Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-28

an absolute government fH-which all the
powers are welded by the Executive as Its
chief-that of declaring war, raising and sup
porting armies, the invasion OF States, &c.
Lincoln is now the imperial head Ia dictator
with absolute powers-instead of a constitu-
tionaf chief. 1t is no longer q government
of opinion founded upon written coustiiu-
ton, but one of force, in which sovereign
States are to be subjagated by arms. The
Federal Government, through any or all Its
departments, has no power under the Consti-
tuition to coerce a State. IL is a power that
was refused to be given to it by The Conven-
|sfion that framed il, and the exercise of any
such power is an act of war and dissoiu-
ton of the Union. And Tennessee will now
stand justified in the eyes of the whole civil
/ lied world in resorfing to. her unbelievable
and lndeieasible right 10 alter, reform, or
abolish the government 10 such manner as
she may think proper"
In this state of things, the General As
sembly of the State, coming fresh from the
people, and following the course of Virginia,
that noble old State, has passed an ordinance
OF dissolution. and likewise one Tor the adop-
ton of the Provisional Government of the
Confederate States, subject to the ratification
OF the people.
The adoption of the ordinance of dissolu-
ton is now a practical necessity, enforced
upon US by the hatr-d and perfidy of the
party that has usurped the government. They
have inaugurattd civil war. All hope of
Cancellation and reconstruction of the gov
eminent is at an end. There is bu' one ieel-
ing that now animates the entire Nnrth-and
that is ITO crush The traitors" and Ito wipe
the South from the face of the earth" if nee
essary-and bayonets are now bristIing, aud
all the implements of war are placed in the
hands OF tens of thousands in all the free
States to carry out the fell edict.
The spirit of the North isIbat of incarnate
finds thirsting for our destruction They
hate us and our Institutions with perfect
hatred; while at the same time they desire TO
retain the connection for their own benefit;
seeing that without the productions and
trade of the South which they have so much
abused and vi'ied, their manufactures are
sinking. their commerce is dwindling away,
and the main sources of their prosperity and
wealth are gone forever. But after this at
tempt at subjugation by the free States, any
further connection with them in the same
Uuon is impossible. Any such connection
would be accompanied with a feeling of de-
graduation, for il could never be except as a
subjugated people. through standing armies
and a military dictator, and not as equal
confederate States. Who is there so craven
in spirit that would desire such a connection?
No! Let every man swear upon the altar OF
his co intry, by the God of his fathers, that he
will have no farther connection in the same
Union, with The pt Ople of the North, but hold
them as he would any other nation, "enemies
in war, liz peace friends"
As it regards the Union of Tennessee with
the Southern Confederacy, good policy die
tates that course. AS already remarked.
Virginia has gone into the Contederacy so
far as the action of her legisl ,ture is con-
cerned, and which will no doubt be ratified
by the people of that State. North Carolina
and Al kansas have passed their ordinance
of secession as one man, and will unite with
the Confrderacy. Tennessee will be the
eleventh State if she goes into the Confede-
racy, as we are persuaded she will, with
great unanimity. These States have popu-
lation of nearly six millions of white inhab-
itants-l 10000 white males between the
ages of Is and 45, and including all who are
under and above that age who are capable of
bearing arms. it may be safely said that these
States have a million and quarter of fight
ing men, force sufficient to enable them to
defy the world in arms. Kentucky will pro-
badly soon follow, and ultimately Missouri
and Maryland, whose interests and sympa-
thies are all with the seeded States. These
States, too, have population that are train
ed to the use of arms. and are warriors from
their youth up-and without undertaking any
other people, woe be to them who shall meet
them upon the field of battle upon equal
terms. e
They have homogeneous population
with similar institutions, which will always
enable them to live in harmony; an area suit
fcient for magnificent Empire; and capable
of sustaining a population of mure than
two hundred millions; the finest navigable
streams, the richest aud most fertile soils
adapted to every produce ion, and having a
monopoly of that staple which will command
the commerce of the world. More than Two.
thirds of onr whole exports are of Southern
products. Oar manufactures will soon grow
up and flourish and our Southern cities be-
come the great marts OF trade and commerce,
being no longer tributary to the North.
Whatever then has been great aud glorious
IN American annals since the war of the R-v-
olution. whether in war or p ace, has been
under God mainly owing to Southern men
and Southern statesmen and Southern cOun-
sells. A glorious future will be open to the
South under this new Confederacy; for her
free limbs will no longer be paralyzed by
her connection with the North which is now
endeavoring to enslave her. There is no ele-
ment of weakness in the population of these
Statrs; for that which is so regarded by
the North is a source of strength.
Without dwelling further rpOn this, it
may be remarked that this Union with the
Confederate States is indispensable to sue
cess, for the whole power OF lhrse States will
then be a unit, controlled by our will, in
which, however, the State will have q vice
through her representation in the Confedera
cy.
The expense of the war, likewise, that
Tennessee will incur, upon her becoming a
member of the Cont, deracy will be provided
for by The Confederate States. Otherwise
she must bear her whole expenses of the war
herself; and breast, isolated and alone, the
yhnlka of fha
The Constitution for the Provisional Gov
eminent of the Confederate States which was
adopted on the SIh of February, 1861. which
is the only one nov to be voted on, is
TO continue in force for one year from that
time, or until permanent Cdnstii ntiOn be-
tween the States shall b., put in operation,
STALL first occur.
In looking 1.-THE Constitution for the Pro-
visional Government of the Confederate
States as well as the permanent one of the
Ilth of March, 1861, which has been already
ratified by most of the S ates, 1t will be seen
that they have acted with singular wisdom
and judgment. They are made by the States
in their sovereign aud independent oharac-
ter" which is great historical fact iG re-
gard to the old Constitution, but which the
party that has now usurped The Government
has Overthrown, making il mere govern
ment of majorities instead of one of equal and
Independent States where the rights of minOri-
ties are secured by the Constitution. We
have not space now to analyze them. 1t will
be sufficient to say they have taken the old
Constitution for their basis and have made
no change that the experience of the past has
not shown to be necessary and demanded by
the united voice of the Southern States; and
the wisdom of which has been admitted by
the ablest writers among those who are now
our enemies. JJ. W.
GALLATIN, May 23d, 1861.
YANCEY HEARD FRoM-The Montgomery