The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-01
TO THE PEOPLE OLE rENNEssEE

In the perilous times upon which our country is
thrown we trust it will not be deemed presumptu-
Gus or improper in US to express to fellow cti
ZcDs our united opinion as to the duty of the
State in this dire emergency.
we are threatened with civil war, the dread.
ful consequences of which, if fully inaucura-
ted, no language can depict. In view Of such con-
sequences, we deem it the duty of every good citi
zen to exert his utmost powers avert the Gallant
ties of such war. The agitation of the slavarr
question, combined with party spirit and sactinncI
amnesty, has at length produced the legitimate
lrut The present is no time to discuss the events
OF the past. The awful present is upon ms and
the poTtentous future is hanging over us There
has been collision, as is known to you, at Fort
Sumter, between the forces of the seeded States
and those OF the National Government which re-
suited IN the capture 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
proclamation, calling out the militia of the States
OF the Union to suppress what the nrocIamation
desIgnates a Combination too powerful to he sno
pressed by the ordinary course Of judicial proceed
ings. or by the powers vested in the MarshaIs BY
law" "
Tennessee is called upon by the President To fur
nlsh two regiments, and the State has throurh her
Executive, refused to comply with the call This
refusal OF our State, we fully approve We com
mend the wisdom, the justice and the humanity Of
the refusal. We unqualiiicdiy disapprove of Sc
cess'on, both a constitutional right and AS rom
edy tor existing evils; we equally condemn the
poicV OF the Administration in reference to the Sc
ceded States. But while we, without qualification
condemn the policy of coercion MS ca ,cuIated IN
dissolve the Union forever, and to dissolve it in the
blood of our teow-ctizeos, and regard it "a sniff
Gent to justify the State in refusing her aid to the
Government, in its attempt to suppress the revolu
ton in the seeded States we do not think II her
duty, considering her position in the Union and in
view OF the great question of the peace of our dis
tracted country, to take sides against the Govern
ment. Tennessee has wrOpged no State or citizen
V 10 nht Io, :,-t,a- e
State, North or South. She has been loyaI to ali
where loyalty was due. She has not brought IN
TINS war by any act OF hers. She has tried every
means IN her power to prevent it. She rotc stands
ready to do anything within her reach to stop it.
And she ought, we think, to decline ioinino
either party. For in so doing, they would at once
terminate her grand mission of peace-maker be-
tween the States of the South and the General CIV
erDment. Nay. more; the almost inevitable rpspIt
would be the transfer Of the war within her own
borders--the defeat 81 all hopes of reconciliation
and the delugng of the State with the blood of her
own people.
The present duty of Tennessee is, to maintain =
position of independence--ta taking sides with the
union and the peace of the country against all as
salants, whether from the North or South Her
position should be to maintain the sauctity of her
soil from the hostile tread of any party
We 90 not pretend to iOretell the future of To,
neSsee, IN connection with the other States or i,
reference to the Federal Government We do NOT
pretend to be able to tell the future purDoses IF
! the President and Cabinet in reference IN fbo ~
l.
| pending war But should purpose be deyeInnnd
! oy the Government OF overrunning and subiuGot
| in@ our brethren OF the seeded States we say nm
equvocally that it will be the duty of the State to
resist at all hazards, at any cost, and by arms anv
| such purpose OF attempt And to meet anv ana
all emergencies, she ought to be fally armed and
we would respectfully call upon the authorities of
the state to proceed at once the ACCOMPLISHMENT
of this object. AZ
! Let Tennessee, then prepare Thoroughly and eff
GENTLY Tor coming events. In the meantime let
her. as speedily as she can, hold conference with
her sister saveholding States yet in the Union for
the purpose of devsing plans for the preserva,ion
OF the peace of the land Fellow-citizens of Ten
nessee, we entreat you TO bring yourselves mn r.
the magnitude of the crisis Look in the faca Inv
pending calamities. Civil war-what is it? The
oioodiest and darkest pages of history answer This
question. TO avert this who would not Give his
time time, bis talents, his untiring energy-bis air.
mere may yet be time to accomplish everything.
Let US not despair. The border slave States NJ . y
prevent this civil war; and why shall they not
NELL S. BRowY,
| RUSSELL HoUsToN,
L. II. EWING,
~ lnTYN~