The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-12
The UnIOn League.
NASHVILLE, TENN, June 10, '63

Tor brief discussion Of the principles
and objects of "The Union League ?''
This organization is misunderstood, or
Intentionally misrepresented, by some
in this community. IL has been remarked
upon the streets of this city, that its OBJ
jects were the reverse of thote had in
view by the Union Club. As TO this, am
unable to say, not being member of the
Club. But, if it was intended to intimate
that The Union League hasany object
in view, inconsistent with unconditional
loyalty TO the Government, at the head
OF which is Mr.. Lincoln, the Islander is
only equalled in magnitude of wrong by
the corruptiOns of the brain that con-
ceived, and the heart that consented to
its utterancel
The League, | am satisfied, has very
different purposes in view to those that
induced the individual alluded to. above,
to join the Union Club.
And, that the reader may properly I'M
derstand some of the arguments / shall
adduce, permit me TO say, in this connec-
ton, that "The National Union League"--
of which The Tennessee Union League"
is subordinate organiEation---is purely
National in its character, discarding all
party lines and making but one issue,
and that for the Union, right or sOrong,
ard against all who refuse to stand on
this platform. All true Leaguers hold to
the great sentiment uttered by the la
mented and immortal Douglas, that
there can be but tho parties noD; one of
aohicb is coraposed Of PATRIoTs who lone their
country, and UiU stand by IL, and the other,
TRAIToRs, scho are 0illtng to see tie tree Of
Liberty blasted forever, and the last hope of
freedom Destroyed" This is their plat
form.
But, objections are made to the League,
on the grounds that tits "a secret, oath
bound" organization Admit it for the
sake of argument!
What is the oath? Nothing worse
than, "to protect, and defend the govern
ment of the United States, against all
their enemies and OppressOrs whatsoever
Does not every civil and military officer
of the government, from the President
down, as well as the soldiers in the
ranks, take this oath? Certainly they
dol And is not the very theory of our
government founded upon the principle
of an "oath bound" and in many re-
spects, "a secret organization 2"
Is it not fact, that while the ex-
istence of the government and the
objects of it's creation are not secrets,
yet many things pertaining to its ad-
ministration, aud the attainment of its
great ends, are known only to those who
direct its machinery? How often do we
hear of secret cabinet meetings, where
none are admitted, but the President, and
his "oath bound" advisers, and whose
proceedings are confided alone to the
confidential Agents Of the government,
"who under the sacred seal Of their oaths,"
and guarantee Of honor, are intrusted
with the weighty interests, and i'm
portant responsibilities Of the greatest
nation beneath the sun ? Such meetings
are not only common, but absolutely
necessary. The reasons are obvious.
would ask those who oppose secret
and oath bound organizations" if tho
Union for which our armies are contend
ing, was not conceived in "secret and
oAth-bound organization !" and whether
our fathers in the days Of the Revolu-
ton were opposed to such orders" and
whether or not they received much aid
from the then existing "secret and
oath bound organizations that spread
throughout the Colonies, and in whose
councils many of the plans that so adj
mirably accomplished our independence
were matured and agreed upon by the
leaders Of that glorious and evaatful
struggle
The object of the army, with Gene
rails in the field, is the humiliation OF
treason, which is no secret but how long
would that General be retained in COM
mand who should publish all his plans
to the enemy? need not say he would
DO superseded, for death would be the
mildest punishment the government could
visit upon him.
SO with 1.-THE Union League" It's OBJ
jeot is to nurture loyalty and oppose
treason in every conceivable form, which
is no secret but the precise manner by
which these desirable ends can be ac-
cOmplished should be oonhded to none
who are not engaged in endeiVoring Il
attain the same results, and every mar
whose brains arc above his ears, will Al
once see, that to make the Leag ue public
is To defeat the very object for which Il
was organised. Such is the sslF-eyiden