Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-22

Hosg 10 Recognize the Confederate states.
The Banner has become suddenly much concern
ed sbOut LIEooLSs oath Ct Office, and brings thia
oath as sion in his path" to prevent him from re-
coEuizing the Independence of the Confederate
States. The Banner is evidently inclined to save
the new Presidents conscience much IS possible,
snpposing probably that it will be subjected to suf-
6cienG strains n carrying out the Black Republican
solicy, which is in clear dsrogstiSn Of she whole
sp4it Of the Constitution, besides being inhpms2,
nDjsst and tyrsnicsL We entirely Ggree with the
Banner and shall endeAvOr to lend It helping
band in clearing away this new and startling did,
Guilty, provided the Banner viii agree that, whea
the obstacle shall Zoe removed, twill assist us in the
peaceful scheme of bringing about good I'M
dsrstanding between tAe tFO Governments,
and thus preventing 9 long, expansive, bloody
and e1uel civil war.
1t viii be admitted that this is ga coEsuRns6on
deEeHly to be wished" We think it impossible
that the Constitution requires the President to make
war, or to do an act which may produce war be-
tween the Federal GOvsrrRsnt and the States, o. a
portion of the States, which composed the UuiOn.
II Che President, or the Congress is clothed with
.sach powers, we have failed 70 sind any ssthOzity
6Or itin the Constitution Now, before LINooLN came
unto power, the Federal Government was consider
ed . Government of delegated authority, and such
powers we're net expressly delegated by the Con-
stitutiOn reserved TO the people or the States
respectively. LIKoOLN's oath has not changed the
character of the Government. he hes no more
constitutional power to CAL forth the force Of
the Union to execute the laws in States denying is
authority, than he had before he took that oath.
Not only is there no express or implied authority
Con die use of UGH force, but in the Federal Con-
entioz of 1887 which framed the present Constitu-
zion. il was proposed by Mr.. EDMUND RANDoLPB, in
o sixth of series of resolutions that the National
S,euisature be en- powered to call forth the force
az the Union against any member of the Union fail
ipv 10 fulfil its duties under the articles thereof
Mr. MADISON objected to it on the ground that
Union containing such an Ingredient +" seemed TO
provide for is oson destrWcSon" Mr. PATTERSON, of
New Jersey. Col. HAMrsx, of New York, and Col.
GEORGE MASON, of Virginia also argued warmly
against it, and it was finally rejected, we believe
nnanizDonsly, thus proving that any such powers
were intended TO be denied.
But what of thia 1t may be asked, cannot the
United States exist and DO very well without either
acknowledging the independence of the seeded
States or using force to execute the laws within
their iurisdictiops We answer emphAtealy,
Tie Government of the United States Is prac-
fieaIly compelled either, to use force to collect
the revenues or to acknowledge the inde>
seudence of the seeded States. And WHY
II the Government of the United States refuse TO
acknowledge the independence of the Confederate
States, aud permit their Government to lay and
collect revenue without interruption, it is easy to
ace that the revenues of the United States viii be
1estroyed. and the Government viii either be
forced to succumb to impoverishment or dissolu-
zion or to levy an direct taxation upon the
people. which would itself bring revolution and
anarchy If the Confederate States can lay and
collect their own revenue, without corresponding
tariff upon goods imported from them into the
limited States, they have the means of collecting
tribute from the United States. There are three
wavs of avoiding this, as Senator DOUGLAS has sug-
gested: LIST. to give the needed guarantees to tiS
rights security and peace of the Southern States ~
will satisfy the Border States and bring back the
Gulf States into the Union I'd, to acknowledge the
independence of the Confederate States and Sd, to
blockade Southern ports and use force Tor the col
lection Of the revenue, thus making war agalns
States.
The first plan Is wholly and obviously contrary
to the policy and designs of the dominant faction IN
the dominant States of the Union. They have no
idea of ever making concessions to save the Union
or preserve the Constitution, which LINCOLN thas
sworn to preserve, protect and defend" They
would much prefer to assume that LINcoLN's oath
of Office is difficulty in the way Of making such
jHst concessions