Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-12
suhtance and shadow.

The people of Tennessee are called upon
To decide on the sth of June next, whether
they will continue to live freemen or bow
their necks to the yoke of bondage-to
choose. in other words, between liberty ana
slavery. This is the naked question, and
wedesire them to look it squarely IN the lace
and meet it and decide it with all the respon-
abilities and consequences its decision in
wolves in full view. There is now no escape
from it. In whatever form it may be put
and by whatever DISCUSSES it may be sur
rounded, it must come to this at last. The
Constitution has been openly and violently
subyerted, and the Union which had no other
foundation has passed away for the present,
and in our sincere belief, forever. The IN
yasion of equal and just right is followed by
invasion of the constitution and laws. Yet
we find men in the South going about and
appealing to the Constitution, as rule OF
political action, and invoking free people
to stand by and sustain government which,
in all the essentials of freedom, has been con-
yerted into an engine of unsupportable OPP
preston. Such men profess to believe that
the Union still exists aud that the Constitu-
ton is still protecting them by all its Origi-
nal yieor, We cannot undertake to pass
upon their motives, nor to define their point
of observation and sources of information;
but we are sure they are mistaken IN both
fact and opinion. They are pursuing a
shadoy-and that shadow will lead them to
destruction. We prefer to cling to the sub
stance, and if in this pursuit we be cut of,
our children will enjoy its benefits. We
have been devotedly attached to the COnsti-
tuition and the Union, and would be to-day
as ever, if we had assurances that we could
truthfulIy call either our own; but this is
now impossible. They have been snatehed
from our grasp without our consent, by those
who are inimical to US and our rights and in
situations.
Some of those who are still for the Union
tell US that we should stand as a neutral
power in the conflict that is upon US But
how can We stand neutral in a contest which
is to determine whether we are to be freemen
or sIaves7 AS to its practicability We have
only to look at the wrstched condition OF
Maryland. Neutrality is but the doorway to
unconditional subjugatiOn- An attempted
neutrality would lead US to chains We can
not stand as neutrals. The whole idea is SUI
premely absurd. No one has told US how it
can be done. 1t is utterly impossible. We
are told in the same breath to sustain, up
hold and support the Northern government,
and to refuse to do so. The administration
has already called upon US to send troops for
the subjugation of our Southern brothers
We have refused, and have thus repudiated
the authority of the Union as administered
at Washington. We are in rebellion to the
powers that be, and while pretending to be
true to the Union, are resisting its authority
and its power. We are taking up arms against
it's despotic DEGREES, and by the Constitution
which is held up for our reverence We are
guilty of technical treason, the punishment
of which by the terms of the same Constitu-
ton is death. We are denied the right of
revolution, and haughtily told that we must
submit to any measure of oppression and
degradation, which the fanatical caprices of a
despotic Northern majority may choose to
impose upon US. We are asked to witness
the murder and robbery of those who are
near and dear to US in blood and interest,
without lifting a hand to check the tide of
injustice and death as it is rolled forward to
their dishonor or determination. This is the
species of neutrality which we are asked to
observe. 1t is not only infamous in itself
but rank treason to liberty.
Analyze the subject as we may, cover up
and disguise it as we may, enshroud it in as
many shades as We may, the result is the
same, and the substantial question is freedom
or slavery. 1t is more momeatous than life
or death. We invoke the people to recog-
mise this great fact, and permit nothing to
becloud or obscure it. Decide the issue as
becomes men and free men, Who knowing
their rights dare maintain them at any and
all earthly hazards.