Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-02

"n1sH ieaFea them 10 possession of n firm If GOV
- saas guarantees and protects their rights
State Of lis delegated 20 - ~
ernAent II for sufficient cause. or iadesa -:,bont
IL prings up the question not of Inc rloL, .s.a5
70 20 50, Dus IS there any delegated ou,soi, i; H.
NeNe - uo'SrAMeht 10 coerce ner TO the nerforyn
sncs ., ner dutles as member of the Union' M
Ine' 50 argues II, indeed they do. tssv
nave no such warrant in the Cons.;,ni;o D.. =
IS said that that the people of The secs5;, So
cannot ria themselves Of obediesce To tba a. -
the United States, and that the Federal .r.t..;.
must ENFORCE them at ell hazards against in5;vidi
VINO resist. by this argument it is meart tai q
ies people msy be Overawed By standing armies
y sareats oy force and by bayonets Compelled
20 yieid submission to Government which. in their
opinion, has failed to secure them in life nrorsr.
anu me pursuit Of happiness, then it mskes war
upon that bill Of rights sacred to every Tennessear
when declares. SHAT all power is inherent in The
People, and all free governments are founded upon
'her authority and instituted for their 1eaes ,af,t
and haPpiaess: for the advancement of these ends
.aey have at all times an unsensble and indefeas
ole right to alter reform abolish the Governmsnf
ID saon manner IS they may think propsr.p and
mat government being instituted for the eomnon
oeaeht' The doctrine Of Ron-resistaucs against ar
aroitrary power and oppression ia ob.,-5
slavish, aud destructive Of the good ~ 49,
pineas OF mankind and l am cure SO ppopst-o,s
dogma aslis involved in the argument VII find
no advocates with US. These rights which ranaas-
see claims for herself she Is toe ius and ,~na -
deny to every other organized Community 7. il
proper ana well to state the issue involved in the
relative duties of citizen and government correetiv
to do NJ Injustice to any one or tba ;ss1s
itself. Then think it may be fairly stated 70 he
tsat tdD is the bend Of all we'll governed and regn
lated society; that it 10 the duty Of the citizen IN
yield obedience to law: and that it is the dutv of
the controlling authority or government in The
protection due to those who live beneath its irAu-
once, to enforce Law. This would seem to be full
and true definition, but this does not prevent The
issue. because these are admitted truisms. And as
equal and sacred truism is asserted ia your L Of
rights already quoted, that government Is iusti-
t1ted for the peace, safety, and happiness of the
people, and Il government fails to secure this Their
they have right to alter. reform, or abolish the
government in such manner 80 they may think pro-
per-" Individual acts Of resistance do lot amount
to the judgment of PEOPLE. 1t is only when
aroused By Of wrong, after patiently endur-
ing abuses, Of which they must Of necessity be the
judges, they deliberately, dispsssonstey, in the
forms of order, utter their resistance that their
voice becomes potential. Then they cannot, ough.
not, Will not be forced, they must be reasoned with
This is the real ISSUE failure to recognize which
cost King Louis his head, King Charles his life,
King George America. And shall it be said Of our
Government gentlamep, that failure to appreciate
the bloody lessons Of history, cost Freedom its
brightest heritage, and demonstrate mans inca
pscity for self-g5vernment? If our Government
would then profit by the lesson, it would yield to
the reasonable demands of an outraged people, or
permit separation in peace. The laws Of mGnarchz
icsl and imperial governments demand aad Justify
force, the employment of whion 10 maintain ard
carry on popular government is destructive there
Of Whenever, thersfaTe force becomes necessary,
it is better to confess the open fact that from want
Of mutual sympathy identity and homogeneous /
ness, it is impossible to sustain Union Of North
srn and Southern people, than under speeious |
names end pretexts 10 take advantage Of the aTec-
ions and loyalty Of The people. to lead them into q
consolidated government of despctism and force.
frankly say to you thai prefer separation With
popular free governments North and South than TO
this UnoR sustained by fcrse AID held together by
.he virtue 81 gunpoWder aud lead.
