The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-12
FRIDAY MORNING, DEC. u. 1861.

party spirit, and partizan feeling, should
be kept tubordiDate TO the interests OF
the country, but particularly in emergen-
cies like the present, when a great ma
ton is graphing in deadly conflict with
q naughty, arrogant, and wicked rebel
lion, that not only threatens the continu-
ed existence Of our Government, 5utveil
il as interested partizans may, threatens
the quiet territorial possessions of our
neighbors, and is directly in conflict with
zAhe political and moral progress of the
S.yorld, involving far more spiritual and
moral interests than material. Anditdoes
seem to US, that considerations of this kind
are not properly esteemed by those who,
for a mere party triumph, would utter
one sentiment, or do one act calculated,
in the least, to impair the vigor, the cred
it, or efficiency of the Government; IL
emboldens our enemies, and weakens
abroad our influence. Those far removed
from the scene of conflict, and who do
not daily intermingle with people who
entertain feelings hostile to each other,
and both Of whom catch eagerly and hold
tenaciously to the least evidence of fall
ieriDg and weakness on the one side or
the other, do not perceive so apparently
the bad effects of such actions or senti-
ments. With them II is but conjecture
as to what the effects will be; with US it
is certain knowledge. With them it
may be, in design and motive, nothing
more than animated discussion, casual
remarks made in view of party interests
and party success. With us il is dis
courasing fact; with our enemies high
hope and cheering prospect. A people
had better far be overcome by an enemy
in the field, in bold and terrible battle,
than by dissensions among themselves.
What does it matter that mere party
should fail of success, where all the
people are alike patriotic and have the
good of the country in view? What
boots IT to discuss the policy Of the war
before you are masters and controllers of
the result? What, TO discuss and yran-
gle about the social or political changes
that may, or ought to occur, before you
are empowered sufficiently by victories
to make good any changes? Why should
Congress discuss, or the nation become
excited as to what should be done with
JEFF DAVIS, when five hundred thousand
bayonets glitter between you and him =!
Should you not first address yourself to
the task at hand before you attemptto di-
vide the country uponthe question wheth-
er he had not better be hung than Gagged !?
Why anticipate questions that will come
up in the cad? When discussions will
then contain something practical, and re-
quire the highest test of statesmanship
for their solution. If your enemy has
power or an instrument that he uses in
war against you, withdr that power
from him, and use it, if necessary your
self, until the war ends, and then say
what shall be done with it, and what
relation it shall occupy to its former
possessor. As a capture it will still re-
main in your possession and at your dis
posal. Settle first the question OF the
permanance Of your capture, whether
your enemy will not retake it, and make
what disposition he thinks best in the
end, without consulting you. When you
shall have settled the permanence your
capture, and sealed the fate of the re-
bellion, probably the former possessor
viii voluntarily assist you in satisfac-
tory disposition in such manner as will
relieve the nation of a useless discussion.
Ifhe does not, gsen let the war Of words
begin, and let the nation argue. If you
succeed, and the rebellion, shorn of its
power, shall fall, aud slavery can find no
territories over which to spread, no new
lands to 60 forth TO inhabit and its limits
shall DO restricted TO the present slave
States, in view of its rapid increase, in
view Of the interests of the whites, under
free discussion, Independent Of all other
considerations, its warmest advocates viii!
Omit that THEN il will present differ
emit question to what it has ever done in
the past.
AS between the slaves and the whites
of the slave States, the latter win be
thrown upon the great principle of self
defence then the tide Of negro emigra-
ton which now flows from these border