The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-04-26
Tonnesseo-W what Position

LCluOSSSO- w nuJ POSITION,
The following address appears in sever
al of the Nashville papers of the l9th.--
1t will he seen the address proposes po-
sition of neptyaly in the deadly conflict
between the sections,
| To THE PEOPLE OF TENNEssrE. the
! perilous times upon which our country is
thrown, we trust it will not be deemed
presumptuous or improper in US to ex-
| press to our fclow-citisens our opinion
as to the duty of the State in this dire
emergency.
We are threatened with civil war, the
dreadful consequences of which, if once
fully inauFurated. no language can depict.
! In view OF such consequences, we deem
! it the duty of every good citizen to exert
| his utmost powers to avert the calamities
OF such a war. The agitation ofthe slave.
ny question combined with party spirit
and sectional amnesty, has ut length
produced the legitimate fruit. The pres
cnt is no time to discuss the events OF the
past. The awful present is upon us, and
the pouontous future is hanging over us.
| There has been a collision, as is known
/ to you. at Fort Sumter, between the fore
90 of the seeded States and those OF the
!
the captures Of the fort by the army Of
the Confederate States. IN view Of this
event and of other acts growing out of
| the secession Of seven of the Southern
States, the President has issued his Proc
lamation calling out the militia of the
states of the Union to suppress what the
Proclamation designates Coordination
too powerful to be suppressed by the or
binary course of judicial proceedings. or
by the powers vested in the Marshals by
law" .......
Tennessee is called upon by the Presi-
dent to furnish two regiments, and the
State has, through her Executive. refused
to comply wish the call. This refusal of
our state we fully approve. We com
mend the wisdom, the justice and the
| humanity OF the refusal We unqualii-
edly disapprnvc of secession, both as
constitutional right and as remedy for
existing evils; we equally condemn the
policy OF the Administration in reference
TO the seeded States. But while we,
without qualifications condemn the Iolicy
of coercion as'calculated to dissolve the
Union forever and to dissolve it in the
blood Of our fellow citizens, and regard il
as sufficient TO justify the State in relus.
ing her aid to the Government, in its at.
tempt to suppress the revolution in the
sece led States, we do not think it her du-
| ~. considering her position in the Union,
ana IN view of the great question Of the
peace of our distracted country, TO take
sides against the Government Tenncs-
see has wrongcd no State or citizen of
this Union. She has violated the rights
of no State, North or South. She has
been loyal to all where loyalty was due
She has not brought on this war by any
act of hers. She has tried every means
in her power to prevent it. She now
stands ready to do anything within her
reach to stop it. And she ought, as we
think, to decline joining either party
For in so doing, they would at once ter
inmate her grand mission Of peace-maker
between the States of the South and the
General Government. Nay, more; the
a'most inevitable result would be the
transtt.r OF the war within her own Dor
ders-the defeat ofall hopes Of reconcilia-
ton, and the deluging of the State with
the blood of her own people.
The present duty Of Tennessee, is to
maintain n position of Independence
taking sides with the union and peace of
the country against all assailants, whether
from the North or South. Her position
should be to maintain the security Of her
soil, from the hostile tread of any party.
We do not pretend to torotcll the future
OF Iennes &C, in connection with the other
states, or III reference to the Federal Gov
eminent. We do not pretend to be able
20 tell the Iutne purposes OF the Prcsi-
dent and Cabinet in reference to the i'm
pending war. But should purpose be
develnpeh'hy the Government Of over
.Il .It4.r..
the scccd. d States. we say uncomfortable.
that it will be tie duty of the State to re-
-ist at all hazards, at any cost. end Iy AIMS,
any such purpose or attempt. And TO
meet any and all emergencies, she ought
to be tuty armei and we would
ly call upon the authorities of the State
to proceed at once to the accomplishment
of this object.
Let tennessee, then, prepare thorough-
lr and efficiently ior coming events. In
the mean time, let her, as speedily as she
can, hold a Conference with her sister
slaveholding States yet in the Union, for
the purpose of devising plans for the pres
ervatlon of the peace OF the land Eel
low citizens OF Tennessee, we cntreat YOU
TO bring yourselves up to the magnitude
OF the crisis. Look in the face impcnd-
ing calanities. Cvil-war-what is it p
the bloodiest and darkest pages of histo.
ry answer this question. 10 avert this.
who would not give his time, his talents,
his untiring energy all? There may
be yet time to accomplish every thing
Let US not dispair. The Border Slave
States may prevent this civil war; and
why shall they not do it?
.. NELL S. BRowN,
Russell llnrSTny