The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-06-20
The Test of Unionisn,


The Test of Unionism
The following able article, from the pen
of Il. Fauntleroy, Esq, now resident OF
this place, and late of Nashville, was written
on the 18th of April last, for the Banner Of
that city, and was put in type, but with
drawn and returned to the author on ac-
count of the excitement and terrorism that
forbade its publication. At the request Of
many of his friends, we give it to the pub
lie as sample of the writer's bold and
courageous advocacy, at the peril Of his
| safety, of the cause of the Union, uncom-
promising devotion to which induced him
to leave the State upon its reasonable de-
lection
The bombardment and surrender Of Fort
Sumter, according to our intelligence from
/ Charleston, have inaugurated an actual
state of civil war within the sacred borders
of our beloved country. 1t was doubtless
the policy of the General Government to
evacuate the Fort, if allowed to do so with
! honor; but the unreasonable requirement Of
! the Southern authorities that it should he
| surrendered Internationally, made if i'm
| perative on the former to yield only to IN
avoidable necessity and the force of circum-
stances. As a selected point of national
defense, well for the security Of the whole
interior of the country, as for the coast.
and for the particular State where located,
| it should not have been aba. Jned to a
hostile force, except upon terms that would
meet the sanction of the whole nation.
The utmost forbearance had been prac-
ticed-not gun had been fred from the
tort-the work of erecting hostile batteries
and of resistless investment had been al
lowed to 60 on quietly, SO that as n military /
"VieNe iieH' tiio ~->ft,are of barely seventy /
lsoiateu men, reluctant to make any efficient I
defense and TO shed blood, by over seven /
thousand men, permitted to make every adj |
yantageous preparation for the attack, sf-
tords but little honor and eclat to be boosted /
of in the annals of Southern Chivalry. AS
there were no very serious casualties re-
ported, this movement is important only.
as terminating the suspense OF the country. I
ana presenting question for the approval |
or condemnation Of the American people.
Inc die IS now cast, and the fell issues Of
war are upon us. The lines of distinct de- |
NARRATION between the true loyal friends of
our National Union, and those who have !
espoused the pernicious maxims of seces
slon or who, poised upon mere point of
Pohcy, are waited away by every breath of
mistaken interest or empty popular clamor. /
these lines will now be drawn. Upon which
side VIII these lines leave the people of
Tennessee and the Border Slave States? We
have repudiated in our elections and Con-
VentIons so far as they have been held this
secessionmovement,a as subversive Of all nonu-
lar and Constitutional Government. Ten
nessee in February last, voted by an over
whelmlng majority, that there were no ex-
lsung evils to warrant even the holding of
a Convention for the purpose of elaboration.
W as that vote-has the whole action of the I
Border Slave States been deceptive and
hypocritical toward the General Govern
ment2 Did we remain in the Union for the
purpose of tying the Government foot and
hand, to restrain it in any attempt TO assert
lls legitimate authority, and thus enable the ,
uiSaHecled states to perfect their schemes Of
dlsunlon, with the purpose Of ultimately
what we seemingly condemned ?
Gan such a charge of shameful damninr =
treachery as this be brought against US =
No, 40, IN Gods name, no. Were it true
me world might well make up its verdict, >
that our Republican institutions rested upon !
foundations so rotten, that they were being n
blown up by the spontaneous fires of cor :
ruPuon-that the ideas and sentiments of +
our people were so stepped in perGdy that /
Suffrage was mockery at virtue the public
voice lie, ana that the hand of despotism h
alone could hold the masses to any leoitj- !
mate ends of government. No. it is NOT .
true W were sincere and voted our convic
TONS W hat then has occurred since to :
place US on side antagonistic to our former !
votes and principles Has the charge of the =
Dlsunlonists, that the Republican party in ;;
The possession of the Government meant =
Ultimately to extirpate slavery in the slave =
states, been proven to be well founded and q
IN actually justifying disruption ? Con- =
sress passed a resolution bv a vote of 10e :,
o 4, that they had no such burmese O7Iv :
our votes could be found in the vvLoia y
House of Representatives to snDnort tbis :. =
unreasonable charge. Amendments 70 o,,r :
constitution, guaranteeing slavery in rho Il
lave States perpetualty, passed CONGRESS b,- 9.
ver two-thirds vote, and. even IvitboTt I.
ny further action by the States stan5 -
Iational pledge against any interference ;;
ut when adopted by three-fourtbs of the 7.
states, becomes part of that sacred iustru- n.
lent. Is not this point settled then beyond o.
ny DOUBT or caVil, and, as cause of future n1
1lstrust or apprehension, effectuallx re- ~
moved ? ~
Then, is there any new phase of the Ter
ltorial question to occasion new alarm and {.
ause change in our positions SuroIr ~
one put what should, on the contrary O.,
ulet All Tears of Southern minds OF excin Of
ION from equal occupancy, or any denial of 49,
hat they may regard as their constitutional ~
ghts and privileges. We have never con ~.
'nded for more than equality of rights in an
le Territories. We have declared than We III.
ould be satisfied with division of them al