Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-09

10 luRuguEdlH a new iOILu vi
tn is to endure for all time to come. 1t re-
minds me of truthful and significant senti-
ment / have seen, that opinions and passions
that triumph and acquire temporary influence,
during periods of convulsion, and change,
are not safe councillors when the time comes
to reconstruct government OF permanent
security-a sentiment pregnant with solemn
warning at this portentous crisis. twas but
the other day that distinguished member
introduced into the Mississippi Convention
resolution denouncing the admission OF any
free State into the Southern COnfederacy;
and am anthorized>to say, that very in
fuential deputy, elected in Alabama to the
Confederate Convention, to be held on the
4th instant at Montgomery. has expressed
the opinion that be questioned the expediency
of sren admitting the State of Missouri into
the new republic All this is in accordance,
too, with the ominous idea recently put forth
by the Charleston Mercury, that the existence
of slavery is mere question of erpediency with
the slave Border States. but with South Car
olina it is vital and indispensable institution,
and, therefore, she does not look to these
States for protection or cooperation. Does
this not look very like giving Tennessee the
cold shoulder Are we to be condemned, in
the tone of Mohamet to the mountain, in a
moment to bow do,cH at the altar of disunion,
with the fulfilment of the prophecy staring
US in the face-thdt we are to be deprived OF
the protecting shield OF the States that lie
between US and the modern golconda OF fu-
gitive Canada. The subject as now presented
is narrowed down to the question, not
whether Tennessee shall unite with the North
or South, but whether she will stand firm. in
voking the Cooperation of these States that
will shield her from danger by reason of her
position, uniting Der councils ruth all who de-
sire peace, displaying moral heroism in her
attitude, that will crush the fearful storm of
revolution on the one hand, and the terrible
pressure of fanaticsm on the other, demon
strating that it is safer and wiser to rely on
convincing argument to adjust our difficulties
in peaceful convention of ell the States,
than by the precipitate Wiley of secession.
Our relative position to the South inspires
US with a strong fraterual regard for them as
our old Colonial allies, but the tie of the
West is historical and natural to us-our pro-
ducts and characteristic habits are alike. We
have common interest in the States Occu-
plying the banks of the Mississippi river; our
bold and enterpriSing population have been
co-labOrers 10 developing its boundless re-
sources. We have also common interest in
the Old Dominion, in her iron trade and her
great tobacco interests--in her houIisbing
offspring that have filled up the immense
plains between her mountains and the great
Fathers of Rivers-and, above all, are our
interests identified with our nearest kinsman.
Kentucky, the land of fine Cattle and fine
horses--Of that Indispensable product, cotton
bagging-6here repose the remains of that
peerless statesman whose presiding genius is
now watching anxiously over the destiny of
the great nation that be contributed while
living more to aggrandise than any other Co
temporary patriot. We feel, also, strong
identity of interest In the commercial and
manufacturing wealth of all the Middle
States, and we are unwilling to be violently
divorced from them. SO long as there is a
hope that they will grant US full recognition
of our Constitutional rights
In all our earnest discussions on this sub
ject we have been too prone to forget that
ever since The days the old English barons
exacted the magma charta from Prince John,
commerce has been the recognized peace-ma-
ker of the world. 1t is commerce and inter-
nal intercourse that form the strong ties that
bind our States together. No nation exclu-
sively commercial or agricultural has ever
attained high rank in the role of other ma
lions. 1t has been aptly said that shoes do
not grow in the rice fields of the South; nor
is broad-cl made on our cotton planta-
tons. The alliance between our great staple
with the commerce and manufactures of ethe
North, is founded, therefore, on the indie
structable laws of nature.
We may break down human constitutions;
we may destroy human presidencids, but we
cannot break down the Constitution of ma
ture. Mr.. Hammond told us in his great
speech a year ago-'that the Bank of Eng
land governed the world until 1857-when
King Cotton conquered, and became monarch
of the world; and we all now see the stand
ard of his authority erected in every port of
the earth. and his banner unfurled in every
portion of the civilized world. But for his
benevolent intercession famine and the sword
would have long since desoiated the nations
of Europe. After such achievements, need
we despair of his conqueriDg the crazy abo-
liti0nists of the North, for he puts bread in
the mouths and contentment in the hearts of
the whole Yankee nation.
The ordinance of the great Law giver has
settled the question-that free labor shall
exist where slave labor won't pay, and slave
labor where free labor can't live. That it is
humanity impossible to abolish slavery in q
land of sugar and cotton or to establish it
in the land of ice and granite, and thus is
the irrepressible confiit ended. Ia it not de-
sirable that we should be we'll informed in
Tennessee before we decide the great issue
by the bollot box-if there is not q great pre-
ponderating probability that the doctrines of
free trade and direct taxation will be serious
ly pressed In the inauguration of the new
Conveniently the right Of secession ssiH be
conceded 10 any nesrly acquired territory. and
especially what security the new Republic
will require from South Carolina, that in the
event of any struggle for supremacy she will
not bolt out of the Union. drift off into the
Gulf Stream, and locate herself right by the
side of Cuba?
Selfpreservation should prompt US in Ten
nessee TO respond to the pledge so recently
given 10 the Democratic Convention in Iili-
nois, as well as in all the other Middle free
States, that when the voice of the people can
be heard, it will speak out in tones not to be
misunderstood; that they will pacify the
South on, any terms, and will consign to last
ing Oblivion that party that has been main-
tanning the integrity of its platform at the
expense of the integrity of the Union.
JNO. POPE.