Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-03-17
SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH Il, 1861.
False I..ue.-rhe Duty orthe People.

SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH II, 1861.
False Issues--rhe Duty ofthe People.
The Union and AMERICAN, of Friday. refer
ring to our view that the people should de-
eide, throughout the country, in their ap-
preaching elections. the acceptsbility of the
amendment to the Federal Constitution. pro-
posed by the Peace Conference at Washing
ton, says that such question is legitimaiely
as far from the issues of the next canvass as
would be the ratification of treaty with
Japan. The reason assigned for this opIn
ion is that it would be impossible to carry
that amendment in the North, and that it
would meet with determined opposition in
the South In this our contemporary as
sumes as already decided the very question
upon which we desire to obtain the popular
verdict The Union and American refers to
the reception of that amendment BY the Re
publican members of Congress, as decisive OF
its fate before the Northern people. Both in
logic and fact we regard the conclusion as
nOH-sequituE. 1t may possibly SO eventuate,
but the magnitude OF the consequences in
volved in its decisien, demand a fair trial of
it before the people. If the politicians
those who happen to be in office at any given
time-are to decide without the right, or
even the necessity, of appeal to The truesOve-
reigns, questions determining the very exist
ence of the government, we are not repab-
lie but the miserable subjects of diciatorial
oligarcby. Our only safety as nation
rests in the intelligent action of the people.
in the mode prescribed in the COnatitutioa
and the laws. We may anticipate what that
action may be on given subject, but that
anticipation is not itself sufficient. Any
other doctrine than this is practical denial
of popular supremacy.
We have apprehended that the most form
liable obstacles TO peaceful and satisiacto-
~ adjustment of our national difficulties
would be presented by those secessionists
who are predetermined to accept nothing
but the permanent disruption of the Union,
and the anti-slaveFy fanatics of the North
who insist upon the total and perpetual pro-
hibition of 81 avery expansion through the
agency of the Federal Government. The
adoption of the Peace Conference PROPOSE
ton would probably save the Union fOrther
disintegration, and possibly lead finally to
the cordial return of those States which have
left il. This result would lay the secession
lists on the SHELF and deprive the Republi
cans of the very substance and essence of
their unjust and unnatural sectional creed,
and scatter and break down their organiZa-
ton. On the principle of a baleful and
mischievous preservation, both these in
terests must be arrayed against any settle
ment which may deprive them of their stock
in trade and close up their business. We are
therefore bound to Look for active and SIRE
nuous opposition from these quarters. 1t is
this opposition which we desire to guard and
fortify the great masses of the people against.
And we now repeat that this opposition 10
peaceful and just settlement of outstanding
sectional difficulties must be met and resist |
ed, and that successfully, if tie Constitution
and the Union are TO be preserved and per- |
petuated.
1t is plain that the government cannot be |
satisfactorily administered on the policy set |
IVA ~ III tAS OoASoSc PNSPAN
must show that they are determined to sus-
tain the government with equal and exact
Justice TO all. We want TO give them a fair
opportunity to do this. On the other hand
it is equally plain that if we are 10 give up
without question to the secessionists, the |
Union cannot be sustained and perpetuated |
n any basis. 4 just and fair compromise
between extreme opinions on both sides is,
therefore, the only hope for the continuance
'f the Union under the present Constitution.
If we are correct in this view, there is only
me course left for the true friends of the
Union, and that is to stand immovably
against the sectionalists of the North and
he disuniOnists of the South, so long as there
J any hope of maintaining such position
With honor. To yield to either extreme
Fould be virtually to minister to the over
brow Of the existing order OF things, and
yield to the permanent disrup-
ion of the most magnificent government the
ombined wisdom and goodness of man ever
evised. And it is the paramount duty of the
Iatriotic people in Tennessee, and every
7here else from Maine to Texas. on the very
rst occasion offered them, TO come forward
nd decide this great and overshadowing
question.
In repudiatirg this view, however. the
J5tiOn aad -4naerican proposes the following
5 the basis of the next canvass in this
tate:
''The first, great. Overshadowiag practical
4
'eace or war, is the recognition Of the indie
'endeRee of the Confederate States. Neces-
arily incident to that question the ques-
ions arising out OF a desire or intention TO
capture the Southern forts, collect revenue
y land or sea at the Southern ports, force
ills and the like. Fort Sumter may be eyacu-
ted and we sincerely hope it will. Fort Pieh-
rs may be abandoned by the Federal troops.
be Administration may not try to procure
be passage of the force and war bills. and
ct the recognition of Southern Independ- |
nee is the great practical question. The Uni
ID States have either TO ackuOw ledge the |
outherD Confederacy as an independent
government, or else attempt subjugaiion. |
here is no middle ground"
A simple statement of the difference in our
osition and that of our contemporary rs laid
own above, is amply sufficient to disclose
lie probable character of the approaching
,ntest. The Union and american contends
lat the paramount question is the recogni-
on of the success and independence of the
eession movement of the Cotton States, and
lie minor questions incident thereto. We are s
II having things to remain as they are, in {
eace, in reference to that movement. and
aking further effort to restore the Union
} its original harmony and integrity. Our
takes for granted that this is I
npossible from the outgivings of politicians. S
nd we are for obtaining the authoritative Z
.nse of the people on that question. We !
re for testing the major proposition, our :