Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-17
Substance of the Remarks made by Nj.
Vaughn, Esq, at the Public Meet
ing at the Court House saturday
Night.

Vaughn, Esq, at the Public Meet
ing at the Court House saturday
Night.
GENTLEMEN If any reliance whatever is
to be given to the kilograms this day rcceiv-
ed from Charleston. conflict OF arms has
taken place between the Government ana
the troops of the Confederate States Sad
indeed is this intelligence. Agreat calamity
has befallen our country. A resort TO arms,
[ fear, is the last arbitrament. The position
of Tennessee and her people has been that
of a peace maker. She refused to call
Convention; her Legislature refused to vote
a supply of arms to be used in her defense,
and for her protection. Tennessee has ever
desired the integrity of the Union or the
States The border slave States nave
adhered to the same position, and nave earn
estly sought restoration OF peace ana mar
mony. This, too, gentlemen, has Deen my
position as an individual. My views nave
been for moderation and peace. desire TO
see the INTEGRITY of the States maintained, and
have hoped settlement of existing compll-
cations, and restoration of good feeling to
disturbed people.
What has been the course pursued blythe
Republican party? The action of this party
in the last Congress was looked to with in
tense interest by the people of the South
The Committee of Thirteen appointed By
the Senate was unable to agree upon any
plan of adjustment; the Committee of Thirty
Three appointed by the House of Represent
atives reported back a resolution embodying
an acknowledged Constitutional right
nothing more. The proposition offered by
Senator Crittenden was rejected by Congress.
The series of resolutions presented by the
Peace Conference met with the same fate,
and the boon held out to the South was re
solution presented by Mr.. Seward, which de-
clared in substance that Congress had no
power to intefere with our domestic insti-
tutions within the limits of the States. This
| is mere INSULT to the Southern States.
What sane man, acquantainted with the or
| ganiZation of our Government, ever conceiv-
| ed that Congress had such power?
| Again, Mr. Lincoln's inaugural address
breathed peace, may say, in every line. As
| surahces have been given in every way and
| in all quarters. that pacific course of policy
/ would control the Administration, and the
people have been induced to believe that
Fort Sumter would be evacuated. and blood
| shed and collision avoided. This is an act OF
| perfdy on the part of the Administration to
lull the Southern people to repose. In the
| face OF all these assurances of peace, active
but secret preparations Tor war are going on;
some vessels are chartered; others are called
home from their duties on the seas; NUM-
tions of war and men are placed aboard of
them, and we hear that feet appears off the
coast of Charleston, and battle has been
fought. Ii the kilograms be true. state of
war exists. The Government soldiers, con-
trOlled and directed by Republican Admin
istratiOn, have met in hostile conflict the
people of the Southern States. In conflict
of arms between the North and South, all my
sympathies are with the South. If the Ad-
ministration intend to wage war against the
South, they will be met, and the difficulties
will not be terminated by single battle,
but having forced the strife upon US, we will
fight them in the spirit of the best six in
eleven. 1t is unnecessary to trace in detail
the origin of the differences between the two
sections. 1t has arisen, in my opinion, from
a disposition upon the part of the people of
the North to disregard and infringe upon the
rights of the South; and are we quietly to
stand by and see the Southern people butch
cred for having the courage to assert and
maintain their equality and righis? For one,
l am u true son of the South. Tennessee is
dear TO me. She is my native State. / will
do everything in my power to preserve her
honor and promote her interest and that of
the South. l cannot appreciate that charac-
ter OF patriotism which leads Tennesseau
or Southerner to love Massachusetts, as dear
ly as he does bis native State or the South
If the dread test be upon us, trust and con-
fidently believe that Tennessee will be equal
TO the emergency, and adopt course of po-
licy which will preserve her honor and
secure her interest and that of the South.