Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-14
which Side win You Take!

This is now the only question which the people OF
Tennessee, well the other Border slave States
have to decide in connection with the politcol
plicatons in which beloved country is unfortu-
natey involved. There is no dIguisng the fact the
American Union lately the pride and hope of the
whole civilized world, is n0to broken up; and if
there any one who can see the remotest the most
dimly gimmering prospect of Its restoration, we
candidly profess that his prophetic ken is much su
perior to ours, and we envy him his priceless gift
1t is true we hear some still talking about saving
the Union, but they are either fossiferous old TO
ges who have not yet found out that there no long
er Union to save, or interested politicians whose
only aim is to Feather their own nests" by keep
ing up the cry, or honest, but deluded followers of
the interested politicians aforesaid. To all such
have this question to ask: How much do you ex-
pect to save that which is already destroyed? But
we return to the more direct discussion of the
question which heads this article, and as the basis
of our further remarks upon the subject, sad
though the confession be, recognize the fact that
the Union is already dissolved then iolch side t1N
you take? This is grave, momentous question,
and in order to make judicious decision, we must
endeaVor to divest ourselves of former party preu
dices and predictions and calmly weigh the claims
Of both North and South, to our confidence and ap-
probation It will be impossible to do more in this
article than to notice in general way some Of the
facts which we think properly bears upon the ques
ton and we will first address ourselves to the
consideration upon the Northern side. For forty
years past Northern fanaticsm has been engaged
in 3 relentless and unprovoked warfare upon our
institutions and upon rights has denounced the
Constitution which bound US together as Union a
league with He'll and u covenant with death )" and
where any measure has been adopted by the Gene
raj Government recognizing Southern institutions
rights, or interests it has been overwhelmed with
"tears of Indignation and sorrow :" it has proclaim
ed an s. irrepressible conflict" having for its OBJ
ject the destruction of Four Hundred Millions of
dollars worth of property all this and much more
and worse has this Northern fanaticism done in def
ance and violation Of the compact which made the
Union and yet when we have been goaded to des-
desperation and declare our determination to sub
NIT to this injustice longer, politicians tell
Us that it is the Northern politicians who are
doing it all just wait till the Northern people
have time to speak, and they will make it all
right" The people in several of the New Eng
land States have held their elections within the last
few weeks and the result shows that the Black Re-
publican party still in the ascendent and have
even made gains in some places, indicating plainly
enough that they have no compromises to make
nothing to repent of-nothing to coneede.
With this very hasty glance at the claims of the
North upon our confidence and appreciation. we
turn now to the South for the purpose of consider
ing her claims. Her sympathies, interests and inst
tutons are identical with oul own. She has waged
no war against rights-has declared no IRE
pressible conflct with usher interest and our in
terest must forever remain mutual. To the South
we sell our horses mules, hogs, cattle, Sheep &c,
from whence we derive nearly all the money we
get. Cut US off from the South and where should
we find market for our surplus live stock? Did
any of our farmers ever sell horse to citizen of
or hog to citizen of Vermont
If not, what claims have they upon US? how we
consistently affiliate with them; But We have not
space to pursue this subject further now, only to
add that the Southern Confederacy have adopted
Constitution eminently conservative-so just and
moderate that it has already, excited feel
ing of admiration, even at the North, and objeo
ton is urged against it in any quarter WHICH SIDE
WILL YOU TAKE?-GreenUile Democrat.