Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-06-28

fly OF orr people would have voted TO re-
main in tbs Union. But. if this view e e =
roueous. we have the san3e-(and, az we
think. much bettef) right to remain IN the
GoverBmelf of the United States than the
| other division of Tennessee have 70 secede
| from il.
j We prefer to remain attached TO the Gov
eminent of our fathers. The Constitution OF
| the United States has done us no wrong
| The Congress of the United States has passed
| no law to oppress us. The President of the
/ United States has made no threat against
| the iaw-abiding people of Tennessee. Under
| the Government of the United States, we
| have enjoyed as nation more of civil and
religious freedom than any other people un-
der the whole heaven We believe there Is
no cause for rebellion or secession on the
| part of the people of Tennessee None was
| assigned by the Legislature in their miscalled
| Declarations of Independrpce. No adequate
cause can be assigned. The select Committee
| of that body asserted gross and inexcusa-
| bic taisehood Ia their address to the people
of Tennessee when they declared that the
| Goyerrmeuf Of the United States has made
war upon. them. The secession caose has
| thus far been sustain by deception and
| fslsehood; ty falsehoods as to the action OF
4 Congress; by false disp atches as to battles
| that were never fought aud victories that
were never won; by false accounts as to the
purposes of the President: by false represen-
/ tations as to the views of Union men; and by
| false pretenses as to the facility with which
| the Secession troops would take possession of
the Capitol and capture the highest officers
| of the Government
The cause OF secession or rebellion has no
u lra l.<.<.r
MAJ ked by the most alarming and dangerous
attacks upon the public liberty. In other
States, as well as our owB, its whole course
threatens to annihilate the last vestige of
freedom. While peace and prosperity have
blessed rs in the Government of the United
States, the following may be enumerated as
some of the fruits of secession.
1t was urged forward by members OF Con-
gress who were sworn TO support the Consti-
tuition OF the United States, and were them
selves supported by the Government;
Ii was effected without consultation with
all the States interested in the slavery ques-
tor and without exhausting peaceabie meas
ures;
1t has plunged the country into civil war.
paralyzed our commerce, interfered with the
whole trade and business of our country, les
sened the value of our property, destroyed
many of the pursuits OF life, and bids fair to
involve the whole nation in irretrIevable
bankruptcy and ruin;
1t has changed the entire relations OF States
and adopted constitutions without submit
ting them to vote of the people. and where
such vote has been authorized, 1t has been
upon the condition prescribed by Senator
Mason, of Virginia, that those who voted the
Union ticket ''MUsT LEAVE THE STATE.
1t has advocated a constitutional mon.
archy, King and Dictator, and is through
the Richmond press at this moment, recon-
mending to the Convention in Virginia a re-
strction of the right of suffrage, and 'in sew
ering connection with the Yankees 10 abolish
eDeTy Uestige of resemblance 10 me INSTITUTIONS q
that detested rae"
1t has formed military leagues, passed mil
itary bills, and opened the door for oppres-
sive taxation. without consulting the people,
and then, in mockery of a free election, has
required them by their votes to sanction its
usnrpations under the penalties of moral pro-
scription or at the point of the bayonet.
1t has offered premium for crime in d-
recting the discharge of Volunteers from
criminal prosecutions and In recommending
the Judges not to hold their Courts.
IL has stained our statute book with the
Reputation of Northern debts and has great
Iv violated the Constitution by attempting,
through its unlawful eXtention, to destroy
the rights of suffrage.
1t has called upon the people in the State
of Georgia, and may soon require the people
of Tennessee to contribute all their surplus
cotton, corn, wheat, bacon, beef, DC. to the
support of pretended government alike des-
tiIute of money and credit.
1t has attempted to destroy the aeeounta-
bility Of public servants TO the people by Sc
cret legislation and has set the obligation OF
an oath at defiance.
Ii has passed laws declaring 1t Treason to
say or do anything in favor of the Govern
ment of the United States, or against the
Confederate States, and such a law is now
before, and we apprehend will soon be passed
by the Legislature of Tennessee
1t has attempted TO destroy, and, we fear
soon, utterly PROSTATE the freedom OF speech
and of the press.
Ii has involved the Southern States in
war whose success is hopeless, AID which
must ultimately lead to the ruin of the peo-
pie.
Its bigOted. oyerbearing and intOlerant
spirit has already subjected the people of East
tennessee to many petty grievances; our
people have been insulted; our flags have
been fired upon and torn down; our houses
have been rudely entered; our families sub
jected to insult; our peaceable meetings in
terrupted: our women and children snos al
Nv a merciless soldiery; our towns piliaged;
sinated and murdered.
No effort has been spared to deter the Un-
ion men of East Tennessee II ON the express
sion of their free thoughts The penalties OF
treason has been threatened against them, |
and murder and assassination have been |
openly encouraged by leading secession jour 1
nails As secession has beeE thut oyerbear-
ing and intolerant while in the minority in /
East Tennessee, nothing better can be expect
ed of the pretended majority, than wild, I'M
and oppressive legislation; an
1Iter contempt and disregard of law; deter
niuation to force every man in the State to
wear to the support of q Constitution he alb
,ors. TO Weld bis money and property to aid
, canse he detests, and to become the object
If scorn and derision as we'll as the victim OF
ntolerable and relentless oppression.
In view of these considerations, and of the
act that the people OF East Tennessee have
declared their fidelity to the Union by ma
ority of about 10000 votes. Therefore, We
10 resolve and declare:
RESOLUTIONS.
,st That we do earnestly desire the res
grafton of peace to our whole country, and
most especially that our own section of the
,tate of Tennessee should not be involved in
ivil war.
I'd. That the action of our State Legisla-
ature in passing the so called Declaration OF
and in forming the Military
with the Confederate States, and, in
other acts looking to separation OF
he State OF Tennessee from the Government of
he United States, is unconstitutional and IL
egal, and, therefore, not binding upon as as
ayal citizens.
3d. That in order to avert a conflict With
,ur brethern in other parts of the State and
lesiring that every constitutional means shall
be resorted to, for the preservation of peace,
We do, therefore. constitute aEI appoint o.
?. Temple, of Knox, John Netherland, of
Hawkins, and James p. Mcdowell, OF Greene.
whose duty 1t shall be to pre-
pare memorial, and cause the same 10 be
presented to the General Assembly of Ten