Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-06
The Drift OF Events.

The Drift Of Events.
The indications of the hour are that the
popular mind of the Northern States ia real
izing the peril which overhaugs the Union
A feeling of anxiety for its safety is manifest
ed in the number of Rumerously signed peti
tons being sent up TO Congress from various
cities in that section, appealing to their re-
representatives. to come to an understanding
and a compromise of the differences which
threaten the permanent disruption OF The
government Petitions of this character with
an aggregate of S. 900 signatures have been
sent up and presented from New York city
alone. One of these petitions containing
80 90 names, and measuring 1,200 feet IN
length, was presented in the Senate on last
Thursday, by Mr.. SEWARD, who has been es
teemed the most able and indefatigable Toe
to slavery who ever figured in that body, and
who remarked, on presenting it. that =
There were a great many personal ambi-
tons, and a lgreat many sectional interests;
and it would be strange if they would all be
accommodated. arranged, and made harmoni-
Gus, so as to admit and give full effect to one
of the profoundest, strongest, and most en-
during sentiments or passions for the United
States-devotion for the Union These,
whether you call them secession or revolution
on the one side, or coercion or defiance on
the other are all TO subside and pass away,
before the Union is to become the grand alb
sorbing oij-ct of interest, affection and duty
upon the part of the city ms Of the United
States. A great niany partisan interests are to Dc
suppressed. such the pIrisIn Interests expressed
By the Charleston platform, The BaitiHOre pLafoTz,
and the Chicago plaffOrm. Ifihe Union Is In dam
ger and Is to Be sdrad, these interests and these put
forms and everybody st01soing on them. or connect
ed sOih them. are 10 pass a1ray, before the Union
can Be saued" Coming from sneh a source,
this language imports that the people of that
section are coming back from their wander
ings after false philanthrophy and mis-
chieveus supremacy. As such, at least, we
accept it. Mr.. SEWARD has always been in
advance OF his followers on the subject of
slavery. and in opposition to II; and IN re-
treating from his position, be is least likely of
all men, to be in advance of them in retrac-
this language as highly indicative of a will
ingness of the Northern people, or the great
controlling masses of them, to yield all of
their ungrounded and mistaken hostility
TO al institution which is a part of the na-
ture and body OF the South, before the para
mount issue of preserving the Union, in
which they have such vast material interests.
In addition to this evidence OF a wholesome
change in the public sentiment Of the North
on this subject, We think we descry an evil
dent softeuing of tone in the most active and
viruleut of the Republican or anti-slavery
journals of that section and in several of
those States that have rendered themselves
most conspicuous in opposition 10 the insti-
tuition of slavery, are seriously considering
the repeal of, those :. Liberty Laws " which
were enacted wholly or in part to obstruct
the due and prompt execution of the Cousti-
tuition and laws relating to The recapture and
return of fugitive slaves All of which be-
tokens to our mind, that there is yet chance
for all to return TO faithful obedience to
the Constitution, and willing acquiescence
i'm the mandates of it and the laws made in
pursuance OF it.
If any should differ with US in this hopeful
reading of passing events, we trust that no
true friend of the Constitution and the Uni
on in Tennessee, will deny that the appear
ances Justify test of the fact commensurate
with the momentOas interests, political and
personal, involved. If Mr.. SEWARD, the pub
lie journals, the legislatures and the peo-
pleof the North, are really seeking to circum-
vent the South by false preienses of a desire
for peace and concilia ton on the basis of
justice and equality and right, let tia. fact be
proved By an appeal to the best possible evil
dence in such cases, their subsequent acts
and counsels.
We greatly fear. however. that there are
those in the extreme South, who, as they
declare, have crossed the Rubicon, and are
on the march to Rome, who will use their
power and position to prevent any determin
alton Of these controversies, except through
the terrible arbitrament of the sword. We
sincerely trust there will be no occasion af-
forded by any action on the part of the Fe-
deral Government for the beginning of such
ascatastrophe, and that the American people
Of all sections may be equal to tie eniergen-
cy which has arisen in their political affairs,
and which, If not adjusted, will lead to con-
sequences which no patriot or friend to the
humaa race can contemplate With q shndder