Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-05-27


the Union was insulted aud humbed before
the rebel insignia Of treason and perjury.
On TIE 18th day Of April the fort was sur.
rgndersd by Maj. Anderson to The rebel
forces. On that night amid rejoicings at
Montgomery a seteuade was offered to the
ssbel President and bis Secretary Of War.
The latter responded in brief address,
which was circulated all over the country by
The telegraph The same night. 10 that ad-
dress, the rebel Secretary expressed IN The
strongest terms his appreciation Of the act Of
war which bad just been committed at
Charleston, and predicted that by the frst
Of May the rebel flag should foat over the
dome Of the capitol at Washington, aud soon,
perhaps, even over Faneuil Hail. Boston.
Bear In mind, fsllow-citizens, that all these
continued preparations and fragrant acts Of
war, accompanied with these bold proeiama.
lions of aggressive Intentions, had been com
mitted before any call was made by the
President upon the loyal people Of the
country for forces to meet aud repel the au-
dacious encroachments of the Rebellion.
Forbearance,if it ever had been, had ceased
to be virtue aud on The 18th day of April
the Executive called for $4,000 volunteers,
to defend the integrity of the Government
and sustain him in the enforcement Of the
laws, and especially to protect and rescue
the property OF the nation from seizure.
now TENNESSEE WAS DRAGGED INTO THE
REBELLION.
This act Of simple duty on the part of the
President was seized upon by the leading
conspirators in Tennessee, and made the oe
cssiOn of the re.opening of the agitation for
the separation of the State from the Union.
AS the people had refused to commit their
interests to the hands of a Convention, there
existed no power in the State which, even
according to rebel theory, was competent to
take incipient steps for the separation of the
State from the Union. The people had de
liberately repudiated the acts of the General
Assembly and the counsel Of the Governor,
looking to even q consideration Of she ques-
ton They would not entertain at all any
proposition to join in the Rebellion.
But in the face of this well understood
expression Of the popular. will, the General
Assembly, led on by traitorous Governor,
proceeded at once, by usurpation of power,
to array the State in open hostility to the
Government. Immediate steps were taken
to raise ana equip an army for that purpose,
before even the mockery of enacting an or
dlnance OF separation had been consummat;
ed. The next step taken, was the passage
of an ordinance of separation by mere Leg
islative authority, TO be submitted to the
people for their approval at the ballot-box.
But, without waiting for the peoples sano-
ton of this unconstitutional act, that usurp.
ing body, by means Of commissioners ap
pointed for the purpose, entered into o
military league with the pretended govern.
ment of the Confederate States" placing
the immense military levies which were then
being raised under the orders Of the Rebel
President. Meanwhile, troops were poured
into and through the State from the Cotton
States, on their way to lay seige to the cap.
ital OF the nation.
It was early manifest that the election
which had been ordered to ratify or reject
the ordinance Of separation would only b.
cruel mockery. Over more than half the
State no discussion OF the questions at issue
was allowed. The public press tesmed With
falsehoods, which could not be counteraGted
in their influence upon the public mind
Vigilance Committees were organized to in
spire with terror the hearts Of the timid. All
law, order and common decency was aban-
doned and set at defiance by the conspira.
tors and those they had deceived aud by
fraud, intimidation and force, the election
was carried The war had already been be
gun by the rebels, aud would doubtless have
been persisted 10 had the result OF the popu-
lar vote been different.
We will resume the subject in another
issue