The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-05
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.


10 speaking and writing Of matters
pertaining to Government, il may be well
that We study 70 hold fast the form OF
sound words. BIZ adopting the language
OF Mr.. Jefferson Davis and bis associates,
we may undermine the theory Of our
cherished institutions. Aud in using the
term Institutions" we would not be
understood a. making any allusiOn 70
Afr'cAn slavery; for, while we recognise
this as local system Of labor, which
existed by Law in some Of the States, we
have not regarded it as worthy to be
called sn inaitItioa. But we protest
against a certain 1ippsnt use Of the
words "re-construction" and "the. &C.
ceded States" which is becoming too
common among some who ought to know
that States cannot secede, and that No
State has seeded
Those acts cf organized consp traitors
which they chose to call the secession Of
States, were as mach the subversion Of
the several State Governments, as they
were unauthorized combinations against
the laws Of the United States; and not
one Of them was in accordance with the
constitution and laws of the State in
which the conspirators Ell cted their
usurpation. Tue Constitution of the
United States was ordained by the peo-
pie IS the supreme law Of the land; and
there was no power residing in any
Safe or any number of States even to al
ter or amend that supreme law, other
wise than by such process "a was there
in provided. When, therefore, laWless
men combined for the purpose of setting
aside Government and organizing their
own pleasure st the peoples expense and
peril, the mere fact that they chose to
claim authority cO-extensive with the
boundaries of certain State, and TO en-
brace in their organizations peIiured
State officers elected according to the
forms of Law, did not make such States
responsible for their actions. It only
manifested the dimensions of their com
binatiOn, and the cool, calculating audsc-
lily with which they had laid their plans
of treason.
Etvry step taken TO inaugurate the usur-
patton bttrsyod an unwillingness 70
leave the people free, in their capacity of
citizens both Of their States respectively
and Of the United States, TO choose their
course of action. In the States which
they pretend have seeded, the conspi
rators had induced the people TO elect
men to the office Of Governor, who were
privy to the plan Of usurpation. Ga a
given signsl, their called Conventions Of
delegates, to be elected by a conidinp
people, who did not expect them TO act
in contravention Of Law; and though con-
spiratOrs or such men as could be con-
trolled by them. were in most cases put
forward as candidates, these we're care
ful TO profess attachment TO the Govern
msnt till after their election. And while
che candidates were deluding their fell
lOw-oitizens with false professions, 10
obtain their Eoies, armed bands Of
reckless men, headed by initiated trait
ors, were being made ready for the steps
in contemplation. No sooner were the
pretended union men elected to their pla-
ces, than they threw of their disguise,
and, bkcked by their organized arma-
ment, forced the people into revolt. The
National Government was not present
with an armed force to assist the unor-
gained people, and to guaranty TO them
republican form Of Government. A de-
bauched old man, at The head of the na-
ton, through the maaipulations of JEFF
Davis, Floyd, and other leading cor
spirators, had scattered our army and
navy to parts the most distant from the
theatre Of treason, and loyalty stood con-
founded, unarmed, unorganized, and I'M
supported, in the presence Of inferior
numbers but superior strength. Yet in
the face of so much 10 discourage, msay
struggled nobly, evinciDg 3 spirit Of
msriyrdOm which merits higher reward
than IL is now reapipp.
In States South of Tennessee, the plot
hsd been too plainly revealed, before the
month Of February, 1861, TO be misAp-
pretended, even by the masses, in por-
tons Of the State comparatively remote
from sources Of information; insomuch,
that when = vote was taken, in that
month, for delegates to the so-cAlled |
sovereign Convention, and at the same
time to settle the question whether there
should or should not be convention |
held, the people voted for profsssedly |
loyal men by something over sixty
thousand mtjority; snd decided by =
msjoriiy of more than twelve thousand, |
that there should be no convention.
They arrived at this prudent determiDs
ton, too, against the advice of We
~ many of the Union candidaies-
thus saying to them in sub
stance: Gentlemen, if we are to have
convention, we desire men to represent US
who are pledged against the heresy Of Sc
cession but we would rather not trust
any of you in capacity so much abused
already before our eyes, and therefore we
decide that you may stay at home"
Thus thwarted, the conspiratOrs, through
their instrument, Gov. Harris, called
second extra session Of ths Legislature,
insugurated q reign OfterrOr, and cOereed
the helpless peoPls into Instruction.
This lie = truthful outline of what is
called the secession of Tennessee, as all
impartial eyewitness viii testify.
Candid men cOnservsnt with. the facts will
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