The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1853-07-20
IN the worlds broad field Of battle,
In the biyouac Of life.u

FROM the memphis Appeal.
A New and Important Question
Exemption of Negroes from Sale
by Law.
The proposition to exempt negroes from
sale to satisfy debt. under legal execution,
land yet 10 preserve our ownership in them
as heretofore. with the right Of transferring
them by private sale. willing them, and other
wise exercising our long established rights in
them as property, guaranteed by the Consti-
tution,l is a question which demands the i'm
mediate and serious consideration Of Southern
men.
The speech alluded to in the subjoined let
ter was delivered by the invitation Of the
people Of Holly Springs, and in the presence
OF large audience Of persons from the sur
rounding country without regard TO party.
The idea was warmely approved, and received
the judeious approval Of all. IL will no
doubt make a similar impression all over the
South, as its announcement at Holly Springs
was pre-concerted and expected by the most
ardent frinds Of the measure.
The feature which most impresses us is the
evident tendency of this exemption law to
make every Southern man a staUe olcney,
thereby creating more general interest in
regard 10 our institution and our rights, aud
greatly benefiting the smaller agriculturalist.
That property which is exempt from sale by
law becomes unusually valuable. and is ca
gerly sought after. IL is native TO the human
heart to preserve those we love against our
misfortune or even their own inexperience.
The Homestead Bill has received most Of its
power from this sentiment But how much
stronger this feeling in regard to our negroes
There are ties between the master and slave
too holy and too strong for the appreciation or
comprehension Of abolition. How often IL it
the case that negroes become the protectors
Of the whites. To perpetuate, therefore, be-
yond the reach Of law, this protection on the
one hand, and the means Of support BY the
valuable labor Of the slave on the other,
appeals strongly TO our interests and SymPG-
thies. Il has been truly said that If every
man owned a negro, there would be but little
difference Of opinion at the South.
The other considerations are entitled to
great weight 1t is new question to US,
although Il has received privately the assu-
rance Of warm support from leading men all
over the South. 1t is too great a question to
pronounce Judgment on hastily. We there.
fore urge upon our readers the propriety Of
giving Il a thorough investigation. We will
do the same, and then give our matured opin.
ions on the matter.
1t win be observed that the established
right in slaves is not at all afected-but they
are 10 be exempt merely from sale under
Judgment and execution. We give below the
letter upon which our remarks are based
Holly SPRINGS, June 10th. 1858.
Wessrs Editors The subject Of Ex-
rMPrlNo NEGRO PROPERTY PROM SALE BY LAW,
a submitted to the people Of Marshall, in The
meeting Of the 18Th; is one which should
attract the immediate consideration OF all
Southern men. The opinions | then ex-
pressed were not from hasty conclusions Nor
vas the utterance Of them unexpected or
unadvised. 1t is matter which has received
the attention for more than a year past OF
some of our abIest citizens. with Its impor-
tance fully understood. ],
We must expect opposition, for the ooutn
unfortunately has become 50 politically NOR
bid. that every question calculated to advance
her interests must meet more or less obstruc-
ton. This measure will receive strong oppo-
sition. for instance from these Northern ban
king influences now based purely on our slave
population as property, and consequently
snecies of banking capital. This slave prop
ertv amounts to about FIFTEEN HUNDRED
MntIoNs OF DOLLARS. ITO sweep from
nrder the North such an amount Of capital
would opdaneer the stability Of trade, " it Is
alleged. -.
v;e,vs the institution Of slaveryis as an ag-
,;c,1t,.ral property alone, holding peculiar
social position towards US. Should we there
fore, wisely providing for ourselves, Oe n. niu.
dred from doing 50 because others nave