Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-06-08
The 9th of February and the sih OF
June.

IRA P. JONES.
The 9th of February and the Sfh @
June.
Four months ago, on the 9Th of February
before The close of the Administration of NJ
BUCHANAN. and when the country was unaI
priced of the policy which the Administrs
ton. soon to be invested with pOwe
proposed to adopt in reference to the Confed
erxte States, the people of Tennessee. by
most commanding majority. evinced their de
sire to preserve and perpetuate the Uniou
Tbey believed that the South had beeI
wronged grievou=ly wroOged by tie North
and that the sectional triumph in the election
of Mr. LINCOLN, 10 matter how it was effect
ed, was of fearful import as to the future
and made it incumbent on them, whilst they
declined to join the Cotton States in their re
volt. TO demand new guarantees for The pro
lection of the constitutional rights of the
Southern people. Congress was in session
and numerous propositions looking to an ad,
iusiment of pending difficulties were before
il. and to be acted Oh; the Peace Congress
WAS dlkO III e-telOuf IL as col ACS1If
hoped that It would come to some conclu-
sion which taken up, and accepted by the
former body, would result in the retention of
the border slave States in the Union, and
eventually, in conjunction with a coneiliatO-
nv policy on the part of the new administra-
ton. induce the States in revolt, to retrace
their steps. Bouyant with hope. and trusttul
in regard to the future, unwilling to assume
that the new Administration conld be so
blind to their own interests and to the well
fare of the people of the United States, as to
attempt coercive measures, In the solution of
the great questions which they would imme-
distely be called upon to face. the people of
Tennessee, in the memorable election OF The
9Th OF February, determined to adhere to the
Union. aud ascertain what the future had in
store for them.
Need we recur to the anxious hopes and
fears with which they awaited the inaugura-
ton of Mr.. LINCOLN, and to the delight they
manifested when it was given out that
would pursue a couciliatory and peaceful
policy, evacuate Fort Sumter, the point OF
Southern irritation, and probably all the
other Southern forts held by the United States.
with one or two unimportant exceptions. For
awhile they felt as if their dearest wishes were
about to be realized that, although Con-
gress had disappointed them, they would yet
be secured in the unrestricted enjoyment of
their constitutional rights, and, as crown
ing result, the Union would finally be re-
stored to its former proportions by the return
of the seeded States.
So they felt, until they saw symptoms of
treachery on the part of the administration,
in the secret preparations made for naval
enterprise, which, it was whispered, was in
tended, perhaps, for operations near st. Do
mingo, but which really looked to the rein
forcement of Forts Sumter and Pickens. When
with Amusement; but even after the duplicity |
of the administration had resulted in The |
and fall of Fort Sumter, they |
might not have abandoned hope of preserving |
the Union. had not the President usurped the |
power TO raise and equip armies, and navies,
thus suspending the Constitution, for the |
purpose of engaging in war of subj lgation /
upon the people of The seeded States, and /
called upon them 10 send troops to aid him in |
the atroeious work. When all hopes of a
peaceable adjustment were thus ruthlessly
.orn from them, they did not hesitate relstiye
20 the course which duty required. The de-
termination was spontaneous amongst the
yreat masses of them, to demand of the con-
tituted authorities an opportunity to assert
heir independence of the Federal Govern
nent, and their right to adopt such govern
nent in its place as they thought best for their
against oppression and tyranny.
they saw the Federal Government in the
of their sectional enemies, the
Constitution dishonored and broken, and re-
olved 10 seek safety through their right of
evolution. Happily the Legislature, re-
ponding to their demands, and following the
example of the Congress of the United Colo
lies In l776, adopted Declaration of Inde-
,endence. To day, the 9Th OF June. the PEG.
Die, acting in their highest sovereign capaci.
y, will, 10 the exercise of the right OF suf-
rage, approve and ratiiy the patriotic action
Il their servants in the General Assembly.
they will assert their Independence. by a
majority but little smaller. than that of the
th of February. Both days will, in all fu-
ure time, be memorable in the history of
'ennessee-the one for the patriotic zeal and
,enerous confidene which animated her sons
q their desire to preserve the Union and the
and the other for the invincible
pirit and determination with which they cast
side the Union, when the Constitution was
and all the objects for which
18th were established, either lost sight of, or
ad entirely failed. The vote of to day will
lot be inconsistent with that of the 9Th of
They win harmonize beautifully
land, on the pages of history, will be neces-
airy, in their relations to each other, to ex-
ibit the true patriotism, the forbearance and
,agnanmity, and the courage, hrmness and
owe of Liberty, which characterize the peo-
lie of Tennessee. r
Il there Union man Of the 9th of Febru-
y, Who now recoils from the logical Sc