Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-09
From the Memphis Enquirer,
letter from Hon, JcEes CIemeu

HUNTSVILLE, req. e
Hon Scion Borland:-
My DEAR SIR: | wrote you O long letter at
Washington, but l suppose you had left there before
it reached its destination. Its chief object was to
obtain reliable information OF the views and pur
poses Of the Black Republican party. Since then
so many evidences have thickened about me of
determined hostility to our people, as well as to
nsti utiens that have lost all hope of any settle
ment, except such as may be made by the bayonet
and the sabre. After the election of Lincoln in the
first flush of triumph, was prepared for, and could
have overlooked good deal of insulting exultation
on the part of his supporters. The mere extrava-
ganGies of partisan press would have been pitied
and forgiven I locked beyond these, to Lincoln
himself and to the leaders who were likely to have
an influence in shaping his policy In that quar-
ter not one ray of hope has made its appearance.
The idea of conciaion, Of fraeral concession, for
the sake Of peace. seems not to have entered into
their thoughts. We have heard enough Of coercion
to make the blood Of freeman run like melted lava,
but we have heard not word Of kindly affection;
we have received no assurances that our just
rights should be respected. Senators and
Representatives in Congress; Governors and
State Legislatures talk to Us glibly OF the halter
and the gibhet, but no enc appeals to our aztec
tions; no one seems TO think that we are capable
of being swayed by any motive but the fear of an
iggomiuiOus death. DIR. Lincoln himself is SILENT
bat the olive branch tendered By the venerable
Crttenden is rampled in the dust by his followers,
and we are told in every form of aggrayating de-
fanee that the dsy of compromises has passed. Be
it go There is no one in all this land TO whom the
crrmbling Of that mighty temple erected by cur
fathers, has brought agony than it las to me.
No one has habitIally cherished more enthusiasts
tic love for our national banneTno one has follow
ed il more readily when it waved in trent of hog
tile force, or has shaken by the deadly breath Of
the pestilence and even at this hour, one weaid
more gladly return beneath its fields, i il pos
sble to find there the freedom and peace of ether
years But that hope is gone. The Northern
States have rudely torn away the veil which We IN
our fond and foolish affection, had drawn over our
own eyes. They will not allow US to be self-deuaed.
They furnish US no excuse fof misunderstanding
their purposes. They have utterly scorned to
soothe Us with soft and geltle words They ad-
dress themselves our fears alone, and re should
indeed be the etfsminae slaves they profess TO be-
lieve u.s. if such seeds did not grow into bloody
harvest.
/ resisted the secession Of Alabama to the last
moments not because doubted itmust come sooner
or later but because preferred to wait until you
in Tennessee were ready TO go with u.s. knew
well enough that you must 60 eventually Mr..
Lincoln will not let you stay in the Union as free
Aaen. Aiabams and Mississippi are in large part
the children of Tennessee. He will demand youf
aid in the fret place, to crush your own deseen-
dsnts and when that is refused, as refused 1t vii
be- the decree fer your destruction will at once 60
FORTH or if it is delayed it will only be until he
feels ne can strike with more safety.
do not look for the present contest to end in the
immediate secession of Tennessee. ! know your
people better. and have been more familiar with
them from infancy, than those my own State.
They have been deeply schooled in sentiments OF
attachment 10 the UnioD. Iii an honorable attach
ment and thereto the difficult to be destroy
ed But know also the msterisl of which the
predominant party at the Ecrth is composed, and
know that TenUessesns cannot affiliate with them.
The dav is near at hand when the mother and the
daughter Tennessee and Alabaps) will be standing
side by side, IS Of yore, aud when that day comes,
woe be to the enemy that assails them.
Very truly yeur friend, JBRE CLEMENS.