Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-13
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- ther1n1ors are again rife that England and France
will cersaiIy break the blockade fer within two
months. We are tired of that song, and begin to
suspect that it il the song Of the Siren designed or
will have the effect, we listen TO It to lure us on
to continued laziness to perpetual inactivity or IN
fact to the SIMPLIFYING regions of Sleepy Hollow,
treacherous and deceitfu locality, whose atmes-
pierre pleasing to the senses, its victims quaf at
their peril If France and England break the block
ade very well; we trust they will, but we have no
security for the deed, nothing to rely upon but GER
tain vague theories about supply Of cotton, which
may or may not prove to have any substantial basis
Let us not trust these theories rely upon these
rumors They may all fail us, and that is sufficient
reason why we should net put confidence in them
Let Us rely upon ourselves to break the blockade
L and open our port to the commerce Of friendly
TONS. We feel persuaded that we have the power
TO do thisif we choose to exercise it, We have not
the iesst doubt after the experiment of the ManGs
SdS that improved steam vessels may be bullt here,
and within two months, that would insure the per-
1s uanent breaksge of the blockade beyond any
enable contingency, and the consequent opening Of
the port and general relief.
Shall an adequate effort be made to do il p
That is the question that addresses itself to every
thinking man in New Orleans. It appeals 20 every
patriot, to every business man, to every house
keeper, to every individual, in word, with force
and logic that every day increases. Shall there
not be immediate actieny What say our citizens |?
What say especially our merchants, bankers ard
capitalists? public meeting, it strikes u.s. might
and ought be called at once to take the subject
into consideration and provide ways and means to
effect the desired object The effect of our exer-
tons, even long before they should be completed,
the indomitable determination to accomplish and
speedily our own commercial disenthrAlment,W would
% be great upon the hesitating counses of England
and France, and perhaps be the final argument up
on the question of their course In recognizing US
There cannot be doubt, it seems to US, that if
we can effsetuaily break the blockade, and free
port of all obstacles to its commercials we main
tain we can do by united and intiexlble purpose
1t would be such an exhibition OF power on our
part as would be conclusive with both England and
France as to the question of recognition In its full
est sense Let public meeting be called 1t would
set the ball in motion. Our interests political and
commercial, plead eloquent,y for It
Since the foregoing was in type the Council, we
are gratied to perceive, has taken action IN the
premises. Mr.. Leefe, in the Assistant Board intro
dueed q resolution, at the meeting OF that body on
Thursday evening, approprlatng i've hundred
thousand dollars for the construction OF lronelad
vessels for the purpose of destroying the obstacles
to the commerce ofthe city, upon the condition that
private subscriptions to the same shall equal at
least one million of dollars. The resolution
adopted unanimously. We trust it will be adopted
unanimously by the other Board, and at ap-
proved by the Mayor This sets the ball in motion.
win our Banks and capitalists now second praetic-
ally and promptly the patriotic and enlightened &C
ton of the Board of Assistant by taking double or
treble lhe required amount, which they can do
without feeling it TO the extent of feathers weight
90. viii they do it, and do it without further delay.
1t would be to their everlasting honor and interests
and its effects would be felt throughout the Repub
lie and across the Atlantic. 1t would be great fact
in future history. Let them think Of it and think
quick The work accomplished, it would be one
of the deades blows dealt at the very vitas of the
enemy, that he could possibly receive. We dc not
believe he could survive it, war wsging party.
The destruction of the blockade of this port in
perpetuity, and the consequent re establishment of
its trade with Europe, would virtually end the war
It would carry along with it so many consequences
of the gravest import, both commercial and pOlt-
CAL that the enemy would find il impractieable to
prolong the struggle, whatever might be his dispo-
sition. HIS attempt to do so would snnihilste him
self and make him Cry out for peace. The work
would cover New Orleans with halo of glory, and
make her truly the very back bone Of the Republic
and at once its moving lever and fulcrum. The
cost when compared with the extraordinary results
flowing from it, the rich retdrns that would pour in
upon u.s. reviving every branch of industry, giving
emsloymept to capital and muuidcent per cent to
dividends is almost too trivial to be named in the
same connection. The occasion Is one of those
rare exigencies which, seized at the oppOrtune
moment determine great crisis, the fate of nations
and of communities. 1t is time for the exhibition
of sagacity and energy, for . bold stroke cut
Gordon Knot, for self-reliance, pluck invinCible
resolution not to lie passive under burdens that we
have il in power to throw on as giant olsen
tangles himself from the fragile meshes which in
the night tina his enemies spread for his feet
We speak warmly, for we feel that great lever
is at our disposal, which we may employ for our
speedy enfranchisement If we choose Let US put
forth for once our utmost strength. The motives
surely are adequate. NoW's the day and now's
the hour Let others chatter of failure when we
have every appliance within our reach, and idle
capital reckOned by scores of millions Failure,
forsooth Let the trial be made before we talk OF
that. Even if we should fail, the attempt would be
honorable TO We should have done our duty.
But we shall not fail. We able to achieve sue
cess, and the horoscope portends it.