Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-26
letter from Hon. Horace Maynard.

DEAR SIR:-I hasten to reply to yours OF
the 10Th inst, and L wish 1t were in my pow
er TO make it more cheering-that l could
respond 1.-The morning cometh" as we'll as
the night. While. however, so much of
gloon surrounds u, it is we'll TO loUk for the
first grey stTeaks OF the dawn.
do not propose to entertain you with my
views Of the sO-calIed right of secession, nor
OF the self protecting power of this govern
ment in common with ali others. You know
these already. Prior to the recent election.
in anticipation Of the events now upon a.
addressed The people in our part OF the StAte
fully upon these topics.
Nor shall recount the grievances, actual
aud aDDrehended, 10 the South from the sue
cess OF a Northern sectional majority
These have been r.heaTsed so often that they
are known by heart. Ny opinions of the
successful party. too. are as well understood
as they are likely 10 be from any ling could
GOV sag about It.
Ms Obi ct ill be to inquire whether there
be any hope for the country. or whether pa
t-iolism must abandon it in despair. That it
l. in imminent peril nOw, and has been at
any tine for several years past. is a fact OBJ
viOus 20 all who have not been blind, and
could not see, or peTyerse and would not see.
The causes and the men that have brought
her into such peril should be known by the
people-sOmetime, not now. We will strive
inst to put out the fire, and then ascertain by
what incendiaries and with what combusiI-
blss 1t was kindled-
lido not yet despair Of the Republic. 81
believe It may even now be saved. / hope 1t
will be- Ny confidence rests not in the ac-
ton or plans of public men, either here or
elsewhere. however wise OF patriotic they
may be: bat in the people themselves. They
have no purposes to serve bu' just ones. The
unambitiOus aud uuaspiring masses are never
prone to revolution. They have too much to
lose aad too little 10 gain 10y IL. In this
country they are attached TO the Union with
a devotion that is almost n religion. They
are familiar with our history and know how
immensely we are indebted 10 the early
union OF the States for our uuequalled
growth and prosperity at home and our dis
tinction abroad. They have found their gov
prument ever bountiful and kind, and rarely
felt except in the bestowment of benefits.
In my opinion. therefore, it is very pru-
dent as we'll as very proper. in the Leglsla-
lures of our State and of Virginia, to pro-
vide. As understand they have done, for
reference Of the question OF secession. back
TO the people. Pity that all the other States
had not done the same thing. For the peo-
pie viii be heard upon the question, sooner
or later. And better sooner than later. Be-
cause the conscious power of self-goyern-
ment is too strong to be overborne by few
men who happen to be in Office. And wO to
such as shall be found by the people to have
betrayed them, They will have fearful &C
count to settle!
Already is the popular voice of the coun-
try beginning to make itself indistinctly
heard. like the low muttering of distant
thunder. Petitioners come fiocking by ten
thousands, urging the settlement OF existing
difficulties, and a removal of the obstacles
in the way OF il. The public mind acts slow
ly. All large masses do so proverbially-
Those who are directing the present move
rnent well understand this, and are using
every means to precipitate the crisis upon
the country, SD as TO take snap judgment
against the people.
The condition of affairs at home you I'M
derstand better than /, who have been so
many weeks absent. In the North, appear
ances are more and more hopeful. True,
you hear every day the remark that the Re-
pubiieaus will do notbing-wiil make no
concessions, give US no guarantees. have
never expected they should. The more vio-
lent and extreme their counsels. the more
easily will they be overthrow. They are
minority party accidently in POSSESSION OF
the executive branch of the government.
The legislative and the judicial departments
are in The hands of their opponents, aud will
so cor tinue to be, unless The South abandon
the whole to them, or enough of the South
ern States retreat to give them majorties in
both Houses of Congress. Their strength
with the people may be seen by recurring
to the popular vote In the late election They
cast, all told. in round numbrrs, 1850 600
votes; their opponents, in the North. 1900
900. and IN The South, 100000 votes.
give the figures from memory alone, but
think / am not far wrong. Thus you see
their majority in the North is relatively
small;and the whole country over they are in
a minority OF a million. This, too, let il not
be forgotten, when thousands OF votes wire
cast with their party, not because OF, but in
spite of, its sectional character, aud merely
to overthrow an administration, known to
be incapable, and believed to be corrupt.
While their opponents, hopelessly divided
and dishearteDed, in many portions OF the
country, abandoned the contest without a
struggle.
1t is to the 1000, 900 Northern opponents OF
the Republican party that we must look for
those measures of peace and healing thai will
preserve US as a nation. We have r,joiced
to see bow cordially aud warmly they have
responded to the call OF the noble Crittenden.
standing now upon the farthest verge OF life
ike the Heaven-bound prophet waiting to
ascend In the chafio. of IRE. And If to NOR
row that series of measures, known a. his
the same in substance a. those proposed by
Mr. Heleon of 0ur Ska*e--xro<o IA -.