Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-25
Gov. FOOTE'S Address.

Hon. II. S. FoorE addressed large audience st
the Capitol last night in response to the speech Oh
Hon. JoHS BELL in the same place on Tuesday even
Ing It was one of the ablest and most eloquent
speeches of his life BE devoted great portion Oh
his time to an exposition of the position OF Messrs'
LINCOLN and SEWARD, which Mr.. BELL so much ca
tenuated, showing conclusively from tnelr own
speeches that they are the determined and hie-lOng
enemies of Southern institutions; that Mr. LINCOLN
is the advocate of the equality OF the racesh-"hu
that Mr. SEwARD- has uttered the most monstrous
and ultra abolition sentiments, deliberately coOiiy
and repeatedly.
1t is a most extraordinary anomaly that 1t Is
necessary. in slayeholding State. to enter upon
such proof but the defence made by Mr. BELL OF
these arch enemies of the South, renders such a
course necessary Gov. FoOTE said it was true Mr..
SEwsRT, had recently made speech in the United
States Senate in which Mr. BELL had discerned signs
of cancellation If Mr.. SEWARD had, in that speech,
thrown off the shackles of party and sectional pre-
iuiice and like a patriot in great crisis, had
looked only to the perpetuity of the Union, he
might by that one act have wiped out all the stains
on his character, and immortalized himself in his
tory. But did he do it? Mo- 1t is true he
rrofessed devotion to the Union, but what
practical measure of salvation did he pro-
pose! He declared his willingness to insert
an amendment in the Constitution, providing against
abolishing slavery in the States. Why the Buffalo
platform expressly declared that no such power
listed in the Constitution and no ultra sectonalst
of the North has ever affirmed or claimed such
authority as belonging to the Federal Government.
Such declaration is an insult to the intelligence of
the South It comedies nothing. Gov. FooTE alse
II l.. ,-e,,lo Il,
Mr. SEWARD in advocating the non-action policy with
reference to the Territories of Utah and New Mexi-
co, in 1850, and that now he was suggesting the
same policy for Tennessee in the present perlous
crisis-a policy which tends to embolden our eng
mh& and weaken the South, and that it would lead
50 the most disastrous consequences IIe then made
an eloquent appeal in favor of arming the State and
organizing the militia, asking whether Tennessee
would place herself in the position of Sparta, whs
failed to assist in striking for The liberties of Greece
at Marathon, by not sending her levies. VIII Ten
nessee, he asked, depend upon Kentucky rifles TO
defend her liberties and honor?
Gov FooTE said we must have satisfactory guar
Entees before the fourth of March, or the seven
" fixed stars " of thu Union, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and
Missouri must under the stars stripes JOIN their
seeding sisters seize The old Uaion and the Const
tuition, with amendments, aud organize their own
Government separately and independent of the
Northern States, inviting to Join them each of the
great Central and Western States as may choose to
do so.
He was not believer in the doctrine of secession,
but he had always declared the right of revolution,
and when fighting for the Union in 1850, he
had declared that he would lead sucsl a revolution
in certain contingencies enumerated by the Union
party. While, however, not believing in the alb
sract right of secession, yet he thought it per
haps better to exercise the right of revolution |
through the intervention and machinery Of the State
Government
He was however for the Union. ard as long there
was hope of guarantees he would contend for it.
He thought he was fighting his last battle, and
would be willing to remain in connection with
the Northern States a moment longer than the &C |
cession to power of LINCOLN and SEWARD.
CRY AFFAms.-Ata meeting of the City Council
last night HENRY CARTER was elected policeman |
for the First Ward to fill vacancy caused by the
suspension OF policeman of that Ward
At the regular meeting last evening, the report of
the Revenue Collector shows collections since last
report of S4,999 for corporation purposes and \
81 ,S46 46 for schools. The report of the Water |
Tax Collector shows collections since last report
amounting to 1898 IS.
The bill from the Board of Aldermen confirming |
the settlement of the Committee the Fire Depart
ment with Capitol Hill Fire Company, No. l. and
Hook and Ladder Company, No. l, was passed on
three readings.
The bill from the Board of Aldermen for the ben
eft of JAMES KATs, was passed on three readings.
The resolution from the Board of Alderman
authorizing improvements on the Market House, |
under the direction of the Committee the Mark ct
House, was rejected.