Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-20

The great revolution in public sentiment in Ten
nessee which, has been inaugurated by the hostile
mttidude Of the LINCOLN Government and its danger
Gus usurpstons of authority, has eliminated in an
almost universal sentiment of resistance and con
viction that Tennessee must separate herself from
Union, thus perverted to fhe purposes of tyranny
and must unite herself at once with the Confederate
States, whose Constitution and Government offer us
secure asylum against oppression
Ths revolution is not the work of leaders or poll
ticians, all can see. 1t is the spontaneous up
rising and upheaving of the people 1t is as ire
s;stible the mighty tide of the ocean, and is sure
to bear our beloved State into a speedy
alliance with the Confederate States This
is manifest destiny, and it will be
accomplished without the Intervention of
leaders and despite their opposition. The attempt
10 place Tennessee position where her moral
and physical energies will be broken and destroyed
by declaring that she will not take sides against the
UniOn will never be accepted by Tennesseeans
They will never see their Southern brethren sub.
lected the horrors of without the bodest and
most efficient resistance; and to make this resist
snce effectual they must once Join the Confede-
rate States and lock shields with them in this con-
test. The adoption of any other plan than this
will prove most fatal, as we earnestly believe. 1t
will be unworthy of a gallant and chivalrous
people, it will ALLEVIATE the sympRthies and love
{ our Southern brethren and VIII not secure
he rights, honor and interests of Tennessee.
1t will do more than this. 1t will greatly
encourage the LINCOLN Government in their
dendish attempt to subugate the Southern States
Such a measure is not peace measure, and those
who advocate it are not peace makers. Peace is
only preferable to war, when it be obtained
without the sacrifice of manhood, honor and equal
ity. And even then, It cannet be had by continually
crying "pesee peace when the enemy already
preparing the instruments of war and marshalng
his armies in the field. Peace or war is no longer
question. Was has been solemIly proclaimed by
the Presidents proclamation and is being waged
with all the energy and resources of the Govern
ment The people of Tennessee have only few
days to prepare for it. Then, why harrass
the public mind By proclaiming what Ten
nessee ought to do, "should a purpose be de-
veloped by the Government of overrunning and
subjugsting our brethren of the Seeded States
when the President has formally proclaimed such
purpose and is hourly marshalling his forces and
moving his fleets to destroy and subjugate.
Great God Is not this enough to satisfy the most
Indifferent and passive mind of his designs upon
the South And must wait, wait, wait, until |
his armies are marching fields desOlating
our cities and insulting and destroying our people
contentng ourselves with declaring that we will do
SO and SO, if they hurt anybody. Never no,
never. We will throw ourselves upon the
crest of battle, meet the insolent and mercenary
invader unite our strength with the gallant sons of
Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and
the other Confederate States and viii CALAMITY lead
in repelling him from the land which be can never
daseerate, without such costly sacrifice will
teach him never again to set his unholy feet upon
southern soil. In this way we must conquer
peace. Peace cannot be had by words Of
warning and defiance. That time has long since
passed. We only invite the invader by such ruin
Gus policy. We cannot believe there are any in our
State who would wish to do this. But certainly
their would surely lead TO it in the present
perilous and imminent crisis.
We have thrown out these Thoughts in conse-
quence OF n card which appeared in two the city
pIpers yesterday morning, signed by several highly
respectable gentlemen, addressed to the people of
Tennessee, aud recommending them simply to arm
themselves and stand ready for the emergen-
cy, but shaping out positive policy for the fu-
lure, except that they stand by the Union and the
eeace Of the country and that they try another con-
ference of the unsece6ed slaveholdng States, aud
chat the State resist ct all hazards if LINCOLN at
tsmpt the ,subjugatiOn of the Confederate States.
If LINCOLN has any truth in his most solemn avow-
Al. and acts. he Is now rapidly attempting 10 do
that very thing. We apprehend that the people will
Give 20 this document the weight which it deserves
and no more discarding altogether, in SO perilous
crisis the antecedent position and influence that
ave been attached to the names of its sign :
erl. In predicting that LINCOLN would never at :
tempt coercion, large number of these gentlemen
nave entirely Invested themselves of any claim to
he name of prophets. Their advice will therefore
be taken by the people for just what it is worth =
vVhieh IA nothing. d