Year: 1861

we nave hce1
selected as candidates to represent you in
the State Convention recently called by
the Legislature, to assemble in Nashville.
on the 25th of this month. The short
time allowed by the General Assembly for
the election Of delegates, precludes the
possibility of anything like thorough
canvass of the counties which we have
been nominated to represent Tie ninth
of this month is the day fixed by act of
the Legislature for the election of dele
gates. But one short week remains for
the people of Tennessee to consider the
momcntous question submitted to them in
this election. We can hope to reach a
large majority of you in no other way,
than through the medium of circular, in
which we feel that it will be impossible
to discuss the grave questions of the
day as fully as we desire and in manner
commensurate with their great Importance


No diversity of opinion exists at the
South as to the wrongs and injustice done
us by portion of the States and people of
the North. We have long deprecated that
feeling of hostility, which some of the
Northern people, stimulated by designing
demagogues and religious zealots, have en-
tertained towards the institutions and peo
pie of the South. Every true friend of
his country, has witnessed with regret the
course of some of the Northern States, in
virtually nullifyiug, by solemn legislative
enactments, the Fugitive Slave law passed
in strict conformity with the provisions of
the Federal Constitution. Regardless of
our feelings, and unmindful of our rights.
wicked and ambitious politicians have sue
! ceeded in building up great geog, aph;cal
party, and elt citing a sectional candidate
to the Presidency of the United States =
The plainest dictates of reason and COM
mon sense, should have taught the North
ern people, that great party. sectional in
f character. and hostile in its ends and aims,
to the cherished interests of one half the
confederacy, could not long exist without
, producing results, which all patriots and
friends of liberty throughout the world
, must depore, The Union cannot endure
another such triumph of sectionaism, if
indeed the sacrifices of patriotism shall
enable il to survive the present. 1t would
be unnatural to suppose, that the South
could behold such wanton and wicked
expcriment upon the harmony of the
Union with indifference or fail to feel in
view Of such triumph. the livliest appre


tensions for the security of her rights un.
der the Constitution. This sectional strife
has reached point where honor and inter


est alike demand permanent settlement of
) the questions of difference between the sec


tons, by such amendments of the Federal
Constitution Us shall forever remove the
distracting question of slavery from the
platforms of parties and the Vaccinations
of demagogues. Crippled commerce ruin
ed fortunes, prostrated credit and a dssolv-
ing Uuion should certainly convince the
whole American people of The madness of
permitting our former party contests up
on the slavery question, to be renewed
f The business of the country, the prosperity
and happiness of the people and the exis.


ence Of the best government in the world
all depend upon proper settlement of
the dangerous and exctipgqucstions which
now convulse the country. How, and in
what manner this settlement may be had
is the great question which is now calling
forth the anxious efforts of patriots all over
the land.


Some of our sister States of the South


have already seeded from the Union. Their
representatives, in Congress have vacated
their seats aud thus weakened in the ma


tional Legislature. that strength, on which
the South had a right to rely, in this hour
of peril, for the protection of her rights.
We feel that the descrtion of the seeding
States at such a juncture vas not what we
had right to expect from them, consider
ing our identity of interest in the institu


ton of slavery, and that their action has Sc
riously complicated tho difficulties of an
4 adjustment. Nevertheless, we deem it the
imperative duty Of every patriot and chris
tian to make an honest effort to so settle
our present unfortunate differences, as to
prevent any further dsntegraton of the
/ Union, aud satisfy our seeding sisters that
it is theirdutJ and interest to return to the
fold from which they have wandered.


We regard the propositio submitted to
! Congress by Hon. Jno. j. Crittenden. as
furnishing fair and honorable basis Of ad
justment Of the questions which now dis


tract the country. Those propositi 'ns or
their equivalent, should in our opinion be
satisfactory to the South. But we are told
by those who seem to be in favor Of hasty
action, that the North will not agree to
such an adjustment aud the failure OF Cons
gress up to this time to pass the Crittenden
resolutions. is cited as conclusive evi
deuce of the unwillngness of the North to
acccde to our reasonable demands. The
lessons of the past ought certainly to teach
US the folly of putting our trust IN polltl.
clans The present Congress is controlled
by men who were elected in time OF high
i marty excitement when none of the grave
questions now before the country were al
issue. They may refuse to pass the Crlilen-
den resolutious-they may continue to
stand between the people aud an amleable
adjustment; for the adoption OF Criltenden's >
propositions necessarily destroys tue
Black Republican Party, aud the pres