Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-19
The Present Condition of the COun-
try-Coercion.


On the 10Th of July last, warning the peo-
pie of the United States against the election
of black republican President, in the face
of the position assumed by certain Southern
States, the PATRIOT said
s.Win South Carolina, will Alabama, will
Mississippi, submit to the Inauguration of a
republican after in the most solemn manner
pledging themselves to resistance He who
believes they will, does not appreciate the
spirit and determination of the leaders IN
those States who have controlled and gwen
voice to public sentiment. They are high
toned, chivalrous, courageous, and ambi-
tious They religiously believe that the
South would be more prosperous, and her
people happier out of the Union than in 1t.
And this belief has for years past, especially
~ nee the agitations of 1850, which resulted
in the compromise, been gradually spreading
until ithas been embraced by thousands who
at one time regarded the Union as the ark of
the South's safety. 1t is weak and foolish to
assume that, with so much to back them, the
secession leaders will dishonorably submit
and make no attempt to carry into effect
their pledges. They triH make the attempt! We
feel well assured of this. And what if they
succeed in inducing one or more of the States
TO assume an attitude of hostility to the gen.
eral government, and to secede? What will
be the effect? Gould the general government, an
the possession Of republican administration, CO.
cree than into Tetracing their steps2 Would not
loci To m
ercion, by force Of arms, be the signal for
such demonstration of sympathy in other
Southern States, as would lead the seeding
States to firm and determined resistance at
all hazards? Is there q Southern heart tsiitch
e01fLl ,citiout emotion, triness such cohttict
When Gen. JACKSON, desiring to prevent a
compromise IN 1882, sent a messenger to
Judge WHITE, intimating his wish that MI.
CLAYTON should not be placed on the COM
mittee to consider the matters in controversy
between South Carolina and the General
Government, it is reported that the Judge
replied, "YOu are too late-Mr- CLAYTON
has already been appointed, and if he were
not be should be. voted for the force bill,
but do not intend to see my brethren driV-
en- into submission" No one could accuse
Judge WHITE of disunionism, or of conni-
vance with secessionism, but his reply evinc-
ed the spirit of the Southron, and that is the
spirit which would, after the act, make seees-
sion formidable, if not unconquerable. Let
the conflict but begin, and, sooner or LATER The
,rhoe South ,r0uId became mrolUed and revolution
led"
These warning notes of July last, are
prophecies now either fulfilled, or in the
course of fulfllment. The States al
luded to, with others, have seeded. the
"Grst hostile movement, looking TO coercion
by force of arms" has begun, and we behold
q demonstration of sympathy in Tennessee.
for our Southern brethren, which proves that
we did not incorrectly apprehend the patri-
otto impulses of the hearts OF our people.
The government in the possession of re-
publican administration" finds that it cannot
coerce the seeded States back into the
Union, but that it can swell the tide of revO-
luton, by the means now employed to dr.
rest il. The conservative Union men of the
BO-der Slave States, in their noble efforts to
preserve the Union from further disintegra-
ton, and to ultimately induce the wanderers
from the old family homestead to return,
have endeavored to impress upon the admin
istration the Importance of continued peace,
forbaarance, and Cancellation. but in vain.
The government has "let slip the dogs OF
war" and, if it persist in its insane policy,
will place the dispute entirely beyond the
arbitrameEt of reason. Let it pause before
it be too late.