Year: 1861

We desire to call the especial attention
of our readers, and also of our contempo-
raries of the Southern press, to the i'm
portant suggestions made in the following
letter, written by one of the leading men
in the State-one who fully comprehends
our situatian, and is as competent as any
other to anticipate the future


EDITOR BANNER;-I beg leave to troub-
lie your readers with few practical, but as
deem them, very important considera-
tions. Tennessee is now fully committed
to a state of war with Mr.. Lincoln, and has
pledged her whole strength upon the is
sue. The struggle will be arduous and
deadly-perhaps protracted. am not one
of those who fear the final result, but 1
am forced to look to the ways and means
Some opportunity of knowing our public
resources, and the radical change in our
relations of trade, brought about by the
action Of the State, induces me to call the
attention of the whole people to the ne
cessity of providing future supplies Of
clothing by the means of domestic indus
try. There was time in the history of
the State, when nine-tenths Of cur popn-
lation we're habituaily clad in home spun.
This was then necessary, because no other
resources we're at their command. Now
that same necessity is pressing upon U.S.
Few goods have been brought from the
North this Spring, owing to our troubles.
We are soon to be blockaded on all sides.
SO that we will be driven to self-reliance.
Are we equal to the occasion9 I cav We
are. Our mothers and sisters all over the
State, will at once resurrect their wheels
and spinning machines and looms, aud
make them TEEN with linsey, jeans and
domestic, to clothe their husbands and
brothers who are fighting the battles of the
country, as well as themselves And let
no lady feel humiliation, in turning her
hand to this divine task Of patriotism, or
in being clothed IN fair checks, the pro-
duct of her own toll. l would that every
man, woman and child in the State, were
this day covered with the homely garb of
our ancestorsi There would be moral
power in the spectacle. But am not in
pursuit of mere fancy. Where, I ask,
are our soldiers to get their supply Of clio.
thing next fall, unless it is manufactured
at home? 1t is not that We may want the
money to buy with, but the material can
not be imported We must make it, or
the soldiers must suffer--and now is the
time to begin. Let no one wait for anoth-
err, but let all alike, rich and poor, at once,
and without q moments delay, inaugu-
rate the good work, and make the parIor
and the hall resound with the busy hum
of their industry In this way our wo.
men can become benefactofs, and help us
fight tho great battle before us. The SOL
dicr will bless the beautiful lass who was
not too proud to labor for him, while he
was toiling and perilrng fife for his coun
try. But wish TO say word to the men
who remain athonIe. Make all the leather
you can, for it will all be needed. Let
NOT foot Of ground lie dormant, but
make it yield something for subsistence
Our enemies say they viii starve us OUT
that we will soon be naked aud famishing,
aud compelled to surrender. let us show
them that we arc as fruitful in expedients
TO preserve life, as we are terrible in ayen :
ging our wrongs. say then to ALI
mothers, sisters, wives aud sweethearts,
fathers, brothers and sons, bestir your.
selves vitnout hesitation! Let as all pail
together in the glorious work of defending
the State against the enemy, and feel that
in doing SO, we are indulging a privilege
rather than performing a task. Mossrs,
Editors, merely intended TO call attention
to these matters of grave moment, and
would thank you to give your brother edi-
tors OF the State a hint to insert this COM
munication in their columns. 1t may do
good. VOLUNTEERS.


NashJiile, June lin, 1861,