Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-28
q Polite EnvItatiSn 20 Leave or suDmA'
UaeonditienaIIy 20 the YOKE OF AAncoin'

a Polite Fuvftmtisn 70 Leave or Submit
UacondttienalIF 70 the YOKE Sh Ahno"AH
Byslow degrees, the solemn truth is beginning to
dawn upon the minds of the dominant faction OF the
North that the Confederate States have assumed
their nostion among the nations of the earth, with
NO TO return to the old Union or to trust to
the Punic faith of q people who have so often de-
eeived and betrayed them
The time of the journals in the Southern States,
the 5rm and wise but quiet movements of their
Government, tAe adoption of permanent Constitu-
tim. the harmony in the Councils of the Admins
tration. and the repose enjoyed by the people from
the sectional and EARRING discords of the old Union,
all convince men, who have the understanding to
comprehend and reason that the Confederate States
are lost forever to the Union and that final disrup
ton has taken place. Melancholy as the thought may
he vet men of wisdom and patriotism will not dis
card a great and oVershadowing fact from their
minds because they may deplore its existence; but
they viii have the manhood and the directness to
march I'D TO the issue boldly, look it and its proba
HE consequences full in the face and ask themselves
what the interests, the natural sympathies, the
geographical relations, and the honor of Tennessee
demand that she should do Shall she take her
States that fringe her Southern border that buy her
productions, that contain her kinsmen and neigh
bors. that own common institution, and with
whom she has suffered common grievances and in
suits, or shall she ingoriously content herself to
remain in connection with Black Republican
States that deny her rights and equality in
the Union in which she viii ever be despised mi>
nority, and from which ALL who remain true to her
interests and honor viii ever be excluded from all
participation in the Administration Of the Govern
ment thus making of her sons shewers of wood
and drawers of water to the domineering and
dominant North.
The issue is clearly and sharply made, and the
position of the Border Slave States is thus stated
by one of the ablest and most influential Black Re-
publican Journals in the Northwest. The Cincin>
matt Commercial says:
The Southern people have to make their election
in the issues that have been thrust upon the country
in the name of their section. They have slavery,
and have now the unqualified responsibility of their
own destiny. 1t is conceded they go out of the
Union if they want to do SO. The border slave
States are in position that they cannot long main
tain, indeed that cannot long be tslerable. They
must speedily join the seeessionsts-pass under the
yoke set up at Montgomery, and commit themselves
10 the keeping of the tyranous Plantocracy of the
csuditionally remain IN and stand by the Union
They can have all its guarantees in good faith and
liberal measure, but in return they must abide BY
its obligations, maintain its dignity, defend Its hon
or obey and enforce its laws, and identify tkem'
selves with it unreservedly. Otherwise they are
not for the Union Their contingent disunion poll
CIV is an endorsement of anarchy, and is insulting
as well as injurious, 70 the real friends of Union.
In the same article from which this is extract the
commercial recognizes the de facto Government O
the Confederate States and States that the present
statt quo cannot be preserved without the creates
injury to business interests, and with regard Il
guarantees, says: If the old Constitution lcould no
unite US IN peace and fraternity, e,O one aOOd not
for dt which sOoad satisfy the Cotton States could moi
inself>respect and honor, be conceded sbedto b
the NORTH"
It thus appears that the movement of the Confed
crate States is beginning to be regarded by leading
Republicans as an earnest, stable and serious mat
ter which cannot be overlooked in the policy of thu
Government: at Washington, and must be dealt witt
rs such that no guarantees, that will ever recon
struct the Union can be acceptedby the North witt
honor and self respect; and that the Border Slavt
States must elect between uniting their destiny
with the Confederate States or unconditional sub
mission, in which they will be required, to abid'
by the obhgauons, pertaining 10 thelr remain
ing in the Union, "to maintain ts dignity, defend it
honor obey and enforce its laws and identify them
selves with it unreservedly" What if the latter al
Tentative should lead them into collision with thei
kinsmen of the South? What if it should demand o
them to make fraticidal war upon those who hav'
thrown of all obligations to the Government which
has denied them their rights? viii the freemen o
Tennessee accept such humiliationas this, or vii
they make common cause with those who by nature
education locality, sympathy and interest," are thei
Brethren friends, neighbors!