Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-01

From the Montgomery (Ats.l Advertiser, Jan 25
Remarks of mr. YanSs. In The state


on Provisional asd Permanent { governments
for Southern Confederacy being under con-
sideration: ~ = ~ e1t4 ~
Mr. Yancey saia- Mr.. President, the people
OF South Carolina have invited the people OF
Alabama 10 meet them in Convention TO
frame Provisional and Permanent Gov ern-
ments for the seeding States. In the resoiu-
tions accompanying the Ordinance dissolvlng
the Union-ihe Ordinance of Secession-this
Convention accepted that invitation; AID
adopting the suggestion of the Commissioner
from South Carolina, we invited those, as
well as the other Southern States, to meet us
in Conv ention OF this city, on the 4th of Feb
| ruary, 1861, for the purpose of framing Pro
vsionaI and Permanent Governments. for our
common future peace and security.
The object of the report and resolutions
now under consideration, is simply to carry
| into effect the design then and thus announ-
ced, and, therefore, no delegate who voted
| for the Ordinance and resolutions attached
can consistently vote against this report.
Several objections have been urged against
| the report, which propose briefly to eonsl-
der: One is. that by the report deputies to
| that Southern Convention are to be elected
| by this body, and not by the people; and
also that no provision is made for the cleo
/ ton of another Convention to consider the
plan for the Permanent Government to be
submitted for ratification. The points are
| correctly stated, but constitute no objection
| with me. The people have had this question
of secession before them for long time. and
| have maturely considered it in two late
elections, namely: those for Electors oil Pres
ident, and for delegates 70 this body The
| issue was as distinctly made in one as III the
other. and in both they decided the issue in
favor of secession.
They have intrusted their delegates with
unlimited power-power TO consider, de-
termine, and do whatever, in the opinion OF
this Convention, the rights. interests aud
honor OF the State OF Alabama requires TO
be done Tor their proteetiou.3 The law that
authorized the election conteiued that enum-
Grafton of ample authority, and the people
indorsed it. We have been selected for our
supposed wisdom, experience in public affairs
integrity and courage to take all proper res
| possibility in the premises. In my opinion,
the seven States that will be out of the Union
by the 4th of February, will need common
government in order to meet common
enemy, as soon as one can be organized 1t
is plain that with divided councils, and di-
vided resources. and divided action, these
States cannot contend against the united
power of the Northern States, as well as if
they met their enemy with the strength and
WISDOM of union. in council and action.
Hostilities already exist between the seeding
States and the Federal Union. Coercion is
the policy at Washington. To postpone the
meeting OF the Southern Convention until
we could submit the election of deputies to
the people, would postpone its meeting till
the 4th of March, and that, in my opinion,
would be hazardous TO the last degree. Such
an act would be suicidal-One to be looked
for, perhaps, from friend Of reconstruction Of
tie Union, but not from friend of South
ern COnfederacy.
P,,t =, a Ill
tion 10 ratify The Permanent Government TO be
dd9pted9 / answer, because Il Is unnecessary.
A permanent government for Southern Con-
federacy was looked for by the friends OF
secession-was spoken of and entered into
all the discussions in the late canvass. 1t
was part OF the plan of secession, and when
the people decided for secession, they deci-
ded for a Southern Confederacy. Therefore
in that point we already know the views of
the people, and no new expresai ion OF epin-
ion is needed. Neither is such expression
needed as TO the character of the Permanent
Government. The character the people have
indicated, and it Is expressed in the report
lit must be a government as nearly similar
as possible to the Federal Constitution. We
need discussion before the people, nor other ex-
preston of their views on that point. Be-
sides these views, in themselves conclusive |
to any mind, no statesman would willingly |
throw such grave issues before the people |
after once receiving their decision until the |
irritatiOns and pTejudices and passions of the |
previous contest had cooled. 1t is eminently |
wise, before throwing off upon the people the |
responsibilities which attach to US to con- |
slider the condition of the public mind. Cen |
tlemen here have told US of an excited and |
unhealthy state Of public feeling in some sec |
tons of the State, and have asked time for |
reflection. in order to its correction. Who is |
not aware that 1t was great misfortune that |
the election for delegates to this body came |
off so soon after the heated Presidential con- /
test! Who is not aware that in one section
of the State the angry passions and preludi-
ces of that contest entered very largely and |
almost exclusively in that section into the
election for delegates? And is it wise, is it
not eminently unwise,. to throw this whole
question again before such people, to blow
off the ashes and revive once again the glow
ing embers of that bitter strife?
There is another reason why oppose the
election of another convention. Such pro-
position has a tendency 10 reopen The question of
secession, By bringing up the issue of reconstruc-
tion Of de Federal Goueyrrnsnt. 1t allows such
an issue to be made-it invites it. in fact.
And under what circumstances? From the
signs of the times, it would seem as If eoer-
Give measures were to be adopted. IT SO,
about the time of such an election. the peo-
pie will be bearing the burthens of such
contest. Commercial and agricultural interests
ciu be suffering. Debts sciu be hard 10 pay. Pro
yisions tDih be scarce. Perhaps death al the hands
IF the enemy sriH hare conc to The doors of many
families. Mems minds, thus surrounded and
affected by strong personal and selfish con-
will not be in that calm and
we'll balanced condition, which is faYorable
20 a correct and patriotic judgment of the
question. The very state OF things will per-
laps exist. which our Black Republican enc
mics predict will exist aud which they sheer
ngly rely upon to force our people to ask
or re.admission into the Union. Shall We,
he selected friends and deputies of the peo-
DE, aid these willy and malignant enemies of
,ur State by laying this whole question, as
eliminates in its progress, on the very eve
# final triumph, back to the consideration of
people thus surrounded and Influenced by
most unpropitious circumstances! To do so |
night ,cel accord soith the purposes of friend of
re construction Of the Federal GeDanmeg7t, but ,,
a my opinion IS policy aehieh eray true friend
the people should condemn. sls.-lis ~ ,
MIR. President, l avow myself as utterly. IN /,
ueraay opposed TO any and all plans of recon
tructing union rith the Black Republican States
The North. No ne1c grsarunies-so amend :
,essts Of the Constitution peace resolutions
o repeal Of ofensiUe iascs can offer to me any, /;
he least, inducensert to consider eren, upon a pro
osifion 10 reconstruct oar relations icifh TIE non
States. This opinion is not found
d on any objection 10 a confederation with 7
tates, North of Mason's and Dixou's li3e.
n principles mutually agreeable to them; Z
ut it is founded on the conviction that the | :
isease, which preys on the vitals of the
ederal Union. does not enanate from any
eject In the Federal Constitution-but from a
deeper source-the hearts, heads and nnn- u
,iencess of the Narsters p1opie.l 6fhey are
ducated to believe slavery to be religious II
8 well as a political wrong, and consequent a
? to hate the STAKEHOLDER, Mr.. Seward was | a
ght, when be declared that there was Gan s.
'repressible conflict" which would not
ease until slavery was exterminated. But. 81
r, the elements of that conflict are not to 8
E found in the Constitution, but between J
re Northern and Southern people. No guar s
nties-no amendments of the Constitution e