Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-03-29
X s WILLIE
Friday, March 90, 1851.


R7s- viii there be peace Will there be war
What will be the result of the strife and turmoil
which now distract the country These are the
questions propounded to us ut every turn, and
whilst we do not profess to have any fixed data up
on which to base reliable opinion our observa-
ton Of the course of events and the bearings of all
the evidence before u.s. induce the belief that there
win be no war; and that the result will be a settle
fnent satisfactory 20 the border States. The policy
of the President far it has been developed, is
directly opposed to his Inaugural, we understand
It, and that il is So is ascrbable to the public opin
ion of the North and of the border States and the
same cause which forces upon the Administration
peace policy will ultimately remove the cause of
war by acquiescence in the demands of the border
States for their rights in the Union. The only thing
that can defeat this desirable result is the failure of
the border States to meet in Conference and firmly,
but respectfully, renew their dennand--in tone
that shall leave not shadow of doubt that they
are in earnest. Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and
Virginia are leading of in the matter of Confer
ence; let Tennessee, North Carolina and Maryland
do likewise and we feel as sure of a satisfactory
settlement rs we do of any event dependent upon
the chances and changes of the future 1t is this
conviction which makes solicous that the
border States shall neither lower their demands nor
relax their efforts Consistency, honor justice pres
ent and future interests all urge them to persevere
in the course so plainly marked out by them, last
fall, and the abandonment Of which, Just at this
crisis is certain TO result In failure and humilia-
ton. To. back down now, and virtually say to the
Republicans 1--WE surrender at discretion" without
even demanding the honors> of war; will draw
down upon us all the contempt we shall merit, and
more insults than magnanmous people ever bore
Rights hitherto denied upon just demand, are not
likely to be conceded after they have been weakly
abandoned by those who once bravely put them
forward
Ir is true that failure has attended our efforts SO
far, and tended, not little, to widen the breach by
exasperating the feelings of the Disconnected but
it is yet in the power of the border States to obtain
the full extent of their demauds--an end that
would have been reached by this time, had it not
been for the desertion of the Gulf States Weak
ened at this vital point the struggle was an une-
to make up thatloss, but 20 the advantage
given TO the Republicans by the speeches of such
men as Andy Jshnson, Winter Davis and Others
But for those speeches-that aid and comfort from
the Southern camp--we honestly believe that the
resolutions of Crittcudcn or their equivalent would
have been accepted a settlement, and that the re-
suit would have been the restoration of the Union
II Had HOW, Io
tween the sections-no question of disunion before
the country the speeches referred to would have
fallen upon the public car as trte and common
place-as containing doctrines which no one diff
puted; but delivered as they were in the midst of
active revolution and under peculiar circumstances,
when secton>was arrayed against section, when
war seemed almost inevitable, their effect was as
damaging to the South as encouraging to the Re-
publicans and the parties who delivered them were
anything but promoters of peace and true friends Of
the South. This malign influence the border States
have yet to overcome, and nothing but frmness and
perseverance, can overcome it, and these must he
exerted in concert With such concert success can
be achieved the Union, as it is, can be honoraby
preserved and its future harmony secured by re-
moving from the arena of national politics the one
question which has wrought so much evil
This, in our humble opinion, will be the result
provided the border States are true to themselves
But no permanent peace can follow passive acqui
escence in sectional domination and the right of mi
norities never secured by trusting to the magma
nimity Of maiorities. Individual weakness may be
secure against magnanimous strength, but States
have no souls, and dominant parties no mercy, and
the weak must seek safety in brave hearts, firm
wills, and arms sered by justice and the right