Whilzt Tennessee viii never consent that force
hall be employed against her 81 ster States who
laVe or may dssolyetheir connection with the Fed
'ral Government She recognizes in their action
'ther questions which demand her prompt ard de-
'lsive action, Deeply Involved as she pust be by
ueh al event. Tennessee must preventive ca antilles
If civil war, and determine with whom her lot must
BE cast Bound By the ties Of kindred, by identity
It interest, by mutually Of grievances BY a sense
II the same wrongs, and linked together by nature,
n soil, climate, and rivers, 10 her sister Southern
'tates, between them and power that proelaims
Is unfs for God Holy Communion table that opep-
Noaetieutlouy bndJ ueuleS our e1ual-
ty and robs Us Of our property. Tennessee has cut
me choice, and that is, that with the South she is
me In destiny, one in fortune, AMI one ia hope
Excuse me, Mr.. Chairman, il haVs violated the
ules Of debate. In thus Discussing our relations
the Union, | have thought it necessary be-
ause have been taught TO believe that the surest
wy OF SECURING respect your rights whether
Individual, or as a nation, was the consciousness
4 others that yOu had the means, the will AID the
oIlty TO enforce 1t when necessary Your want of !
in sn organized militia, whilst cause /
+ apprehension upon the part of your Sel.oz-o;ti-
ems, produces the impression that .Aere is an in
Inference upon theiv part. u the maintenance of
heir rights i has been truly said, tina. weakness
nd insailiiy of defence invite aggression. Whilst
lot admitting the fgil force Of any maxim at the
xpease Of oar people, l must be permitted to
ay toT them, that without distinction of party they
ave demanded Of the Governor Of your State to
ubmlt this subject 10 US for consideration, It is (
aid there is necessity for the passage os the
al under consideration. ] hove saecsed, much !
nd calmly, upon the present coalition Of our be- !
owed country, rot as paTti5an, but deeply inbued
With the seEse o. ny responsibilities as citizen of
tennessee and Of the Union, ard differ with those
rho would teach Us there Is no danger Let the
forth but kaoE that the South is united IN the de-
10 assert and maintain her rights and
u will be we'll 4 united South is now the only
ope Of peace sud of free institutions. Northern
tates are armed, or are arming without except n
believe The Federal Government which is soon
pass into the hands CT OUT sectional foes "a SSise
] military preparations. UnmstsE2hle tAreats I.
'rce come from Congress. nd what means il
L? Sir, unless your -arlauess, courage wis
on, SECURE IN honorable adjustment of the cues
o1s ct issue between the sections, there will be no
esos But il is said, that we in Tennessee are in
% danger, that the border States Of Arkansas
Orth Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky, will protect
8. The cbivalry Of your people is ridculed
| one breath, whilst your apprebeusions in
mother, are to be quieted, by reference to
entuoky rifles. What true son Of Tennessee, I
nong and Of her people, would have tennessee
kulk for safety b.Aind KentSekyI The suggestion
SANDER upon 49E courage ard her eallsrtry.
10 sir speak the voice of your feloW-citizcns
hen declare that the battle Of right, in defence
! our institutions wherever and whenever fought,
neither by Virgins, Ksntuckysor other States, is I
he battle of Tennessee, whose sons will be fOued,
OF in the rear, but in the van. All your mSses
snts asserting your determination 20 aside your
gifts have been serutinised snd pronounced the
ork Of dssigT-a FaTrnse to carry 81 the people
7 e4Oi smeat. The intimation means to express I
lstrust of the intelligence and honesty Of the peo-
e-thst their judgment AID patriotism are to be
Eayed BY red feather, to lull them into deep
eep as 10 the emergency new upon them and when ,
10 late they are awakened to persuade them thew |
70 too lily prepared to resist, and wgst therefore
limit to the domination q their ioes, A charge
rem further than this hsa been made That this
foss to OFgsqias tAs militia ans volunteer corps
the State is tFesBonable conspiracy. Twill not
Get the libellous charge further than to saw that
to provide means for the defence and pEGleation
my neighbOrs and my friends, tksir wives and
eir children, and for the honor and in !
gritty Of my native State, against asy
nd all Who dare attack either, be treason .
en cir, AN a traitor. So help me God no re- /
possibility for RACED Cities ruined homes, desc T
ted fields, murdered citizens shall be upon NJ i
nsoieros, But, again, sir it is said these is no
niger that Mr.. Lteoin is nOt 80 bad Q nan after
J, and bY high authority, your Governor ia ac-
lsed of injustice, when he charges that AIr. Lin
In is the advocate Of the equality Of the negro.
our Goyernor ststed truly, the e7idence which
id ia my Lsnd-ke printed debates between L
ouglss and Lincoln is conclusive and viii not ad-
i; of dispute. There is cause Of apprehension,
e nomination of your enemy, Mr., Seward, as chief
biuet officer Of the Government, is the rainbow of
ace. His speech is couciliatory and conservative
:. Tennessee wait. Let Tennessee pause Let this 4
sneral Assembly and your Convention declare A