Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-01
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
ExEcurIvx DEPARTMENT,
Nashville, April 18th, 1851.
Te,atienseH Of the Senate

/ the purpose Vi eOu " e<hAS SUN aNeioA
as will most likely contribute to the defence of
our rights, the preservation of our liberties, the
sovereignty of the State, and the safety OF our
people; all of which are now in imminent peril
| BY the usurpations of the authorities at Wash
| ington and the INSCRIPTIONS fanaticism which
runs riot throughout the Northern States.
The war thus inaugurated is likely to assume
| an importance nearly, if not equal, to the strug
gle of our revolutionary fathers, in their
| patriotic efforts to resist the usurpatlon and
throw off the tyrannical yoke OF the EnSIsh
Governments; a war the duration OF which and
| the good or evil that must result from it, de-
pends entirely, in my judgment upon the readi-
| ness with which the citizens OF the South har-
monte as one people, and the alacrity with
| which they respond to the demands of patriot
ism.
/ do not think it necessary to recapitulate,
| at this late hour, the long train OF abuses to
| which the people of Tennessee, and our sister
| States of the South have been subjected by the
anti-republican spirit that has fer many years
been manhesting itself in that section, and
| which has at last declared itself our open and
ayowed enemy. In the Message which l adj
dressed 10 you at your called session In Janu-
airy last, these things were somewhat elaborate
| ly referred to, as constituting in my judgment,
the amplest reason for considering ourselves in
imminent danger and as requiring such action
| on the part of the Legislature would place
the State in an attitude for defence, whenever
the momentous crisis should be forced upon US;
and, also presenting to the North the strong
est argument for peace. and if possible, secur-
ing reconstruction of the Union, thus already
dissolved by the most authoritative, formal and
matured action of portion of the siayeholding
States Minor differences upon abstract ques-
| tions-the ardent devotion of our people to the
preservation of the Union, originating with
their great LOYALTY to the Government-and a
more hopeful view of the subject than had
/ been able to take, coupled with the supposed
i peaceful intentions of the authorities at Wash
ington, have resulted in leaving the State poorly
prepared for the sad realities which are now
| upon
| But unfortunate as this may be, am never
theless, encouraged with the belief that we are
at last, practically, united people. Whatever
/ differences may have heretofore existed
amongst US, growing out of party divisions as
/ to the right of Secession as a Constitutional
remedy against Federal usurpation, all admit
the moral right asserted by our fathers, of each
and every people to resist wrong, and TO main
tain their liberties by whatever means may be
necessary; ''that Governments derive their just
/ powers from the consent of the governed, and
/ that whenever any form of government be-
comes destructive of the ends for which 1t was
created, it is the right of the people to alter or
abolish it and 10 institute new government,
LAYING its foundation on such principles, and
organizing its powers in such form as to them
shall seem most likely to effect their safety and
happiness Standing by this common senti-
ment; with the bloody and tyranical policy OF
the Presidential usurper fully before US; In the
face of his hordes of armed soldiery, marching
to the work of Southern subjugation; the peo-
pie of the proud Commonwealth OF Tennessee
true to their honor, true to the great princi-
pies of free Institutions, true to the lessons OF
their fathers, and true TO their brethren OF the
South, the subjects of common oppression
have united, almost with one voice, IN declar-
ing their fixed resolve to resist the tyrant; and
in pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor, to the maintenance of their
rights, and the rights of their sister States of
the South.
1t cannot be overlooked that, in assuming an
attitude of this character-forced upon US by
the remarkable exigency of the times-we are,
in effect, dissolving our connection with the
Federal Union As established by our fathers,
that Union no longer exists However much
we may have cherished it heretofore, no intelli-
gent and candid man can deny that 1t has ceas-
ed to be blessing, and has become curse;
thatit is no longer high and sacred means of
protection, but an engine OF oppression; that 1t
has ceased to be bond of brotherhood, and
| has become hateful connection between COM
mu aities at war. 1t would be idle, therefore,
to speak of ourselves any longer as members
of the Federal Union; and while il is believed
BY many, whose opinions are entitled to the
highest respect, that by reason OF the subver-
sion of the Constitution by the authorities In
power, inaugurating revolution between the
States thereof, each and every individual is al
ready released from his former obligations to
that government, yet, as best COMFORTING with
the dignity of the subject, and also from due
regard to those who may hold different opin-
ion-and farther still, that all the world may
be advised of our aetlOn-1 respectfully sug-
gested that our connection with the Federal
Union be formally annulled in such manner as
shall involve the highest exercise of sovereign
authority by the people of the State, and best
secure that harmony so much to be desired, In
times like the present, upon questions even OF
mere detail. Until this is done, many consci-
entious citizens may feel embarrassed in their
action from their supposed relation to the Gen
eral Government. In emergencies like the
present while it is our duty to act with due
deliberation and prudence, unbiased as far as
possible by excitement or prejudice, 1t is never
theless OF the highest importance that we should
act with promptitude aud decision.
Whatever grounds of hope may have been
supposed to exist heretofore for an adjustment
of the difficulties between the two sections OF
the Federal Union; however anxious we may
have been to continue members of the same
common family with the people of the North,
such hope and expectation no longer exists in
the mind of any rational man, who desires to
maintain the honor and equality of the State,
and the inviolability of her peculiar institu-
tons
The present Administration, elected upon
avowed purposes of hostility to the South
purposes which all knew then. as well as now,
| could not be carried into effect without an in
ternicine war and dissolution of the Union
has exerted every energy, resorted to every
strategy, and disregarded every constitutional
barrier in order to hasten the accomplishment
of the unholy mission for which the people of
the Northern section had elevated it to power.
They have lost no time-they have neither hes
itated nor faltered. The low duplicity in
| which their Administration was inaugurated-
| trusting, while conceding nothing, to lull the
South into a fatal security, furnishing ground
for divisions in the Border Slave States, while
constant though secret preparation for the work
of subiugation was going on, is now exposed
and leaves no alternative but independence
out of the Union or subjugation in it. The
dishonorable and treacherous practices which
have so far characterized the authorities at
Washington admonish US, that in the impend-
ing struggle we are scarcely to expect the rules
CT honorable warfare. Having its origin in a
dlsordered moral sentiment OF the NOftn-nOt
finding the ordinary restraints OF patriotism
among their people-deriving its power from
usurpation and perversion of the functions
of Government-having no battle-ground
short of positive subiugation of the South, or
defeat which exposes its disgrace to the civil
lied world fear the time has passed when
peace can be hoped for by the mere moral
force of united South, without trial of arms.
Having succeeded in confusing and dividing
the Border Slave States, they have had ample
time for military preparations. The veil
which concealed their recent movements has
been thrown aside. The note of war has been
sounded, and in the imperial proclamation, re-
Gently issued the neople of the Confederate