Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-03
The Leader. and the People.

the leaders lifting this weight from the shouI-
ders of the people. 1t may be by the consent
of the people, or it may not Quierl sabeP
On the announcement that Mr.. LINCOLN
was elected to the Presidency of the United
States, certain leaders who had staked heiT
fortunes on the scheme of disunion in that
event, began to agitate the question of ''im.
mediate secession" Generally the people OF
the Southern or slaveholding States were,op-
posed to the principles on which Mr.. LINCOLN
was elected; but there was judicious and
rejecting portion. which at that time. we
think, constituted a substantial majority in
all those States, who thought if any action
looking to resistance to his Inauguration, or
to a separation of the States on account
sanction of the people of the slaveholding
States who so unanimously opposed his ele-
walton to power. The agitation resulted in
elections for members to State Conventions
to determine these questions, and the distinct
issue presented in these elections was: imme-
diate secession, or cooperation among all the
slavebolding States, which were to be affect
ed by the principles and policy on which the
Republican or anti-slavery party were sue
cessful. Accordingly elections were held in
all the slaveholding States except. Kentucky,
MARYLAND and Delaware. Tennessee and
North Carolina refused to call Conventions,
while Missouri, Arkansas and Virginia called
Conventions, which have determined that
they were not ready to go out of the Union
at present. In these States, however, the is
sue was more definitely put in the form of
'Union" and "Disunion." The seven States
further South voted for Conventions, South
Carolina leading off. Texas was an exeep-
ton. The Governor of that State refused to
call the Legislature together to order an cleo
ton, and the Convention was elected 6y the
spontaneous, but by no means unanimous, ac-
ton of the people. Several counties refused
to vote, and some of those voting cast Union
majories These elections were all by the
people. In Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi
and Louisiana, it was claimed that the YER
dict, in these elections, was for cooperation
among all the slaveholdiRg States for the as
sertion and defense of rights common to all
anu Cialmeu oy dll- Inc OtHels "eIe IOi I'LL
mediate secession.
The Convention of South Carolina met on
the 18th of December, and adopted an Ordi
nance of secession on the Goth of the same
month:
Mississippi seeded on the 9th January fol-
lowing:
Florida ''went out" on the 10th January:
Alabama "went out" on the 1lth January.
Georgia followed on the 18th January:l
Louisiana, on the 29th January:
Texas passed the ordinance of secession on
the 5th February; but on account of the IT.
regular manner in which the election was
gotten up and conducted, and the firm stand
taken by Governor HOUSTON, it was referred
back to the people for ratification OF rejec-
ton, the vote to be taken on the 23rd of the
same month, and to go into effect on the End
day of March. On the 23rd February the
people ratified the secession ordinance. So |
Tar and no farther have the PEOPLE gone in |
those States-and it is yet doubtful whether |
hey went thus far in the four great States of |
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisi- |
ana. But granting that the people went thus |
ar-that they were in favor of active oppo-
,itior to the Inauguration of Republican rule, |
md were willing to carry that opposition TO
he extent of disruption of the Union, we /
,sve still another chapter of facts, which are
enough to stagger the confidence of the |
weakest believer in popular sovereignty"
md to alarm those who have been brought /
lp in the faith that man is capable of self |
government.
After passing their ordinances of secession, |
hey refused, upon the question being made, |
o refer them to the people for approval
nth the single exception of Texas, which was
ompslLed to this course by the circumstances
it. They proceeded to release
be obligations Of their oaths to support the
They erected new test of
oyalty and duty. In many cases they as
umed 20 alter and modify their respective
tate Constitutions, without any reference
to the people to be affected thereby.
Having taken this step in usurpation, they
roceeded to select and appoint delegates to
Southern Congress. Admitting all the ex-
gencies of the occasion, why could they not
ave declared a new COngr necessary, and
eferred the choice of members to the peo-
lie! Did they distrust the people? Was
here anything which would have rendered
be delay incident 30 that mode of procedure
That Congress met at Montgomery. 1t pro-
eeded to frame Provisional Government.
made the form and force and continuance
{ that Government absolute for one year.
asked no popular advice or consent. 1t
,nored the people who were TO sustain and
lpport it, by their money aud possibly by
leir blood. 1t levied taxes, it raised armies.
elected President and Vice President,
no have assumed their offices. and made ap-
ointments under them of military chief
.ins of foreign agents, of treasurers and
i the other employees of government Yet
lie people have not been consulted. 1t went |
Government, and by show of
,spect for the people and their sanction, re-
erred it to the States.
Now the Conventions reappear. They con-
der the new Constitution, and on the direct
uestion, "shall the people approve or reject
lis Instrument" they say mo" FIRST the
convention of Alabama, which was elected
, consider the then existing relations of that
tate with the Federal Government. and no.
ling else, stepped between the people and
Ia edi~t of the Souiharn CoporaSo ,,bioh |
as chosen without their aid or voice, and
atified the new Constitution. Then Geor-
la: Then Louisiana: Then Texas: Then Mis-
ssippi: And next comes South Carolina and
lorida.
Thus is the act of secession followed up.