Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-11-19
From the New Orleans Delta.
OK NEGROES ERoA a


The South has been so much occupied with the
extraneous agitation of the question of slavery,
that he's statesmen have almost entirely neglected
those measures which were calculated to lortify,
extend and perpetuate II one of her vital inst-
tutions. Too much has been done IN Congress
and too little in tie State legislatures with refer
ence to slavery. It is time now that Southern
legislators should give wife consideration to stsbl-
itating an institution which is indispensable both
to her social and political sxistance-n which
either che must live or have no life.
The exemption of negros from sale for debt u, f.
der execution with certain qualifications and con-
ditions, is policy as wise in every point OF view
as it is humane and consistent with the natural
relation of master and servant. This measure,
which proposes to create species of homestead in
slave property, has been before suggested, from
time TO time, IN various States, but IN no instance
has there been any specific legislation upon it
We learn, however, that the proposition will be
introduced at the next session of the Mississippi
| Legislature, and will be ably supported.
This exemption of negros from sale for debt
would give a security and psrmanency to slave
property, which would make it the most desirable
of all others as family estate. If adopted
throughout the South, it would withdraw from the
banking basis of the North nearly fifteen hundred
millions of dollars, keep the interest on that
| amount at home, and counterfeit to that extent,
| the concentration of capital at New York and
| Liverpool, which has been based so largely upon
the security afforded by Southern slaves without
| compensation in return. 1t would also make the
| ownership of few slaves more desirable than at
present and thus check the tendency to the accu-
mutation of a very large number of slaves in the
hands of very small number of slave owners, the
effect of which is to weaken the institution of
slavery by reducing the number and political influ-
ence of those who are directly interested in it as
l IL vV0nld DO II 20 pnor cd.
vantage to own a slave and strengthen actually
and politically the institution, as every owner
would vote, and, if necessary, fight for his prop
| eriy.
Not only would such measure dffuse and thus
I strengthen slavery numerically. but would pow
erfuy conduce to its territorial diffusion and ex-
tension. The emigrating class is not the wealthy
The rich and the well 10 do seldom emigrate, to
new countries at least Therefore, the more slave
, ~ is difused amongst men of comparatively small
capital, who can afford to own but few slaves
the greater will be the number Of slayeholdine
emigrants into new territory
With the exemption idea once fixed ss an In
separabe part of the institution of negro servitude
no fanatical madness or Congressional usurpatioI
could endanger the existence of the South or pre-
vent her from growing her growth and approach
| ing her lawful Inheritance on earth. In near.
] | every household negro servitude would become
with it in all its changes, following it in all it
wanderings, and planted and cherished whereve
it made its home as indispensable institution, Il
be defended by the pater tamiliaS with his life
b necessary, and bequeathed as perpetuity to hi
| children.
The strongest and wisest policy on the part c
the South is that which enlarges and dffuses tn
interest of the whites in negro slavery, and at tn
Y same time conduces to increase and preserve tn
affection of the negro for bis master. This mu
tua bond of interest and affection, of protectio
and dependence, is truly one of purdurable tough
g ness. This relation wisely cherished, is bette
= than compromises, !" "fnslities, and that endes
list of expedients which have SO long been admin
istered to the South by the political practtionel
of that class, who think "spermacitt sn exceller
9 thing for an inward bruise."
o Given the general establishment of negro ez
: emption, with such notifications as might b
deemed just and wholesome, and the Souther
States, by the dflused unity of interest Qf we ma
d use the expression) thus secured. would preser
an unbroken front to every assault, inside or GU
d side of legislation, that might be made upon the
rights or domestic tranquility and security.
We fear there is no such unity OF interest
: present, and though the South may bravely fac
it her foes, we doubt that she can do so with SCI
! 1 cd fropf