Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-24

our present biscuits.
The Northern people, if we may judge from mes
sages Of the Governors OF Massachusetts,, New York
and Pennsylvania appear to think that it is in their
so called personal Liberty Bills" and that the re-
peal of them would set all to right again. Would
it? l think not
Some of the leading politicians of the country,
and among them men whose honesty and patriotism
can doubt, are of opinion that certain amend
msnts to the Constitution, putting it out Of the
power of Congress interfere with slavery except
for protection, would set all to rights.
Now, with all Difference, / do not think the open
abandonment by the Republican party Of all pre-
tension to any right Of interference with slavery in
the States or Territories that the repeal by the
Northern States of all their unfrendy legislation,
or that the adoption of Mr.. Crittsndens amend
ments to the Constt ltion-l say do not believe
that any or all of these would bring the Federal
machinery back into good working order, or gain
more then q temporary lease for the Union, or re-
store quiet TO the country.
The unfrieEdy legislation of the free States and
the difficulties about slavery in the Territories are,
all admit, the exciting causes to the present diff
cuties between the sections. But remove them
will the country be healed? tell you No. The
seat Of the disease is deep dOwn--it is constitu-
tional.
The real question with the South is question of
empire
Do not be startled, but have patience with me !;
listen sttentively, End think ysu will agree with
that the real principle upon which the South is
taking her stand is holer and higher than tina. of
BuThs's "PrednbEtatOry tdx," upon which We fought
the Revolution.
He who made the human heart and invested it with
passions, plan ed deep down in it's inner recesses
certain longiugs. With these longings as part of
his nature man was sent forth into the wsrld to Sin
creaas, multiply, and replenish the earth" That's
his destiny and for that he holds the Divine commits
sin So iE lena az ind Cd
himself appealing to it as the great spring Of humsn
action He recognized it in the responsive chord
to the greatest indueement, the best promise, the
highest reward that He could hold out to his cho-
sen servants. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we're told
to lock to heaven and tell the stsrs-o 90 to the sea
shore and count the grains Of ssud-to behold the
goOdly lads that he would give them; and then
the promise was made that if they would serve Him
60 should their seed and its greatness be spreading
abroad in the land Of the North and the South, to
the East and the West. In short, they should be a
great notion Observe, He did not encourage them
with promises of wealth and wiadom, but with the
hope Of seed, land and empire.
What was human nature in the promised land, is
human nature in the American wilderness. The
sustaining hope with Wsshington-the solsce of all
dyipg patriots-has been in the belief that their
country was in the "fsir way to great nationali
ty. Even now the day dream of early youth, and
the aspirations Of ripencd manhood in all parts Of
the country IS tHaJ this peoplS may NC d mlB1ty
people, this nation great nation Dash that hope
disturb these dreams and aspirations, and the
whole land is troubled.
Now then, is it not as plain to you as in the eye
Of reason any future event can be, that with the
proposed amendments only, and with them alone
engrafted upon the Constitution, the South cannot
expect their seed to occupy any of the waste land
that belongs equally to US ana the North. We eau
occupy it in the Territorial state it is true but it
will be only sojourners in strange land, for it
is conceded or all hands that the citizens when they
meet TO form their Slate Constitution, have, and
ought to have, the right to say whether slavery
shall have legal existence therein or not. The history
Of Kansas scquaints us, if We required any teach
ing as to the status in which all new States must,
under the Constitution thus amended or it is,
offer themselves for admission into the Union.
OF all spectacles that can be presented TO the
imagination, can be more pitiahle or sad than
that Of people who have lost their Liberties, than
that CT a nation the decline, OF race in the
process Of extinction. Look at Mexicoy consider
the American Indian.
The desire Of room for Postcrity, of empire for
children is so interviewer in the hearts of all peo
pie who have spirit enough TO dare or do, that it
may be said to be an iDsioct Of freedom-the soul
of freemen. At any rate we may hold that it is
strong with US in this-eur dey--ss it was with
Gods chosen servants Of old.
This brings me to posluate which all fsir-minded
persons will, think, readily aunt, viz; That the
effect of the policy pursued by the Federal
Government, acting under the Constitution, hss
been-whether designedly or net, is imuaterial-
but the effect has been TO destroy the balance Of
power in the Union between the free AID the slave
States TO place one group, numerically in the ma
toral legislature at the mercy of the other, end to
draw line about the South which, unless it be cut
or loosed, will produce death.
Are not the slave States in fair way 10 be sur
rounded by Gordon Of free Statesf Is it not cer-
tain that if the Southern States suffer this chain to
be completed and firmly riveted, the complete Afri
of the South. or emancipation Of its
slaves will be the result? A fair division of the
territory between the sectious leaving each section
to settle Up !ts own portion in its own way, will pre-
vent this and so far as that goes, the remedy is
plain aud simple enough, ...-
But supso.e the North 10 agree to such division
of the territory and adopt the proposition OF Sera-
tor Rice who, you recollec has proposed to divide
the territories into two States and at once to admit
under suitable provisions, all South Of 80 deg. ~
u.a into the Union as q slave State all North Of
that line as o free State. The free States would
still have the House Of Representatives they would
have a maj oriy of six in the SenaIeI and having
The numbers they could always have the constitu-
Lional power and right to control the Presidential
election and to rule the South Ia plain terms, the
whole federal machinery is iu their hands. They
have the power 10 control ito put their own con-
Itruction en- all doubtful clauses OF the Constitution
and so to administer the Government to make it
,ectiona achine ir the hands Of sectional party
Can the South stand that Ought the South to
stand thati Will the repeal Of tie personal liberty
bills of the North one hand or the adoption on
he other of the Crittendsn resolutions and Rices
proposition as amendments to the Constitution, pre-
rent the Government from becoming sectional like
he dominant party! No; emphatlcally No. Can
he two sections continue in harmony under Gov |
rHment that is exclusively in the hands of either
me! Again say No.
Then can say plan be devised by which they may |
i've, and rule, apd grow, and prosper tremendously
ogether in the Unionf | say yes The ansWer to |
he question requires the best thoughts of our best
men in the land, North and South.
Mr.. Calhoun, the greatest statesman OF them all,
aw in his day thst the federal machinery wanted
ID justment. He proposed dual executive. Pro
essor Holoom5e, of Virginia and others, at 2 later
lay, proposed division Of the Senate into sections,
o that certain acts 10 become laws shall require
he concurrent vOts Of each seetiopr
The proposed obi sct of such division is siEply
o give the South, being in the minority, veto
ower hereafter over certain acts Of legislation.
But the North complains that the Government, even
nder Northern Presidents, has by Southern infu-
nee been administered to its prejudice; and any
heck here should be such as 10 operate equally for
he benefit of both SECTIONS in high party times
nder corrupt sway, there may be treachery and be-
raysl even Of the strong, Therefore it appears te
ie tndl cO1stlVulonai provision OF tns SORT n1Gnt
erve as check to the last balance: protest from
- Senators from either section against the pas
sge Of bill, should defeat its passage, provided
ne objections Sgainst it be on account Of its sec
onal character. Suppose the blank be filed mp
18th two-thirds. Thus two-thirds of the Senators
ON the North could prevent the passage Of any
i'll that in their Judgment would be unequal in its
earrings and sectionsl in its operations upon their
.stes In like manner, two thirds of the Southern
spators could defeat by protest, the passage of a
" that would be unfair to the South. To illus
az: At present full Senate CONSISTS Of 81 from
e free, and 30 from The sisse Slatss-total sc.
, pc proposed counterpOise, "a Of the former, BY
ca REesesb ee2ld defeat any MEASURE adversely =