Year: 1861

| STATES BY THE GULF STATES.


Mr.. JOHNSON read extracts from the
message of Governors and the fire-eating
Congressmen- from the Gulf States, show.
ing their determination to drag the Border
States into revolution. He said:


Now, our sister, without consulting her
sisters, without caring for ther interest or
their consent says that she will move for
ward; that she will destroy the Government
ment under we have lived, and that here
after, when she forms a Government or a
Constitution, unless the border States come
in, she will pass laws prohibiting the i'm
portation of slaves into her State from
those States, and obstruct the slave trade
among the States, and throw the institu-
back upon the border States, so that they
will be compelled to emancipate their slaves
upon the principle laid down by the Abo-
lition party. That is the rod held over US
l tell our sisters in the South that so far
as Tennessee is concerned, she will not be
dragged into a southern or any other con-
federacy until she has had time to consid-
er; and then she will go when she believes
it to be her interest, and not before. l
tell our northern friends, who are resisting
the execution of the laws made in con-
formity with the Constitution, that we will
not be driven on the other hand into their
confederacy, and we will not go it unless
it suits US, and they give US such guaran-
tees as we deem right and proper. We say
to you of the South, we are not to be
frightened and coerced. Oh, when one
talks about coercing State, how madden
ing and insulting to to the State; but when
you want to point out means by which
to coerce them! But, sir, we do not in
tend to be coerced.


We are told that certain States will 60
out and tear this accursed Constitution in
to fragments, and drag the pillars of this
mighty edifice down upon US, and involve
US all in one common ruin. Will the bor-
der States submit to such threat9 No.
If they do not come into the movement,
the pillars of this stupendous fabric CT bu-
man freedom and greatness and goodness
are to be pulled down, and all will be in
volved in one common ruin. Such is the
threatening language used. "You shall
come into our confederacy, or we will Co.
cree you to the emancipation of your
slaves" That is the language which is
held toward u.s..


DIsUNIoN IS ABOLITION.


There are many ideas afoat about this
threatened dissolution, and it is time 10
speak out. The question arises in refer
ence 10 the protection and preservation of
the institution Of slavery, whether dissoiu-
ton is remedy or will give TO it protec-
ton. avow here, to-day that If I acere
an A5ol;tionist, and wanted to accomplish
tie ouerthrow aud abolition of the institu
tion of Slavery in the Southern States, the
first step that I acould take would be to
break the bonds of this Union, and DIS
solve this Government. Ibelieve the con-
tinuance of SLAVERY depends upon the pres
ervatioa Of this Union, and a compliance
with all the guarantees Of the Constitution.
| believe an Interference with it will break
up the Union; and Ibelieve dissolution of
the Union will, an the end, though ii may
be some time to come, overthrow the insti-
tuition Of slavery. Hence We find so ma
ny in thu North who desire the dissolution
of these States rs the most certain and d.
rect and etfectual means of overthrowing
the institution Of slavery.


FOR WHAT rs DISSOLUTION A REMEDY!


What protection would it be to us to dis
solve this Union? What protection would
it be to us to convert this nation into two
hostile Powers, the one warning with the
other? Whose property is at stake?-
Whose interest is endangereda Is it not
the property of the border States? Sup
pose Canada were moved down upon our
border, and the two separated sections,
then different nations, were hostile, whai
would the institution of slavery be worth
on the border? Every man vho has com.
mon sense CiH see that the institution rould
take up its march and retreat, as certainly
and as unerringLy as general laws can op-
crate. Yes, it would commence to retreat
the very moment this Government was
converted into hostile Powers, and you
made the line beween the slaveholding and
non slaveholding States the line of divis-
ion.


Then, what remedy do we get for the
institution of slavery? Must we keep up
standing army! Must we keep up forts
bristling with arms along the whole borderg
This is question to be considered, one
that involves the future ;and no step should
be taken without mature reflection. Be-
fore this Union is dissolved and broken up,
we in Tennessee as one of The slave States,
want to be consulted; we want to know
what protection we are 10 have; whether
we are simply to be made outposts and
guards to protect the property of others,
at the same time that we sacrifice and loose
our own. We want to understand this
question.


THE ASSOCIATIONS OF THE UNION.


Mr. JOHNSON spoke eloquently on this
subject, concluding on this head by saying


Here too, in the center of the Republic,
is the seat of Government which was found
ed by Washington, and bears his immortal
name. Who dare appropriate it exclusive
ly? 1t is within the borders of the States
have enumerated, in whose limits are
found the graves of Washington, of Jack
son, of Polk, of Clay. From them is 1t
supposed that we will cherish these endear.
ing associations with the hope, if this Re-
public shall be broken, that we may speak
words of peace and reconciliation IN n dis.