The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-14

The Northwest.

There isgood ground for the belief that
the Atlanta Iatslligencer represents the
general sentiment Of tho Secessionists of
the South in protesting against recon
struction Of the Rebel Government so as
to include the Northwestern States. There
has lately been considerable discussion
of this embryo question in both sections,
and the opinion seems TO be the next
thing 10 unanimous that such a cOnfed-
GRAFTON is not 70 be reckoned possible,
even though it should rect alone with the
people of the South and West. The
Georgia paper declares that the admis-
siOn Of any Free States into the Confed-
eracy would not only be repugnant TO
the citizens of the South, but would
serve TO continue that agitation of the
slavery question which has brought on
the war This expression is based on
some resolutions introduced into the
Rebel House of Representatives by Mr..
Foote of Tennessee. Mr.. Foote is reck-
oned among the Secessionists as con-
servative man, though with us here he
would be regarded as radical enough, he
being utterly opposed TO any arrange
ment OF our difficulties not embracing
the complete and absolute recognition of
the Southern Coniederacy. Let us see,
then, what this moderate mans views
are:
Mr.. Foote, only few days ago, reply
ing TO some misrepresentation of his PC
sitiop, stated he was "not in favor Of
any political confederation with the
States of the Northwest" He was, how
ever, in favor of a military league, oiTen-
sive and defensive, with any of the North
western States that would lay down
their arms. His resolutions declare that
the Confederate States will never consent
TO any plan for reconstructing tho Fede-
raj Union; that the Confederate States
cannot agree TO negotiate at all in regard
10 a suspension Of hostilities, except upon
the basis of unconditional recognition of
their independence that after separa-
| ton the Confederate States would con-
sent TO commercial tretay with all the
| States in the Union except New Eng
land; that the Confederates States wou d
consent to league, offensive and defen-
sive with the several States which have
recently manifested a change of public
sentiment, upon their stipuating for de-
sisting at once from the further prosecu-
tion of the war, and renouncing all po-
litical connection with New England /;
and that the Confederate States will
guarar 7 the peaceful and uninterrupted
Ravigauon Of the Mississippi and its
tributaries to the States bordering thereon,
which shall have declared their inclina-
tion to withdraw from the prosecution
| of the war.
These are the propositions of n peace
man in the rebel Congress They have
been referred to the House Commit ittee
on Foreign Relations, ond may or may
not be reported back for passage. The
plain meaning Of these resolutions Is 10
maneuver for four separate and indepen-
dent confederacies out of the old Union
the New England States to form one,
the Middle, Northern and Western States
TO form another, the slave States a third,
aud the Pacific States and the Terrific
ries west Of the Rocky Mountains TO con-
stitute fourth How does the North
west like that picture? What have the
citizens of Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa,
Michigan, Wisconsin aud Minnesota done
that they should be thought so humble
40 10 accept such terms Of peace AZ
these? 1t will be seen that there IL not
one word about any surrender whatever
on the part of the Southern Confederacy.
There is no compromise, no modification
OF any OF the demands Of the rebelious
States For the possession of the priyi q.
lege of navigating the Mississippi river
and its tributaries, the Northwest il 20
become the nero tool and catspaw of the
southern radicals in making war upon
New England; and, antecedent 10 any
negotiations, this section is TO place it.
self in condition Of absolute helpless
ness, at the same time that il conniyes al
the most gigantic treason the world has
ever known. The Northwest is to take
its soldiers from the Union side Of the
conflict and transfer them 10 the disunion
side, and for this, forsooth, IL is TO enjoy
what Of right and Of law belong to IL. We
are 10 transfer the war 10 the free States
and inauguraie armed civil strife within
their borders, merely 10 enable the seces.
sionists 70 destroy the Union; and oui
reward shall be our own desire. What
love do we bear the rebels that we should
do this base, ignoble, suicidal thing
We hope there will be no more talk o.
armistices, rCoonstructiOn. peace, etc, II
the North as long as such insulta are Of
fered TO The pride and honor Of the loyA
} people. IL the rebels will not now lister
10 reason, but insist upon the humiliation
, aud degradation Of the citizens Of thr
} States remaining in the Union, let US bid
} the time when they may como TO ihei
J senses. To our minds II is certain tina
disunion and permanent peace are utter
: ly Incompatible.