Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-01-08

populate Northern Texas. 80
1t has, through certain leaders, proclaimed
to the Slaves the terrible motto. Alarm to
the sleep, fire to the dwellings, poison to the
food and water of Shareholders" -
1t has repudiated and denounced the decis-
ion of the Supreme Court s-s
1t has assaiied our rights as guaranteed
by the plainest pl DIVISIONS of the Consfitu-
| tion, from the floor of each house of Con-
gress, the pulpit. the hustings, the schools
room; their State Legislatures, and through
the public press, dividing and disrupiing
churches. political parties, and civil govern
meuts.
j it has in the person o. the President elect,
asserted the equality of the black with the
soiiife race
These are some of the wrongs against
| which we have remonsirat, for more than a
quarter of century. hoping, bat in vain, for
their redress. until some OF our sister States,
in utter despair of Obtaining justice at the
| hands of these lawless coDfederates, have re-
solved to sever the ties which have bound
them together, and maintain those rights out
of the Union, which have been the oil Jet OF
constant attack and encroachment within 1T.
No one will assert that the Southern States
or people have, at any time, failed to per
form, fully and in good faith, all of the du-
ties which the Constitution devolves upon
| them.
Nor will it be pretended that they have,
at any time encroached or attempted aggres-
sion upon the rights of a Northern sister
State. The Government was for many years
| under the control OF Southern Statesmen. but
in originating and pertecting measures OF
policy. he it said TO the perpetual honor of
the South, she has never attempted to en-
croach upon single constitutional right of
the North. The journals of Congress will
not show even the introduction OF single
proposition, by any Southern Representa-
tive. calculated to impair her rights in prop
erty, iDjure her trade, or wound her sensi-
| biliIies. Nor have they at any time demand
ed at the hands OF the Federal Government,
| or Northern States, more than their well de-
fined rights under the Constitution. So far
| from it, they have tolerated these wrongs,
| from feeling of loyalty and devotion to
the Union, with degree OF patience and
forbearanee unparalleled in the history of a
brave and free people Moreover, they have
quietly submitted to revenue system which
Indirectly, but certainly, taxes the products
| of slave labor some fifty or sixty millions of
| dollars annually, to increase the manufae-
turing profits of those who have thus persist
| emily and wickediy assalled them.
To evade the issue thus forced upon US at
this time, without the fullest security for our
rights, is. in my opinion, fatal to the institu-
| ton of slavery forever. The time has ar
rived when the people of The South must
Il
maintain it. Abandon it, we cannot, inter-
| woven as it is With our wealth, prosperity
and domestic happiness. We owe it to the
mechanic whose shop is closed, to the multi
| piled thousands of laborers thrown out of
| employment, to. the trader made bankrupt by
| this agitation. We owe it to ourselves, our
| children. our self-respect and equality in the
| Government, to have this question settled
| permanently and forever upon terms consist
Il tx.rifh o,,I or,1 will
| give US peace and perfect security for the
pies mt and the future.
PalliatiVes and Opiates, in the character of
| legislative compromises, may De applied, at
| fording momentary relief; bat there will be
no permanent safety, security, or peace, IN
| iii Northern prejudice has been eradicated,
| and the public sentiment of that section ra-
| Ideally changed and natiOnaiized. To at
| tempt the application of effective remedies
| before this great object has been accomplish
ed, is like cleansing the stream while the
fountain itself is poisoned.
The consequences and immense interests
which are involved il the proper solution OF
the difficulties that surround us. the deep.
lasting aud vital Importance ofsettling them
upon principles of justice and equality, de-
mand the most seri us consideration of the
whole people as we'll as that of the public
funcIionaries of the State. Whilst l cheer
question of our federal relations, having no
doubt myself as to the necessity and pro-
priety of calling State Convention,
get Respectfully recommend that you
prov de by law for submitting to the
people of the STATE, the question of Con
| ventioH, or No Conpention, and also for the
| election of delegates by the people, in the
ratio OF legislative representation, to meet
IN State Convention, at the Capitol, at
Nashville, at the earliest day practicable, TO
| take into consideration our federal relations,
and determine what action shall be taken by
the State of Tennessee for the security of the
rights and the peace of her citizens.
The question OF COhUsntion or no COaUea-
ton, can and should be determined and the
delegates chosen at the same election. which
can be very easily accomplished by heading
one set of tickets CONVENTION, and another
set No CONVENTION. II majority of the
people vote for Convention, then the persons
receiving the largest number Of votes IN
their respective counties and districts, 10 be
commissioned as delegates.
This will place the whole matter 10 the
hands of the people, Tor them, in their SOW
ereignty, to determine how far their rights
have been violated, the character of redress
or guaranty they will demand, or the action
they will take for their present and future Sc
curity.
Ii there be a remedy for the evils which
affiict the country, consistent with the per-
peluity of the Union, it will, in my opinion,
be found in such constitutional amendments
| as will deprive the fanatical majorities OF the
North of the power to invade our rights or
impair the security or value of our property.
Clear and well defined as or rights are,
under the present Constitution, TO partici-
pate equally with the citizens of all other
States In the settlement of the common Ter
ritOries, and to hold our slaves there until
excluded by the formation of a State Consti-
tuition, yet every organized Territory will
become field OF angry, if not bloody, strife
between the Southern man and the Adolf
zionist, and we shall see the tragedies of Kan
sas re-enacted in each of them, as they APP
proach the period of forming their State
Constitutions.
Plain and unmistakable as is the duty of
each State, to deliver up the fugitive slave
to bis owner, yet the attempt to reclaim, is
at the peril of the masters life.
These evils can be obyiated to great ex-
tent, if not entirely, Toy the following amend
ments to the Constitution:
1st. Establish line upon the Northern
bound -ry of the present Slave States, and
extend it through the Territories to the Pa
cifc Ocean, upon such parallel of latitude as
will divide them equitably between the North
and South, expressly providing that all the
territory now owned, or that may be bereaf-
ter acquired North of that line, shall be for
ever free, and all South OF it, toreUsr slave.
This will remove The question of existence or
non-existence of slavery in our States and
Territories entirely and forever from the are
ma of politics. The question being settled by
the Constitution, is no longer open for the
politician to ride into position by appeeling
to fanatcal prejudices, or assailing the rights
of his neighbors.
I'd. In addition to the fugitive slave clause
provide, that when slave has been demand
ed of the Executive authority of the State to
which he has fed. if he is not delivered. and
the owner permitted to carry him out of the
State in peace, that the State so falling to
deliver, shall pa to the owner double the
value of such slave, and secure his right of
action in the Supreme Court Of the United
States This will spcure the rafIIrn Of the