Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-16
FTOm the Mobile Register,
THE ONLY WAY.

Many papers at the North, hitherto considered at
| least ofyery dubious orthodoxy, are expressing an
anxious desire have the slavery question settled.
They speak oft as the only source of dscOrd be-
! tween the two sections, and lament, in dOlOrOus
! language, the disturbance of general harmony.
| They expatiate in glowing phrases the blessing
ofthe Union and paint in colOrs of romantic bright
ness the future of this great country, if its
guardian care is only continued. If they are sin
cere, we rejoice such evidence of returning
reason. We hail this tone of regret and Temon-
STRANGE the harbinger Of peace, the precursor of
our political millineum when equal justice and
brotherly love shall reign triumphant If there be
earnest desire at the North to quiet this agitation,
to still the voice of strife and the fraternal
feeling which existed in the early history of the
Republic, between the now waring sections it can
be easily done. No profound policy, or lofty
craftsmanship subtle diplomacy, is required The
pathway to peace is as plain midday, and all
who will, may walk in it. Let the Northern people
cease, and forever their denunciations against
slavery let them dissolve their organizations
against it; let them leave it where the Constitution
left it, to be managed and controlled by those
among whom it exists, and who alone respOn-
sible for it. Let the settlement of territories be
governed by those natural laws which regulate the
course of immigration, undisturbed by abolition
societies, seeking through organized effort to
facture spurious public opinion in the territory
and thereby give character to its local institutions
In other words, let the North do simple justice to
the South and there will be further dissention.
The South has never warred against he North she
has made no encroachments, she has sought ad-
vantage, social, political or commercial; the only
favor she has asked is to be left alone
Gentlemen Of the North will you grant this
Are there not patriots enough, wise, conservative,
honest men enough to stay the mad current of
fanacism and restore the Northern mind to reason
This is no subject for concessions or compromises
upon our part; it is a simple question between
right and wrong. If slaves are property under the
Constitution of the United States, (which is our
political decalOgue) then abotionism in all its pro-
team FORMS is treason. If all the States according
to the terms of our Union, equal then the terri
tory belongs as much to Alabama as to Connecticut,
and the citizens of the former fully entitled
to occupy it with their negroes the citizens Ofhe
latter with their clocks and cattle. To Obstruct the
exercise of this common right by either, is breach
of faith the part of the other, and should not be
endured. There is no basis for negotiation, no
ground for treaty in this matter.
The only way IN which slavery can be legitl-
mately approached by those opposed to it, is by
dessOving the present government and reconstruct
1t under a new organic law. SO long as the
present cOnederacy exists, the discussion oft,
save by those connected with it, Is a breach OF
faith Until the North shall learn and acknowledge
this, there IS no hope of peace and harmony. If
the South continues in the UniOn it will be because
she Is strong enough to despse and crush the ypers
who seek to sting her. What. shall a man make
terms with the incendiary who would bury him and
his family in the ashes of his own dwelling? Shall
he compromise with the thief who steals his prop
erty, because forsoOth,, in the language of the n
Y Times " the moral sentiment" of the rogue leads
him to theft and his nature cannot be changed
How deeply debauched must be the public opin-
ion of a community which can tolerate snch an
gument as this How habituated to wrong the peo-
pie who will accept for their conduct such an excuse?
1t would be well for the North to weigh the conse-
quences which must follow their course if contuu-
ed The retrbution will fall upon them, not upon
US. Already agrarianism, which is the parent of
Abolitionism, has warmed into life internal brood
of evils among them. The elements of corruption
and disorganization fostering in every member
of the body polite. The moral pestilence is impris
oned for a time, but sooner or later Will desOlate
their whole social system. When that hour of riot
and ruin comes, their condition will indeed be hope
less if there be no conservative South toward whom
thew can turn for succOr