Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-10
ret from the strong disposition manifssted by

yet from the strong disposition manifested by
them, and large number of others of the
Republican party, who might be supposed to
have some influence with the administrations
to prevent any collision of arms. and If pos
sibie, to preserve peace. although il was true
that ne found others of that party who held
70 the policy of enforcing the laws and as
serting the authority of the Government in
the seeded States, at any cost, he left WASH
ington in the confident belief that pacific
policy would be pursued hy the ADMINISTERS
ti6n; and be assured bis friends upon bis re-
turn home that there was fair and reasona-
bic grounds to expect that pesce would be
preserved. But this expectation has not been
realized. Other and less prudent counsels
had prevailed; and when he reflected upon
the Indifference which had been manifested
towards the Border States-the little con-
sderation. shown them-fhey being almost
wholly ignored in the distribution of the pat
ronage of the Gov ernment, he was driven to
the conclusion that no confident reliance
could be placed upon the pacific disposition
of the Administration.
Since the fall of Fort Sumter and the issu-
ing of the proclamation of the 18th, we
have new grounds of distrust and alarm. 1t
is now eight days since tie PRONUNCIATION of
that document, which kindled fame of ex-
element and apprehension throughout the
Border States. He. Mr.. B., had waited with
eager hope and expectation, from day to day,
to hear of some official or authoritative expla-
nation of the object of the Government iii
calling fer rs, 900 troops; whether it was for
the protection of Washington against a
threatened attack from the South, to defend
the Forts and Naval Depots, then in posses
sion of the Government; and to retake those
which had been previously wrested from 1t,
and whether there was any intention TO en-
ploy the troops 'or any other purposes. but
he had waited in vain. If these were the
limited objects of the CALL the neglect TO
quiet the excitement in the Border States,
when it could have been so easily done. does
not argue well for the future intentions of the
Government.
Meanwhile the reports waited to US on
every breeze that comes from the North, OF
the intense and increasing excitement in thet
section and the united and determined purpose
to wage a war for the subjugatiOn OF the
South, increase, in turn, the excitement
here. Each days events serve to widen still
more the gulf which threatens to become a
permanent obstruction to the continuance of
the political connection between the North
and the SOuth-leaving scarcely ray OF hope
Tor the preservation of the Union. What
time may do, what the restoration of peace
may do, must be left to the future.
What chance there may be that the de-
structive war with which we are threatened
may be averted must be mere matter of con-
lecture. 1t would seem incredible at any
other time, and when the dictates of reason
and the common instincts of humanity con-
trolled the judgments of men, that the
thought of SO wanton and sanguinary a war
as that encouraged by some OF the leading
Journals and most prominent men of the
North, could be seriously entertained, among
people Boosting of their superior enlighen-
ment; and it is to be hoped that after the
first ebullitions of passion and resentment
shall have subsidized, more moderate counsels
will prevail, and that some plan of pacifica-
ton will be adopted more in accordance with
the spirit of the age That time will be Civ
en- for the subsistence of the reigning frenzy
and a return to the guidance of sober ref c.
ton, before the sword is unsheathed in such
war as the North now appears resolved TO
wage against the South. may be fairly infer
red from the time selected for the meeting of
Congress-the 4th of July. No invasion OF
the South will probably be attempted until
after Congress shall have assembled, and
then it will scarcely be considered safe to en-
ter upon a Summer campaign with troops
drawn from the North, and not Injured to the
exposure aud hardships of service in the field.
Though we have no official or authentic evil
dence of the TACT, yet it is not improbable
for by the proclamation of the 18th of the
month were designed mainly for the protec-
ton of the Capital and other points threat |
ened, and that no invasion of the South was |
then mediIated by the President. At all |
events much larger force will have to be |
called into service and disciplined before any |
invasion of the South upon an extensive |
scale, can be made.
Again, should the North persist in the de- |
termination to wage the wanton, wicked, and |
aggressive war against the South, indicated |
by some of their infuriated organs of public |
sentiment, it is not altogether improbable |
that the great States of Europe, shocked at |
the prospect of the widespread scene of |
slaughter and desolation about to be exhibited |
to the world, to the eternal disgrace of the |
age, would interpose their powerful mediation
to stay the uplifted sword. What Importance
should be attached to these suggestions, or
what reliance should be placed on any of
them, to arrest the threatened war, every
one can decide for himself, but whatever may
be thought of the chances of ayerting the
war with which we are threatened, it would
not be safe to relax our efforts in putting the
State in condition to meet il successfully,
should it come. -.--s ,r+f
Mr.. B. said that be was aware that he had
been charged with having defeated the mill
tary bill at the extra session of the Legisla-
ture in January last. He acknowledged his
due share of the responsibility attaching to
the defeat of that measure. and admitted that
it was a mistake, considered in reference to
the present time; but, under the circumstan-
ces then existing, the confidence he then felt
that Mr.. Lincoln's policy would be pacific,
and give rise to no such necessity, or appre-
tensions OF war, az now present themselves,
and under the same circumstances, he would
take the same course he then pursued.