Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-23
J. Usurpsrs and ryrnnts.''

The acting editor of the Banner seems determined
h.t his readers shall know that he regards the dis
+;nouisAed men now in Congress at Montgomery as
atyrants and usurpers." Some will perhaps take
his assertion that such is the case as conclusive
eument, while some others win probably await
further evidence before forming fiaal opinion.
We venture the assertion that, when the editor of
the Banner shall have mastered thoroughly all of
ancient and modern history he viii be unable to point
to a single instance in which revolution was ef-
fected more in accordance with the forms OF
law and in which there was less of usurpation and
tyranny. Let US look at the facts; epithets and
indignant expstives carry conviction 20 the mind OF
no man who has arrived at years of discretion.
After Mr. Lincoln's election, the Legislature OF
South Carolina, duly elected by the people OF tna1
State passed an act calling State Convention 10
take into consideration the future relations between
that State and the Federal Government An eiec-
tion was ordered to be held Candidates presented
themselves before the people, and the only queslons
discussed by them was immediate unconditional Sc
cession and co-operation in secession with some OF
the other Southern States So unanimous ando
whelrniur was the sentiment in favor OF immediate
secession that there were but two three election
districts in the State in which candidates were run
that favored any cooperation. Every candidate
elected, and they were elected by the people, was
for immediate secession. The Convention, when 1t
assembled unanimously passed the Secession erdi-
nance. 1t also passed ordinance inviting the
cooperation of such States as seeded IN the lorna
ton of Southern Confederacy, and appointed oeie-
gates to meet delegates from the seeded states IN
Southern Congress to form Provisional Govern
neut. which shall not exist longer than two years
from the LIST of July, 1861. The Legislature OF
Florida also called a State Convention, the
oros.;on tbere was as in South Carolina,
immediate secession and cooperation 1hS
immediate secession candidates were again sue
cessful. and an ordinance of secession was again
nassed So in each of the ether seeded States Inc
convention was called by the State Legislatures the
delegates thereto were duly elected by the people
in each and every instance the immediate secession
lists were triumphanty elected by the people And IN
their action in convention they have but carried Out
the policy that they advocated when they were can
didates
The conventions of each of the seeded States rep
resentng the people thereof appointed delegates to
the Congress at Montgomery for the purpose of form
ing a temporary or provisional government They
certainly would have crimnally been blind to then
safety IT, when there are such prospects of war theJ
had waited to form government for their com
mon defence until they could have formed perma
nent government That provisional government
has been formed and adopted as its basis the Con
stituton of the United States. When the perma
nert government is formed, we cannot doubt, with
the lights before US that it will be as Democratic
as the government of the United States. The Con-
vention over which JOIN HANCOCK presided, which
formed and adopted the Declaration of Indepen
dence. which placed GEORGE WASHINGTON at the
head of the American army, was not elected
bv the people and their action was not re
ferred to the people for ratification Yet nc
man will call them usurpers and tyrants. y
The Legislature of Virginia appointed the day on
which the port of Boston was to be closed as day
of fasting, humiliation and prayer. The Governor
being displeased with this measure, dissolved the
assembly The members, however, before they
seusrated, recommended to their Committee of
respondence to communicate with the several Com
nitees of the other colonies, on the expectancy OF
appointing deputies to meet annually IN genera
Congress- to deliberate on such measures as the
united interests of America might fror1 time tc
time render necessary. The Massachusetts, House
of Representatives passed resolutions in favor Of
the proposed Congress, and appointed five delegates
toit We might 60 through with our history up tC
tbs formation of the Constitution. Those who
charge "usurpation and tyranny" upon those gallan
men who have struck for Southern independence
will find it much more difficult to make the proc
han to make the assertion.