Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-19
sustain tho state Of Alabama !

The rapid changes upon the political chess-board
are of startling import. Truly, no can tell
what day or an hour may bring forth The letters
below explain the fact, but Alabama has cooperated
with South Carolina Florida and Mississippi in Sc
ceding from the Union Texas Louisiana and Georgia
will follow close upon their heels. And State Conven-
tons to decide what is best to be done have been
called in Tennessee, Virginia Arkansas, and viii be
in Missouri, North Carolina and Maryland. We
trust that these States will act at once that the
South can get together for safety, defence and
strength And in the Convention at Montgomery In
February form Southern COnfederacy, upon the
basis Of the present Federal Constitution and Union
This now, is the only course left. We have hoped
almost against hope that the North would retrace
it's steps and do justice to the reasonable demands
of the conservative South But that hope is gone.
Such men as George s. Houston and Mr.. Breckin
ridge tell us that there is further hope of sat
sfactory settlement and the votes and the tone and
temper of the dominant party North confirm it.
Coercion and war is now the fixed policy Of the
North and that North is the Governmental the fu-
ture if not the present
Contrary to our desire and expectation the Ala
bama Convention has-6l to 39-put the State out
of the Union without referring the question to the
People at the ballot-bOX. This was wrong, gross
outrage upon popular rights. 1t was mpOlitie too.
There a large minority in the State opposed 10
immediate separate secession. They asked popu-
lar verdict upon the questionable most important
ever pressing upon People We are satisfied that
a large majority of the People of the State would
vote at the ballot-box in favor of secession the
public peril points to that as the only remedy. Such
vote would have reconciled the large minority to
the fact of secesson-would have qnieted thence
Inented tn State, and caused the burdens of
sion to be cheerfully borne and its responsibilities
encountered as united and resolved People Such
course was called for by the nature and genius Of
our democratic institutions.
But the Convention ordered otherwise by a vote
of ~ to 3d. deciding against referring the question
to the people and then by 20 majority adopting the
Ordinance of Secession. What is our duty as South
ern men, as Alabamians, loyal to the mother which
has nurtured and cherished us from infancy to mid
die age? Il is yield individual opinions, sacrifice
cherished hopes forget minor wrongs, and discharge
The great d1dy-that of standing up for the South
against coercion and of supporting the action of
Alabama in her sovereign capaclty-Such is our
duty.
We have shed bitter tears Of anguish over the de-
sruction Of the present Union. Our devotion TO 1t
has only been second 10 that we paid to the South
and Our native State. Our aged father fought
for the latter against the Indians, the French,
and the Spaniards, and under the old Flag with
General Jackson. To Alabama we are devo-
ted" her people are our people her gods
our gods, and so we will cleave TO her now that
danger lowers as when fortune smiled. Any other
course would engender civil strife if not boodshed
without benefit to the people. Division, strife and
iu-blOOd in the State Is ruins suicide. The
wrongs upon the rights of the people can be re
dressed after the present struggle over. united
State-a united South-is now the first duty. Our
destiny is the same-"we are Joined together like
meeting rivers which flow into the sea one common
food and are more distinguished" Let meet
that destiny as one man-as brothers. Together
let us sing: