Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-04
For the Daily Patriot
How To Treat secession.

For the Daily Patriot
How 70 Treat Secession.
II is obvious that disease must be under
stood before it can be cured. Slavery is con-
stautly referred to as THE cause. the great
pressing necessity and entire justification of
pretext. Those States, which from their po-
sition haus suffered, and can suffer least from
Northern feeling, are precisely those where
reunion is secuted. Maryland, Kentucky
and Missouri, that from situation hare suffer-
ed and can suffer most from that cause, are
opposed to secession. The material interests
of those three States are not essentially dis
similar from the free States that adjoin them
The seeding States have one great, over
whelming interest, unlike all the otners'
They consider, or profess to CONSIDER tnem-
selves aggrieved by the revenue and naviga-
ton laws of Union. They fear, or AFFECT
to fear. that their peculiar interests, ASIDE
from slavery, will never be properly regard
ed in the Union, whose laws must be uniform
in all the States. They believe, or assert
without belieyeing, that under system OF
legislation adapted solely to their peculiar
situation and productions, they will be more
prosperous and powerful. This idea of
wealth, power and glory. lies, and always
has laid at the bottom of the heart of every
disunion leader. 1t now shows itself unmis-
takably. Three months ago secession was
presented to the people as dire necessity,
fraught with evil to the whole country, but
forced upon the South by Northern injustice
on the subject OF slavery. No one advised it
as good per Sc, but as better than degradation
and dishonor. Now the press, controlled by
those leaders, the public speakers, the laws,
enacted and proposed, all look to the giorl-
GUS future of separate empire. They never
had any real fear about the negro. He is
never spoken of now. No provisions, no
guarantees are made for him. 1t is the
dream of dominion, the lutst of power, the
longing after sudden wealth, the wild,
strong, indefinite hope to obtain under this
new formation move, and that more rapidly,
than the old Union has effected, or can &C
complish for them. The rank and file were
led or driven, by appeals to every fear, every
passion, every prejudice on the subject oil
slavery. There was enough of Northern
wrong on that subject to agitate, to alarm,
to demand reasonable and constitutional re-
sistance. That matter has now subserved its
end, the Red Sea is passed, and it is found at
ter all, that the plunge was made not to seek
safety from the Northern Pharaoh, but to
seize the Empire of the opening Canaan.
Let then secession now be met on this new
ground The old, pretended causes are
abandoned, the legal and constitutional right
is no longer matter of discussion, because
controversy will convince nobody ON this
point. 1t is the great modern question;
will it pay" not in mere pecuniary sense
but in the highest sense of the life, perma'
neEce and happiness of the people. 1t should
be our endeavor to convince our Southern
brethren that this vision of separate en-
pire is indeed dream. That it will not lead
| them to wealth, or power, or honor as peo
pie. That it will impoverish, weaken, dis
grace and destroy them. That it will neither
accomplish the object originally pretended
the security of their Institutions, nor the real
object now so clearly announced. In the
long run men are guided by their interests
Passion in its parOxysms may effect great
good or great evil. but passion cannot endure
Reason will return, and experience under the
new system may be hard but will be a true
teacher. The requirements, the necessities
the events of every day will press upon the
attention of the people, silently, resistlessly
continuously. They will compare their pres
ent with their past, the brilliant promises witt
the inadequate performance. A secret sigi
for the old brotherhood and security, vii
spread from heart to heart, and though ii
physics action and reaction are equal yet il
| morals reaction is the stronger, and the hoa
| of reunion will come God makes state
and empires. man may remove the landmarks
but the curse of such removal will cling t.
| him and nature, necessity and right will re
assert their sway. Let US first calm all passion
Then let the whole effort of the union press
union speakers, and union men be directed t
| the argument that secession is long suicide
| that all the teachings of history, all tn
truths of political economy, the experience
of our past, every probable view of our fl
| tnre will show that disunion is death and d.
| struction to US all, North, South, East, Yves
and that with the ruin of the Great Reput
lie, hope of selfgovernment and rations
freedom dies out forever in the heart of mar
lam aware that these hasty remarks al
not new nor original. 1 should distrust the
truth if they were. If actual collision
arms is avoided, Tine will be the great paci
Gator, healer, composer, persuader. Its log
no man can confute. Rather than one Dire
of fraternal blood, could ask foreign wa
| could almost invoke France and Englan
united, to set the battle in array against u
That irould unite US. Common danger woul
bring common union. We should marc
shoulder to shoulder. The old flag would /
over us, the old spirit within US. No though
then of division; the enemy, only the enem
No words but those of the great Athenial
ssLet us march against Philip, let US fight fl
our liberties, let US conquer or die"
/ FLORIDA.
Nashville April 2, 1861.
To the People OF the Second COngrei
| .sonoI