The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-12-28
SLAVERY IN RELATION TO THE
JINION

We find in the Baltimore Patriot an ex-
tract of letter from the Rev. Charles Wads-
worth, of Philadelphia, upon tho subject Of
slavery and its relation to the Union. How
to get rid Of slavery, the Reverend gentle
man confesses, "is a problem perplesng TO
all christian philosophy" the solution Of
which must necessarily be left to 4 higher
power. None but fanatic or fend," he
says, "ever thought seriously, for one moment
Of solving the problem by dssolving the
Union: for in the first place, such dissolution
so far from freeing the slave would leave him
more hopelessly bondman ina great South
ern military confcdcracy. And secondly,
even If it resulted in the abolition Of slavery,
it would be treating an evil on the old hero
ic plan of setting fire 10 house to get
rid of broken sash, or cutting of a mans
head to cure his arm Of paralysis" We agree
with the Patriot, that while knowing nothing
of Mr. Wadsworth's political afiinities, but
regarding him simply as exeriing his inAu.
ence in behalf of harmony and concord be-
tween the several States sof the Union, We
admire the spirit which has actuatcd him, ut
this delicate crisis, and in the city of Phils-
delphia, TO denounce those daring Northern
sgitators, who regard the integrity of the Re.
public as Of less value than the questionable
good which might result from the manumis.
sion of the Southern slaves.
We subjoin the following paragraph, in
which this Nnorthern clergyman boldly con.
tends, but in spirit too sanguine, we fear:
"That this Union can nerer be dissolred; be-
cause 1t is the result Of great organic law
which makes it, as the different members of
a common body, by the great principle of a
common life, one and indissolube forever
not a conglomeratc of States, but great
and composite Nation. Nevertheless, as vi.
olence may destroy common life by a dis.
severance of its members, so this Union
while it cannot be peacefully dissolrcd, like an
lce.hill in the sun, may yet be rent into frsg-
ments, as amountain rent by an earthquake
We do not say that this shall never happen,
but this We do say, with the clearcst, the
camest, and most assured confidence, that
this question of Southern Slavery is not tho
earthquake that has power TO sever U.S.
There has been, indeed, since Solomon's
time, regular descent of men, "from whom
though brayed in mortar, among wheat
with pestle,yet foolslness will not depart
lmpractcabe and malignant fools, who, like
lierostratus, would gain for themselves i'm
mortal infamy, by the destruction of glorious
structures like the Ephcsisn Temple of Diam
And such are the men, who for the sake
OF the blnck men scattered thinly over the
continent, would destroy this confederacy
and for the abstract and imaginary right of q
poor fragment Of a rnce-to whom lis exer
else, If practicable, were destructive and di..
astrous--w would msdly destroy. the last hope
Of worlds salvation, and bring down, upon
all races, the burden of ancestral bondage
ndamantine and forever. Nevertheless, with
such men, the great Anglo.Americnn mind
has no sympathy whatever. This question o.
slavery is, confessedly perplexing and dis
turbing thing in our body polite, and about
it men differ honest and widely but then
there is one greater and grandrr question
about which the overwhelming and increas
ing majority of this people never have differ
ed, never will differ, and that is, steadfas
and inferible purpose 10 preserue, against al
enemies and With their hearts best blond, hi
| plOriD1IS TniOi, iu1issolnLIo and for ero, -