The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-26
REPLY or Nh. MAYNARn.


SIR: The magnitude and gravity of the
proposition submitted by you 10 Repre-
sentatives from the slave States, would
naturally occasion diversity if not con
trariety Of opiBion You will not, there o.
fore, be surprised that l have not been
able 20 concur ia view with the majority
Of them. This is attributable. possibly,
70 the fact that my State is not border
State, properly so called, and that my
immediate constituents are not yet dis
enthralled from the hostile arms of the
rebellion. This fact is physical OBJ
stacle in the way ofmy now submitting
10 their consideration this, or any other
proposition looking to political action,
especially such as in this case would re-
quire change in the organic law of the
State.
But do not infer that am insensible to
your appeal. | am not. You are sur
rounded with difficulties far greater than
have embarrassed any Of your predeces-
sors. You need the support of every
American citizen, and you ought to have
it; active, jealous and honest, The union
of every Union man to aid you in pre-
serving the Union is the duty of the time.
Differences as TO policy and methods must
be subordinate TO the common purpose.
In looking for the causes of this rebel
lion, il is natural that each section and
each party should ascribc as little blame
as possible TO itself, and as much as pos
sble to its opponent section and party.
Possibly you and might not agree on a
comparison OF our views. That there
should be differences of opinion as 10 the
best mode Of conducting our military
operations, and the best men 10 lead our
armies, is equally natural. Contests on
such questions weaken ourselves and
strengthen our enemies. They are I'M
profitable and possibly unpatriotic-
Somebody must yield, or we waste our
strength in contemplate struggle
amongst ourselves. H
You appeal to the loyal men of the
slave States to sacrifice something of
feeling and great deal Of interest. The
sacrifices they have already made, and
the suilerings they have endured, give
the best assurance that the appeal will
not have been made in vain. He who
is not ready to yield all his material in
terests, and TO forego his most cherished
sentiments and opinions for the preserva-
ton of his country, although he may have
perilled his life on the battle field in her
defense, is but half patriot. Among the
loyal people that l represent there are no
hall patriots,
Already the rebellion has cost us much
10 pFup dol
need be, to give up the rest TO suppress
it, We have stood by you from the be-
ginning'of this struggle, and we mean TO
stand by you, God willing, till the end
of it,
l did not vote for the resolution to
which you allude, solely for the reason
that at the time ] was absent at the cap
ital of my own State. II is right.
Should any of the slave States think
proper to terminate that institution, as
several of them, understand, or at least
some of the citizens propose, Justice and
generous comfy require that the coun-
try should interpose TO aid in lessening
the burden, public and private, occasion
ed by so radical change in its social
and industrial relation.
| will not speculate upon the effect, al
home or abroad. of the adoption of your
policy, nor inquire what action of the rebel
leaders has rendered something Of the
kind important. Your whole Admins
tration gives the highest assurance that
you are moved, not so much from desire
to see all men everywhere made Free as
from a far higher desire to preserve free
institutions for the benefit of men already
free; not to make slaves frecmen but to
prevent freemcn from being made slaves;
not to destroy an institution which por-
tion of us only consider bad, but to save
institutions which we all alike consider
good. | am satisfied you would not ask
from any of your fellow citizens sacri-
flee not, in your judgment, imperatiyely
required by the safety OF the country,
This is the spirit Of your appeal, and /
respond to il in the same spirit
am, very respectfully,
Your Obepient servant,
HORACE MAYNARD.
To the President