Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-08
J. o GRIFFITH & CO.,
rhe Action of tho LegisIature.

The seal Of secrecy was yesterday removed
from the proceedings of the Legislature. The veil
has been lifted and Tennessee stands FORTH SO far as
Legislative resolves indicate her position proud
ly defiant of the invading hordes of the North 10y
al TO her Southern sisters her honor and rights
and true to her historic character and renown.
These Legislative resolves but reflect the over
whelning voice of the people of Tennessee. as will
be demonstrated, when the ballet box shall utter
its sovereign decree.
is obedience to the palpable and almost univer-
sal tone of public sentiment that the Legislature
has spoken in language so unmistakable to tie
world. Uninspired by such sentiment, the Legis
lative voice might hare been more feeble and tenn
porising. But confronted by the mighty voice of an
aroused and iusulted people, it requires man of
extraordinary audacity to meethis constituents and
10 declare, by his acts, that Tennessee shall stand
neutral in the face of the egions of Black Republ
can soldiers, advancing to subjugate the South
The Legislature, however, has obedienty bowed
to the irresistible tide of popular reclamation, and
has declared that the people shall speak on the Sth
of June and decide for themselves, whether they
will cast off from them the usurper's and despo,'s
yoke whether they will basely yield the threats
of subjugation, betray their own honor and man
serfs of sectional rule. No man who has read
their history or who understands the character
of the people of Tennessee, can, for one moment
doubt which these alternatives her chivarous
will choose The people also called on to deter
mine whether they will remain isolated State with
out sympathy of association support, or whether
they will unite their destines with the gallant Con
federate States, who have common destiny and
common institution with themselves. Neither is
this any doubtful issue. No magnet is truer to the
pole than is the heart of Tennessee to the South and
10 Southern institutions She will throw herself in
10 the Imminent and deadly breach in the hour of
darkest peril, and the enemies Of the South are be-
leaguring her. by and land for her destruction
Five millions Of dollars appropriated and fifty
five thousand volunteers provided to be raised for
the defence and support Of the Southern States
against the wgaton. tyrannical and barbarous raid
Of a horde of INVADERS who viii learn, by expe-
rience what dear cost they plant their hostile
feet upon soil consecrated to constitutional freedom
and State rights.
A temporary convention has been also entered in
10 between the Commissioners of the State and the
Commissioners of the Confederate States, Hon. Hen
ry W. billiard, similar to that of the state of Vir
ginis with the Government of the Confederate States
The object of this treaty is TO give one direction
to the military movements of the contracting parties,
and thus OBSCURE the highest efficiency to arms.
It. once places the military resources of the state
IN the hands of competent and experienced direct
ors and secures arms for our brave volunteers,
who only require such assistance to render them
invncible against all the invaders that Lincoln can
array against them.
We can not conclude this brief article without
admonishng our citizens TO beware how they render
aid and comfort TO enemy, in this day of trial
to our State, by crying ont neutralityor union.
We give this admonition. for the sake of those
who may forget their hottest duties, and not for
the sake of the cause The latter is already assured
But impartial history is certain 10 cover with oblO
guy the name OF all who now oppose themselves to
their native land, in a struggle it'll its oppressOrs.
Let the young men especially beware and never
place themselves in 4 false position where they
will have TIE cold, unmoying finger Of scorn
pointed at them, through all time"