.
ficials are men whose names are illustrious
in American history. WDat demagngue, then,
will cavil at the action of our Congress?
Who will be found so base as to assert that
the people have had no voice in the forma-
ton of this Government under which the
South is to live and prosper? Not one true
Southern man. For the sake of the South,
then, our own beloved South, let us drop all
party di>seRsons, and unite in uphoiding and
sustaining the Government. III there be- de-
fectS, aud no work of human hands is perfect,
the people can rectify these errors at the bal
lot-box. There will be, doubtless, many
things in the Constitution which many of us
would be glad to see altered. Some may de-
sire de free introduction Of african negroes or a
representation. Of all the negro population, entire
free trade. Others may object to each
and all of these propositions. Let these pre-
ferences and objections be expressed at the
ballot-box, and in the State Conventions
But before the world. and more especially in
the face of our Northern foes, let US present
solid front in defence of our Government"