Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-09

srm well regulated militia, the two hundred thou
sand freemen Of military age in Missouri will re
quires at the same rate two millions of invaders to
subdue them. | pity the General or the Govern
ment which undertakes the work.
feel. Senator's that in 6 great crislsis like this
in which both branches of this General Assembly
have unanimously taken the position of unendino
resistance 70 this undisguised attempt to disarm us
and reduce us to the level of slaves, no imaginary
necessities imposing silence safegard of impair
TALLY in presiding officer should deter me from
declaring here, in open Senate that fully share
that position, As long as the future destiny of
Missouri is left to be decided by her freemen on 4
calm and deliberate review of 8 her geographical
position. her soil productions, and in short all her
material interests" well as by the origin. afni
ties and institutions of her people and their opinion
to the best mode Of preserving their constitution
al liberties against the encroachment OF power. I
am content to abide by their decision. But the
question of the right Of free people to have
well regulated militia is one which Involves the
privilege of every single citizen. It's not cues
ton of union or dsunion, of North of South but Of
the most precious liberties of our people We see
already thst on this issue which the blindness of
our enemies has, under Coils providence led them
to raise, Missouri is almost unit For myself
can say that never having denied any man his con-
stitutional rights can with good conscience de-
mand every one of mine; shall not abate one lot
or title of them, and 80 will every Missourian with
spark of the true fire of liberty in his soul.
Bearing the name Of men who, Il say it not
IN PRIDE but in sense of duty to their
menory,) for centuries past have taken patriots
part IN every contest waged by the Anglo Saxon
race in defence of their hereditary rights of lam
lily which has twice reduced itself from opulence to
utter poverty rather than bend the knee TO military
tyranny; tracing my descent TO Hugenots who pre-
ferred exile in Virginia to submission to tyranny at
home ; kinsman of Washington and countryman
of Jackson-I should be false to every natural i'm
pulse did not the mingled blood of the cavalier, the
Puritan, and the Hugenot boil in my veins at the
bare suggestion that free citizens should in time of
peace, without legal process without judicial test
of the legality of their organization, without warn
ing, be ANONYMOUSLY deprived of arms and of liber-
ty. On this question am body and soul with Mis-
souri,; all that am and all that have are at her
service in this cause. A million and quarter of
people, Oh territory larger than England and Wales
combined, are uncomfortable by any army not large
enough to bankrupt the Treasury of the United States
in twelve month. The idea that any power left in
any fragment of the late Union control the des-
tiny of Missouri against the viii Of her own people,
is bald absurdity If Gen. Harvey were as much
of statesman as he is military leader, he would
see that the two parties to our civil war are g.
evenly matched that, with the aid of either DOW
erful State like Missouri cannot be subdued by the
other, but will be entirely mistress of her own
destiny.
Now, Senators, parting word By singular
accident every official position / have held has
been in which talent for silence has had to be
cultivated; as you know, / but rarely break it. at
least in public and hitherto it has broken only to
express devotion to the Union, now dead and gone
of these once prosperous States but always in COM
pete subordination to my devotion to the Consttu-
ton, without an exact observance of which that
Union becomes snare and delusion. L shall not
say anything different now, nor do l suppose that
the occasion will soon arise for to violate the
habit of official reserve. But, however, for time
my voice may be still my hands and head in re-
pose, pledge You here that whenever Missouri
needs his services in any capacity in which he can
be useful, the second officer of her Government
will promptly answer to her CALL to defend her I'M
questionable constitutional rights. Whatever the
future may have in store for u.s. be assured that for
US, be assured that for you, Senator's and for the
officers of this body Ito all of whom am indebted
TOR many courtesies and kindness) shall cherish
warm and lasting regard.