The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-03
The Radioalism of Conservatism

Ono class OF men call the present civil
war a rebellion; another class call it
revolution. Correctly speaking it is both
1t is revolution iOithin rebellion. The
priority was with the rebellion; it was
begun by the disloyal, but the loyal are
compelled TO convert itinto revolution.
Traitors commenced the civil war and |
patriots will end it. II is our duty TO
consult for the safety Of the Common
wealth The highest duty which all
branches Of the government, and all 10y
al people are called on to.do--a duty far
higher than any mere formula, or letter
Of the Constitution, because it involves
the correction of an evil which, if
successful, involves the fall Of the
Constitution, and of the nation, and
which the Constitution could not an
ticipate 49, is to see that the Rcpub-
lie suffer no detriment At time when
the life Of the nation is menaced by
combination of dangers Of the most for
midable nature, it is sure mark of in
competency and imbecility to hunt for
authority in the Constitution, 10 Justify
a necessary act. The occasion makes the
lac an case Of imminent PERIL To cut out
ones flesh would be the act Of a mad
man, and contrary TO the laws of health
in a sound body, but it is prudence when
one is bitten by 4 vOnamous serpent or a
mad dog. The salvation Of the country
is far more important matter than the
preservation Of some rule of its Constitu-
ton One would suppose, to hear certain
journalists assert that, as this is a war
for the Constitution, it is therefore abso-
lutely necessary that it must in no in
stance violate the provisions of that Con-
stitution, that they regard the rules which
nation adopts for its convenience, Of
more importance 10 its citizens than their
own national existence. These wrang-
lers-for they are nothing but wretched
wranglers--insist that you must put
your finger on a clause of the Constitu-
ton every time you fire a cannon at the
rebels, TO justify you in the act; that you
must fortify yourself with decision of
the Supreme Court before you run trail
tor through with your sword. They
would let the nation die while they are
hunting up a precedent; they would
rather let thirty millions of people per-
ish, and with them their Constitution,
than sec one public act not in accordance
with the provisions of the Constitution.
Let it not be supposed that we admit
that any act necessary to kill the rebel
lion and save the nation, can be uncon-
stitutional, for the pervading principle,
the intent, the very soul of the constitu-
ton is the salvation of the nation. The
conservatism which for the sake of pre-
serving the mere letter, would destroy
the spirit OF the government, is destruct-
i've and radical in fact, and conservative
temperance only. 1t as if a surgeon
through anxiety to preserve the form OF
the human body, should refuse to ampu-
tate a hopclessly shattered and gan
grened limb. We can conceive of no
doctrine so ruinous to the government as
that which denies a war-pOWer TO an
administration defending the government
against traitors who began their assault
from vantage ground never occupied by
traitors before and seeks to delay its
actions by restraining it to q tedious adj
hercnce to forms at a time when every
hour may involve the existence Of the
nation; when brief delay may snap the
silver cord of free government and break
the golden bowl of human liberty at the
purcst fountain that ever slakcd the thirst
of nations.
Three millions of slaves must be per-
mitted to feed the armies of treason, and
do military service for them, by working
on their Notifications rather than ono
clause of the Constitution should be in
fractod; and MCCLELLAN and HALLEcK
and PORE, and BUELL. must refuse to hear
intelligence from fugitive slave, lest the
bred Scott decision be insultcd, If these
positions be true, which are virtually an
nounced from day to day by the self
styled conseryater press, as oracle'
which cannot be impcached, we are
surely the most absurd and prepos-
ferrous nation that ever existed, and We
ought to consent to perish just out Of
respect TO the eternal fitness of things;
for certainly such helpless political
monstrosity, with more heads than St
Johns Beast, aud more hands thar
wrcus, and more feet than a centipede
and yet as helpless as the famous frog
which had head on each end of It's
body, ought not 10 offend the eyes o.
the world any longer by its unboundcC
pretonsions, its unlimited resources and
ITS utter impotency. Conservative philo'
sophers who have just wit enough tC
know the potency Of names skilfully ap,
piled, call that party whose sole thought
at present is to serve the nation-prefer
ring to take the chances, if needs be, o.
constructing a new ship out of the frag,
ments which will float ashore, rather thar
let the ship with all her cargo and pas,
sengors go down TO the bottom of IN,
deen-tbe Conservatives cali tbos, ,,,,,