Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-05-30
DISTRIBUTION AND ABOLITION

deny that at all times and under all circumstances
whether Of peril or Of safety they have stood IN
hlnchingy in defence Of the rights Of the Southern
States, and in opposition to all the mad schemes Of
Aboitionists and Free Soilers designed % interiors
with the institution of slavery, uleshsr b simple
agitation, by open or invidieas aliaaks upoa the
constitution, the only real safeguard of he South
Nor viii ID be denied lhat the Opposition undsr one
pretezi and sa0d-sr. while admitting ne abstract
,isllos and recttlde Of ON saase have time and
arain opposed ihe policy of the Democratic party
Woare charged, not with lukewarmness in advoea-
ting Southern rights, but with zeal which runs BE-
yOnd discretion; that we oppose the schemes Of alb
clifton with such vehemence, as to increase the hos
tility and numbers Of our assaants when say they)
a more eOnciliatOry course might sOOthe the angry
passions Of our adversaries, and bring them to re-
gard US once more as BROTHER
We shall not undertake to Justify the opinionS or
acts Of individuals who regarding the great body of
the Democratic party as being too sluggish in its
movements, have sought to chide the rash and head
strong policy of abOlitionism by counter move.
ment, justifable only when every peacabIe measure
Of defense against these wicked attacks upon our
rights has failed
We shall not undertake to determine how far the
opposition or Know Nothing party have been infu-
eneed by sincere but mistaken regard for our true
Interest in their councils of moderation how many
and who Of them have been influenced bv secret
sympathy with the present anti-slavery movement.
or who, by unhoy ambition which would hazard
our dearest interests, so it gave them place and
power or the number Of those who from mere mo-
tives Of hostility to the Democratic party have s,s
fered themselves TO be transferred blindfod into the
ranks Of party which plays merely second fiddle,
70 Black Repubicanism. Disearding the stale and
Puerle charge of undue anxiety in reference to the
movements of Abolitionists, and of hot-headsd and
indscreet zeal in opposing their mad schemes of IA
natcism, we shall cease to warn the South of the
dangers to which it is exposed by the insidious CO.
operation Of those who would lu US into fatal con-
hdenee in the coed intentions, or weakness Of those
who have openly combined for cur destruction.
We shall not fail to expose the rash conduct of
those Who to secure a temporary OF local triumph
over the Democratic party, would implant feeling
Of hostility towards the South in the bosoms Of all
those who may not have been born upon American
SOIL or who happen to differ with them in religions
sentiment
Above all, We shall not fail to expose the lurking
serpent Of Abolitionism which lies concealed among
the fragrant flowers, and tempting fruits and gusb
ing fountains Of the garden Of distribution"
With skill which adds lustre even to the fame of
that most distinguished fall political tacticians-ths
Hon John Bell-this bill, for the benefit of all whom
1t may concern has been thrust before the Southern
people, just when it was supposed there was M
longer question upon which we could be seriously
divided There was little hope entertained even nv
this distinguished Senator himself, if we NAV be.
heve his own words that it could ever receive the
public sanction, and we venture almost to EXPRESS
the nope that he had too much patriotism to desire
It. 1t was a mere tub to the whale" intended to
amuse, till the fatal harpOon shall have been made
ready.
We will not charge that the Honorable Senator
was willing instrument in the hands of those who
have other aims in the passage Of this bill. than to
AID IN works Of internal improvement, or common
schools, or paying off the State debts. But we do
say most emPhaticany, that the Honorable Senator,
having failed to enable the Black Republicans to
defeat the Kansas Nebraska bill, and the party who
gave 1t their support, the next most acceptable ser
vice which he could render them was the introduce
ton Of this BILL by means Of which it is hoped to
keep up divisions in the South or what if it should
ever become law, would rebound stiIl more to the
advantage of Black Republicanism, by giving them
safe platform stand in their war on the rights
Of the South. They would have us first so strength
en- the hands Of the general goyernment-wOuld
make us dependent upon its bounty, that when the
reigns Of government shall haze passed into their
hands we viii be ready TO become slaves-creatures
living upon the crumbs which fall from the table Of
our masters-the rulers of our National Govern
ment We shall blush for our State whenever like
a spendthrift child, it shall cali upon the general
government to take care of its pecuniary interests
What Tennessean, entertaining the proud feelings
that have heretofore distinguished our Southern
people who does not feel Inundated by the piteous
cries that the Know Nothing party are already put
ing up, as mere petitioners to the general govern
ment. We have been imprOvident say they. Our
State legislature is incapable of managing our fnan-
ces. They have already involved us in debts to an
extent which we are unable TO bear unless we get
aid from Uncle sam. AS though the general gov
ernment had any other funds than those which we
ourselves have paid into its treasury Instead Of
appearing as humble supplant the feet Of this
great gormand let us masters require to feed on
less Out upon hat foolish and suicidal policy which
teaches as TO regard as a bounty tie repayment Of
8 part of the tax money which has been extracted
from tolls. But it is not to oppose the absurdi
ty of the system Of high taxes which the Distribu
ton bill perpetuates, that we may be RECALLED with
the delusve idea Of its munifcenoe, by the bountes
which it patronisngly proposes to bestOW upon US,
but its far worse abolition feature, to which we
desire to direct public attention. For, however IN
equal the proportion which we get back to that
which we pay, we have, nevertheless, endured so
long the injustice and inequality Of our socalled
revenue system, tortured, as it has been, by the
protective policy into a scheme for plundering the
South and West for the benefit Of Northern manu-
features, that we might still live on under it in
hopes Of a better day coming.
We might maintain some show os patience even in
spite of the fact that this bill seeks to rivet upon US
these hardships which we have so long struggled to
throw off, but which have heretofore been Perpetu-
ated by the false cry that it was necessary in order
to provide means TO support the Government; and
this too, when the policy of the South has been
completely and triumphantly vindicated, that our
''high tax policy for the good of the people was
regarded as an exploded idea of by-gone times,
er to be revived.
These, however, are mere pecuniary considcFa-
lions. We have been so long the mere d" hewers Of