Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-03-15
SLAVERY AGITATION.

The great object Of the D mocracy has been,
for years past, toPut stop to slavery Agitsticn-
This was not to be done by any physical means, Tor
by sbu ting their eyes and closing their ears to the
fierce encroschment of lauaticsm at the North; but
they have endeavored to do 50 upon great Consti-
tutiOnsl principles Of equality and airness-prin-
ciples on which the good men of slI parties could
unite. There has beea but one thing that has
prevented the Democracy from consuDmating this
great end, the 5Oqntof cordial co operation Of all
parties IN the South Blu. for the distraction pro-
duced by Know Nothingism, We would easily have
made complete crush Of it long SINCE Let the
entire South sDd ali national men of the country
unite cordially with the Democracy on this CUES.
ton, however much they may differ az to Others
and we can in a little time rid ourselves of this
uncsasng agitation, and turn the attention of our
public men to more Lealtby subjects of national
interest.
Instead Of pursuing this course, it las been TIE
policy Of Inscriptions politicians who desired to
figure ia the lead OF faction to turn their batteries
against the Democracy and keep up the unceasing
cry that it was they who were producing al the
agitation n the country. They have persisted in
this until they have made many honest people Of
their party seriously believe it.
The recent opinion of the Supreme Court of the
United States that graf tribunal of the country
before whose decisions all parties and all factions
must give way-luTy and completely virdicates
and sustsins the Democratic party in the patriotism
and wisdom Of its course throughout the entire
history Of slavery agitation. From this decision
there is no appeal except to revolution. We
might well infer, therefore, that the agitation
would cease. But not so, if we are to credit the
New York Post, journal of high authority with
the Black Republicans. 1t says:
Some Of the journalists who support tie cause
Of the administration are pleasing themselves with
the fancy that the decision of the Supreme bench
Of the United States in the bred Scott casa will
put an end to the agtstion Of the slavery QUESTION
They will soon find their mistake TIE feeling in
favor of liberty is not easily smothered: discus
sion is lot so readily sienced. One specific after
another has been tried, with the same view and
with the same success. The Fugitive Slave law,
We were told, was to quiet oil agitation, but it did
mo-; the Nebraska bill was TO stop all controversy
on The slavery question, but it proved 10 be oil
poured on the flames. The usurDstou of the GOV
comment Of Kansas by the inroad from Missouri,
was thought Tor time to be q blow to the friends
Of liberty which they could not survive but it only
reused them to greater activity. The election Of
Dir. Buchanan as President in November was to
put az end to the dispute, but since November the
dispute has Waxed WBTmer and warmer It will
never end till the cause of liberty TAoohtionism
has finally triumpbed. Hesp statute upon statute,
follow up one act OF Executive interference with
another, add usurpatlon to usurpatOu, and judicial
decision to Judicial decision, the spirit against which
they are leVelled is indestruc.ible As long as the
press and speech Free the warfare will be contIn-
ued, and every attempt TO suppress it, by directing
sgalpst it any part Of the machinery of the gov
eminent will only cause It to rage the more 6ercey
The country is thus informed through this Gu,
thorised organ Of AbOlitionism that the efforts OIL
the Democracy to settle the slavery agitation will
prove fruitlsss, and that fanaticsm is to wage its
war Of aggression, reckless Of the Supreme Court
the Administration and every thing else; and vet
the Louisville Journal and such papers will condn
ne to prate about the persistent agitation Of this
question by the Democracy
It is time that the honest members Of the Know
Nothing party in the South had their eyes open.
It is time that patriots everywhere were beginning
to see that there is no safety for the country in
connection with this question, save in cordial
cooperation with the Democracy. Especially in
the South must they awaken to this consciousness
where they have such interests to stimulate them
and such practical manifestations Of its truth