The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-11
Very Interesting letter from Noted


Very Interesting letter from Noted
Rebel General.
One Of cur New York exchanges pub.
Dishes The following letter from Inc dis
tipguished Ex-congressman. and sub
seqnently Rebel General NJ r. II.
GARRETT, of Virginia. We call atten-
ton 20 several points.
First, that although a member Of Con.
gress, he was plotting to destroy the
Union years before the Republicans came
into power and after the passage Of the
Compromise Of 1850
Second That he was forcing Virginia
out Of Che Uhidn Ig 5lo6issel
Third. That he had no lapo of sho DIS.
Iyalty Of non slqrslol3ipg districts.
Fourth. That he believed that DEM
OCRAUY (allhough he was proisssedly
an ardent Democracy IN IT'S ORIGINAL
PHILOSOPHICAL SENSE is UTTER
LY INCOMPATIBLE WITH SLAVE.
RY AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM OF
SOUTHERN SOCIETY,"
MATERIALS FOR msrom-REBEL uors
TEN YEARS AGO. suallsf.
An officer in the Union army latclv
visited BarnwelPs Island, formerly in
the sovereignty Of South Carolina. now
repossessed by the United States. and At
the house of William II. Trescot. ESQ. a
vel known diplomalist, scholar. and
defender of Southern Rights" picked
up an interesting collection of letters.
some Of which throw light upon the
early history Of the Secession movement.
One OF the choicest Of these has been
furnished to us for publication, and is
as follows;
VIRGINIA CONVENTION, May 3 1851.
My DEAR SIN You misunderstood me
last letter, IL you supposed that / intend.
ed to visit South Carolina this Spriuo. I
am exceedingly obliged to you for your
kind invitations, and it would afford me
the highest pleasure to interchange in
person sentiments with a friend whose
mannersof thinking soclosely agrees with
my own. But my engagements here
closely conflne me to this city, and dehy
me such a qualification.
| would be especially glad to be in
Charleston next week, and witness the
proceedings Of the Convention of Dele
gates from the Southern Rights Associa-
tions. The condition of these things in
your State deeply interests me. her wise
foresight and manly independence have
placed her, as the head Of the South. TO
whom alonea true hearted men can look
with any hope or pleasure. Momentous
are the consequences which depend upon
your action, Which party will prevail
The immediate Secessionists, or those
who are opposed TO separate action at
this time ? Were / a Carolinian. il
would be very different; but when | con-
slider the serious effects the decision NAV
have on your future veal or woe, | feel
that a citizen Of a State which has ac-
ted as Virginia, has no right to interfere
even by wish If the General Govern
ment allows you peaceably and freely to
secede, neither Virginia, nor any other
Southern State, would in my opinion.
follow you at present, But what would
be the effect upon South Carolina Some
of our best trends here supposed that il
would cut off Charleston from the great
western trade, which she is now striking
for, and would retArd very greatly
the progress of your State. con-.
fess that l think differently. / be-
lieye Thoroughly incur own theories. and
that, even If Charleston did not grow
quite so fast in her trade as other States.
yet the relief from Federal taxation would
vastly stimulate your prosperity. If so, the
prestige Of the Union would be destroyed.
and you would be the nucleus for a
Southern Confederacy at no distant day.
But | do not doubt, from all / have been
able to learn, that the Federal Govern
ment would use force, beginning with
the form most embarrassing to you, and
least calculated TO excite sympathy, l
mean naval blockade. In that event.
could you stand the reactionl oeling,which
the suffering commerce Of Charleston
would probable manifest? Would
you not lose that in which your
strength consists, the Union Of your
people? / do not mean to imply an
opinion, | only ask the question. II
you could force hiS blockade and Lrinq he
Government 10 direct force, The feeling IN Er-
gina Mould be very great I trust IN God
az l0ould bring her togour aid. But il would
be wrong in me 70 deceive you by speak
ing certainly. cannot express the deep
modification have felt ather course this
winter. But not believe that the course
of the Legislature is fair expression Of
popular feeling. In the East at least
the great majority believes in the right
Of Secession, and feels the deepest sym
pathy with Carolina In her opposition 10
measures, which they regard as she does
Bat the Vest Western H'Fqinia, there Is Tho
RIB only $4,000 slaUes 10 $4,000 phites !
When / consider the fact, and the kind Of
argument which has been heard in this
body, I cannot but regard Nth DE greatest
fear he question tohether Virginia lO0uH assist
Carolina 10 such an issue.
] must acknowledge, my dear Sir that
! look 10 the future with almost as much
apprehension as hope. You well object
to the term Democrat Democracy ia is
original philosophical sense is indeed inooB-
potlbe i0ih SlaDay and The l0L0e system Of
Southern socieiyi Yet il You look back,
what change will you find made 10 any
Of our State Constitutions, or in our leg
islation, that is, in its general course, for
the last fifty years, which was not IN the
direction Of this Democracy DO not It's
principles and theories become daily more
fixed in our practice Chad almos, said