Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-14
Letter from Mississippi.
COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI,
February 9. 1861.


February 9. 1861
W. HI. SMITH. Esq--Der Sir: For the
first time in my life am outside Of the
United States, though like MCGREGoE, my
foot is on my native heath"
That clause in the Constitution which pro-
hibits foreigners becoming President, fear,
may blast the aspirations of quite number
of US.
This is decidedly warlike country. The
plume and epaulette meet you at every cor
ner, while the almost continual tramp of the
military with the stirring music of the drum
and fife, impress one with the belief that the
enemy are already here. The people talk of
nothing but fighting and expect nothing else.
Yesterday was great day here. The
troops which have been at Pensacola for a
month past, returned. They looked some
what jaded from the exposure aud severe
duty to which they have been subjected, but
only comp lain that they did not have an or
portunity of capturing.Fort Pickens. con-
versed with one of the officers and b. inform
ed me about six hundred of the troops bad
departed from Pensacola, leaving some four
hundred there. They were engaged most Of
the time in erecting Notifications and plant
ing batteries. They hold themselves in readi-
ness TO march in an hours warning to any
point at which they may be needed.
think it would be vastly beneficial to Mr.
LINCOLN to travel incog through the seeding
States. 1t would, at least. convince him that
a coercive army would meet with warm re-
ception. They have companies composed of
all classes and ages. The beardless youth of
fourteen, and the gray-haired sire of seventy
may be seen side by side. l saw the yenera-
BILE Gov. Whitfield, one of the most conser-
vative men of the South, marching as a COM
mon suldier TO welcome the brave youths
from Pensacola An incident connected with
the late expedition may not be unworthy of
mention. A young man, who had just been
united in marriage to one of the loveliest
of the fair daughters of Columbus, was alb
sent when the troops were summoned 10
Pensacola He started in pursuit, bat ar
rived at Mobile too late. Hearing, however.
that the vessel would anchor Just outside the
bay he walked some twenty miles and en-
barked with his company.
The people here ere in earnest-it is no
child's play, and doubt very much if any
constitutional guarantees could be rendered
which would induce them to consent to a re-
union, at leest, if the sentiment here is an in
dex to the sentiment of The State.
Much interest has been manifested in the
course of Tennessee. / have stated our posi-
tion TINS. From the great generation we
entertain for the Union as well as from its In
calculable beaefit, we are willing to accept the
CKrrESDES COMPROMISES as a basis of adjust
ment, but will take nothing less. We are
also willing 20 grant time for sober refiec-
ton. II, however, We should fail in that. we
will unite our destiny with our seeding
sisters as -f4
In the meantime if this or the incoming
administration should attempt coercion. Ten
nessee win never furnish an army for ;his
purpose to march over her soil. Aye, we will
make every forest tree post Of defence,
every plantation fence buIwark and dis
pute every inch of ground. even though eur
rivers should run With blood : 80 49,,
- = Truly your, LII. G..