Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-31
From The Drblin Nnt;nn.

/
| As the news from America flows in, the language
of Northerners and of their journals tent and
more to disgust and outrage all who hold the sacred
faith of human freedom, and to make them weep IN
poignant modification and deep despair. Well3may
! we despair Of popular liberty in presence of the
sight the world sees TO day. A Republican people
whose liberties we're won by q rebellion, whose in
| dependence was achieved by secession, parrot as
| glibly any Old World tyranny 1.-The rebels" and
the rebellion" as phrases OF odium and reproachI
Those who profess to hold sacred the popular will
| to reverence the desire for self government pro-
ceeding to drown the popular viii in blood. and
answer for seiEgovernmcnt by butchery and
slaughter.
| II what is now passing in America took place in
any of the Old World Empires, it would be at least
ineligible. If the citizens of nearly half an en-
pira FIVE times large Europe, with unanmity
never surpassed, and rarely equaed, declared, by
free poll IN open day, by universal suffrage that
their interests and their feelings demanded the sub
stitution Of the Imperial Government by one of
their own choice; and the Imperial Government
marched its armies to crush the demand in the
blood of the 'rebels" it would be nothing new
among the despotic systems. But in great Con-
federation of Republican States, in a system based
on the ,0U Of the peopjs-based on the right of rebel
lioR-thst all this should happen that we now see
that no tyranny or despotism Of old Europe ever
drew the sword more savagely to put down rebel
hon" and trampie upon the voice of the people,
than this same Central Government of a Republican
Confederation-iti is enough to wiring the heart OF
any man who believed in the greater humanity and
liberation of popular Governments.
Well may the advocates of despOtIc monarchy
laugh in bitter mockery at those who believe that
people ruling themselves would never spill blood
IN popular subjugatOn, and that such murders
were done by kings and despots of old Europe.
1t is hideous sarcasm Of Rapublicanism to hear
the journals of the Northern States yelling for the
blood of the "rebels" for their utter subjugation
and destruction. I've mean to conquer them says
the New York Tribune mot merely to defeat but
to conquer, to subjugate them. But when the re-
bellious traitors are overwhelmed in the field and
scattered like leaves before the wind, 1t must not
be to return peaceful and contented homes. They
must find poverty at their fresides, and see prva-
ton in the anxious eyes Of mothers and the rags of
chllren." Was ever more hellish sentiments utter
ed Where in the annals of despotism, or the
cords of its butcheries shall we seek for parallel
to this? Where-even against rebels who had not
particle of justification? If the subjects of the
legitimate sovereign that ever held ceptre had
acted as the Southern States have done, would these
sentiments be infamies If uttered on his Part?
Yet infamy or infamies thew when uttered
by Republicans against brother Republicans-ut-
tered by the descendants of the rebels Of 76 against
men who, with far greater unanlmity, now demand
the same selfsame right those rebels eaimed-self-
government.
We shall be told that the South had no right to
secede; therefore the war upon it is Unsuitable.
When England made war on her rebellious Ameri
Colonies she said they had right to secede,"
and that, therefore, that war was justifsble. We
shall be told the South exhibit no wrongs to
justify rebellion. The same was held by those who
sought to crush the Colonies in their struggle for
selfgovernment But why should we be called up
on by Republicans to consider these points at all ?
Have we not been told Is the Republican principle
that the subjects of State themselves, and no one
else, are to be judges whether they have prOvoca-
ton. justification rights.
YeE let US consider thatithe of the South, as
regards its rights to secede far stronger than was
that of the American Colonies to rebel. Under the
old monar2hial system, such right was ever toll
erated-no such principle ever heard of-as "the
voice of the population" determining the justice, |
legitimacy or duration of a Government.
The American Colonies originated under that sys-
tenn. They had never claimed or possessed the |
attributes of independent sovereign States, nor
had their connection with the English crown origi
mated in a compact having for its object mutual
benefit and defence What Oh the other hand, IS |
the position of the Southern States in the present
case They are not mere colonies, counties or dis
triuts Of any State. Kingdom or Empire. They are !
a number of sovereign independent States;' so |
styled in law and proved in fact. Their political
political system of the whole United |
States of Americas based on the fundamental
principle of the right of rebellion, determinable by
the voice of the people.
These several independent sovereign States, of
their own free choosing and for the purpose Of their
own common welfare, interest and protection, fed
crate with certain others to this end. numser of
hese States declare that faith has not been kept
with them in the compact Of confederation, and that
he cause and purpose of their association with
ain others no longer urge its continuance but.
he contrary, demand its termination. Whether
hey possess the right so to terminate the connec-
ion, is neither asserted denied by the decd of
Union. This silence is claimed by each side in the
Icarrel as favorable to its own case.
Upon which side the construction may be said to