Year: 1870

SECESSION.


/ To the Editors of the Union and American:


The resolutions published eondemninl


secession and acknowledging revolution a


rightful remedy for an oppressed peo
pie ought not to be adopted by the STATE


Convention. 1t will be regarded as con


demning the principles upon which the


late civil war was fought, and as in.
tended to establish a political platform
which excludes from Office all those who


were with the South.


The Legislature of Tennessee submit
ted the question to the people of the State
on the vote of separation OF no separation,


to avoid all collision of opinion as to wheth
er the remedy was to be called "seces-
sion or revolution Each man fought
it out On his own convictions and priDci-
pies. Secession was regarded as
separation and separation was re-
garded as involving secession and
both did involve in fact resort to
revolutionary resistance to the United
States. The people of the United States
declared that the whole Confederate army,
Wings and Democrats, Revolutionists
aud Secessionists, had incurred the pen
alties of treason. They were all called
sSecessionists, and were all disfran
chised alike. Since the termination of
the war all together have labored TO re-
store the equality of the States; to re-
move disfranchisements; to reduce and
equalize taxation; and with them large
number of citizens who sided with the
United States during the war have CO.
operated.


There is now no such party as a seces-
sion or a revolutionary party in any State.
Since the surrender of the Confederate
armies years have passed away, yet no
effort of the most insignificant character
has been made to organize any party for
any such purpose. This is as well known
now at the North and in Europe as it is
in the South. The day for successful
falsehood, by the minions of power and
taxation, has gone by. Secession as well
as revolution have ceased to be practical
questions -..L


Secession and revolution may not again
occur in the United States in a century.
This doctrine originated in New England,
in eighteen hundred and twelve, QSl2)
and may arise a century hence il the Pa
cific States. 1t is and must be, the abid-
ing wish of all the friends of mankind
that no reason may exist in the long lapse
of centuries, for calling into existence
any of the latent rights of men. Why,
then, shall we keep upa perpetual contro-
versy about issues of the past, which have
no practical application TO the present con-
ditiOn of thingsl 1t is madness to do so.


II the State Convention condemned the
cause in which more than hundred thOus-
and 600, 00O) of our men fell, it will ex-
asperate and ALLEVIATE thousands of good
and peaceable citizens; it will be regarded
as a political movement to exclude all
those who fought for the South;
unless they falsify their own principles.
1t will go far to forfeit that character for
manly frankness and sincerity which the
South has heretofore had credit for, and
will accomplish nothing worthy of great
people. Our Northern friends do not ex-
pect us to dishonor the standard under
which we risked everything valuable to
men by deliberate condemnation of our
opinions in regard to past transactions.
All they ought to expect of us or will ex-
pect of US is that we give to them and to
the people of the United States, the
strongest assurances against the use of
revolutionary force; that we will yield
unqualified Obediences to all laws enacted
by the constituted authorities, and that
we look for relief steadfastly and conf
IDENTIFY to the great Democratic Party of
the United States headed by New York
with her eighty thousand majority.


On the other hand, the State COnven-
ton should not adopt the resolutions ap-
proving secession or revolution, because
it is unnecessary, uncalled for and against
the objects, intentions and wishes of the
whole people 1t would be equivalent to
declaring that no honors of office, or no
emoluments of office should be dealt out
by the people of Tennessee to any person
in the United States who sided with the
United States during the late war.


1t will exasperate large body of valu-
able and honest Citizens who are now
faithfully cooperating with the people in
the restoration of self-government, the
establishment of the equality of all the
States, and reduction and equalization of
taxes. We owe these people debt of
gratitude which ought not to be forgotten.
A resolution of the State Convention ap
proving or condemning the grounds on
which the late civil war was fought, will
be regarded as erecting a platform for
certain classes of citizens to stand upon
to the exclusion of others. 1t is impolitic
and unjust. There never was a time
in the history of Tennessee when thers
was greater necessity for harmony than
now. There never was a time when
larger liberation of differences of opinion
should be allowed and all minor questions
waived. Upon what possible ground can
it be iusLifable to introduce debatable
questions of the past, when it is positively
certain that differences of opinion exist,
and when, in the great and leading object
of the Convention, every member of the
body can harmonize2 Why throw an
explosive shell in such an assembly? Let
the Convention erect no stupendOus fabric
of a platform-work out no abstruse
problems of government. Let that body
declare itself in full accord with the Dem
ocratic party of the United States and op-
posed to the Republican party. Let it
nominate a candidate for Governor and
adjourn. A CITIZEN.