Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-03


the District of Columbia, public buildings
and all, and still in position piausibly to
claim recognition and respect both 10 this
country, and ali over the earth besides but
to declare, unitedly, and with all appropri-
ate solemnties, in such form as they
might deem most becoming and efectual,
that the Republic itself had ceased to exist;
that The government 1ras at end; that our
grand National confederation had been resolv-
ed into its original elements, and that no
thing was then left 10 be done for the future
safety and repose of the South, but the re-
erection Of the fabric Of government established by
our fathers, upon its primal foundations.
feel quite confident that this mode of pro-
ceeding is the wisest and most practicable
one which coRld be adopted, should the un-
relenting injustice aud oppression of our
Northern allies drice us to dissolution of
our present political connection with them.
1 do not see why disuaion, effected in this
form should be necessarily UiOleat or sungnind-
ry When forced to the course described, in
spite of all our exertions as patriots to avoid
this painful result, VIC should continue to
command the respect of the civilized world,
and the undivided sympathies of all just,
high minded men even in the free States
themselves; be able to avoid the shedding OF
blood in a fratricidal contest, at least for
season, AID have it in our power, ultimate
~. in ali probability, even to restore that
federal Union once so dear TO all Americans.
Should this course be adopted, it seems to
me that there viii be no serious or at least
insurmountable difficulty in securing our
people share of all the public property,
and in avoiding all those countless incon-
veniences, discomforts and appalling dan
gers which the State of South Carolina is
now experiencing, as the natural and una
voidable result of her experiment of separate
State secession.
1t should be borne 10 mind, too, that the
plan of procedure which have thus hastily
sketched would not needlessly disturb the
counsels of the South-would not separate
the Southern States from each other, for even
a single instant of time. We should still
be one people and firmly united against our
duNtlEdtLCcs OePtSNtC AtHtS SCCCSctOf.f
too, after having been once successfully re-
sorted to, it is to be feared would render it
impossible ever afterwards to erect, among
the States taking part in it, solid and dura-
bic government. since the principle of self
destruction would necessarily constitute one of
its essential ingredients. States who had once
seeded, when forming new federative Union,
whether a special clause should find its
place in the new Constitution or not, secu-
ring the privilege of secession to each of the
States confederating,) would inevitably re-
cognize themselves as entitled TO secede
again at pleasure, and the expedient would
be infallibIv resorted to whenever the least
disaffection or heart-burning should arise.
Anarchy, civil war, military rule, and ulti-
mate despotism would ensue. 1 hold no man
to be true friend of the South, or her insti-
buttons, at this trying hour who wishes to
diUide the South, and foment dissention and un-
kindness among those who ought to be
friends and brethren.
An eminently patriotic member of the Ma
tional Senate, Gen. Lane, is reported to
have said, whilst advocating secession as a
remedy for our present alarming grievances
that Washington and those associated him in
forming the present government were seceders;
they seeded from the Confederation, he says,
when assembled in Philadelphia, to bring
into existence our present Federal Union.
With al due respect, do not SO understand
their conduct The view which take of the
matter is that they pulled down, or rather
provided for the cessation of the government
of the confederation, and constructed new
government to take its place. They did not
secede, but they reUoluionised. This action
was peaceful and bloodless but it was un-
dOubtedly revolutionary in its character. Viz
ginia or South Carolina did not secede, or
from the Confederacy then exist
ing, and thus yield up to those members who
in it, the National name, the exclu
sive exercise of civic power, and the public
They peaceably tumbled the old
government into ruin, vested political pow
er in new government, and turned over
the public property to it. So, if coerced by
imperious necessity, to withdraw our conf
dence and support from govelnmsnt which
has for almost a century commanded the
reverence and affection of happy and
united people, let US, as nearly as possible,
initiate the example of those who have gone
before US, and who were superior in virtue,
IN wisdom, and in all other qualities which
ennoble humanity, to all who have ever par
ticipated in the building up or in the over
turning of governments from the beginning
out thus plainly and decidedly upon this mo-
mentous subject has cost me much pain.
La my Utmost soul, for a long while past,
the notions which have now found utterauce
have been stirring up my whole moral ma
ture. l have wished to be voiceless upon
theme so vitality involving our hopes of ma
tional happiness and our chances of civil
Liberty. But felt that to be now silent was
TO be the greatest of criminals; that the
wholesome language of truth was necessary to
be now spoken, by some one known to have
been ever devoted friend to our Federal
Union, in order to save the Republic itself
from certain and immediate ruin. You
know, my dear Sir, how much / have loved
this Union how much yet love it how
anxious am for its preservation ; what sac
riices have in days past made in its behalf;
what dangers of every kind I have willingly
incurred how 1 have, with Undesirable
agony of heart, felt myself bound to separate
myself from many of the dearest and most
friends l had in the world, because
Of differences of opinion upon this most ex-
citing SUBJECT. sAll these particulars are ia
niliarly known to you, for between us, in
regard to the topics discussed in this letter,
The most perfect harmony of opinion and SEN
timent has existed for the last ten years, and
have ever been proud to recognize you as
one of my warmest and most steadfast |
friends. lave formerly known you as a
jealous devo.ee to the principles which stand |
in the National Democratic creed. |
raiaiae tn recollect that Won have eyer hean |