Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-29
Can renne..ee S,snd AIOnel

After Tennessee shall have separated herself
from the corrupt and usurping Government al
Washington, which is now raising armies and wag
ing war, without the consent of the legislative
power, thus fostering upon the people burden OF
debt which generations cannot discharge it will be
for her people to decide whether or not she shall
attempt TO stand alone among the nations of the
earth, an independent nationality, or minge her
fortunes and destiny with those heroic and gallant
States with whom she is now engaged in a common
cause, and whose destiny, interest and sympathy
are hers. With the view to decide this important
question promptly, the Legislature provided an or
dinance, requiring vote to be taken at the
election on the Sth of June, which should deter
mine whether the people will adopt the Provisional
Constitution of the Confederate States, and send
their deputies to Richmond, now the Provisional
seat of Government of the Confederacy, to repre-
sent their views wishes and interests, or whether
they will remain disconnected with their Southern
brethren, aud carry on the war of defence az inst
their violated rights and honor, bearing all the re-
sponsibility and burdens of the same themselves
Those who are in favor of thus adopting the Provi-
sonal or temporary Constitution of the Confeder>
ate States leaving it be decided hereafter wheth-
er they will ratify the permanent Constitution, are
required to place on their tickets the word Repre
sentation" which decides whether they will be rep
resented in the general legislative council of the
Confederate States. 1t would be one of the great
est anomalies exhibited in the history of ma
tions, if Tennessee, when engaged in such strug
gle were 70 stand off sulleny and alone and endea-
or TO bear the brunt of for independence
when she has ten willing and chivalrous sister
States anxious for her to unite in their national
councils, to extend to her their aid and assistance
should reverse evertake her, and to divide with
her the expenses of the contest in proportion to the
burdens borne by each. We can not believe that
at any time, much less at a time of peril, there
are any considerable number of men in Tennessee
who would thus vainly sacrifice the chances of sue
cess, and victory to old prejudices favor
lie but chimerical scheme of their own.
If in a season of common danger and sacrifice,
suffered on account of common wrongs and oppres-
sions and in behalf of common institutions. they
would thus deliberately and mtelligenty hazard
the welfare of the State they would for much
more satisfactory reasons to themselves, decline to
unite with the Confederate States, when the perils
shall have passed AMI peace again smiles upon the
land 1t will therefore be profitable to inquire,
whether Tennessee can stand the expensive luxury
of standing alone among the independent nation
alities OF the world and very little examination
Of that point will serve TO convince every thinking
man that it would impose burden of taxation upon
the people, that would very ea out their sub
stance"
We only hint at the various items of the
civil and military list, peace footing, which it
will require to sustain our good old commonwealth
as an independent Government
First, a standing army would be necessary to
project US against the jealous interference of cur
neighbors. North and South. Not less than 10 600
men Won ID suffice to protect our vast exposed from
tiers. This would involve cost annually of not
less than $40 600 OOO including fortifc cations The
whole Government of the Confederate States would
not quire army Of more than 20 900, or double
that Of T, nnessee, because Tennessee would have
two jealous neighbors to watch at the same time
Next the diplomatic service would be on a footing
with that Of first class nations, for we would be
compelled TO send Ambassadors to every Govern
ment that is now in intercourse with the United
States. The civil list would be vastly increased in
consequence of the State Government assuming all
the details of foreign intercourse, war, customs,
rost-ofice pensions patents, etc. The civil list
would thus assume the proportions OF that belong
ing 10 other powers of ten times the territory and
population. All these departments must be Kept
up by an independent nationality, and would not
cost less than an additional tea millions to say moth
ing about navy of gunboats on our rivers to pro-
tect our commerce. This would make up sum
total of at least $50 100000, which would nearly
cover the expenses Of the entire Southern Oonied
eracy for one wear. Will any man, who coun-
sells his fellow-citizens to vote 'no representa-
ton" take the responsibility of advising this
heavy annual expenditure, involving grleVous
and ntolerabe tax upon the people, for the sake OF
gratifying his pride or prejudices? If so, we should
like to see him stand forth and avOw his position
with the responsibilities attached to it, that be
may be marked out as man not fit to be trusted as
statesman Of wisdom and enlarged views, or be
known as one who really desires the ingloriOus fail
ure Of our independence, by the burdens it will
impose upon the people