The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-19
A DANGEROUS SOUTHERN NAN.
From the Savannah News, July 10.

eXtlnctlon OF slavery In virginia.
DANGEROUS SOUTHERN MAN.
From the Savannah News, July 10,
There is Law School at Lebanon, Tennes
see, which receives, we believe, q very large
support from the Southern States. Southern
men have been urged to patronize this schoo
in preference to those of Cambridge and Yale
because it was located in their midst, and ite
teachers were supposed to reflect their senti
ments. This latter does not seem to be the
case-at least 80 far as regards one member OF
the Faculty-as we learn from late number
of the Montgomery (Alabama) Advertiser and
Gazette.
1t appears that the Advertiser, in it's issue Of
June IL, published An editorial, in which ap-
peared the following paragraph:
"In recent letter written to the American
Tract Society, in writing on the question of
Slavery, Judge Green, one of the leading Pro-
lessons at Lebanon, says: Il do not mean to
defend Slavery. l have my thought that it is
an evil-sn evil morally, socially, and polti-
cally but q greater evil to the m aster than to
the slave and until within the last twenty five
years, have never heard an intelligent, we'll
educated man express any other views In an
other portion of the letter, Judge Green Gays
hear reason on the subject"
Judge Green, conceiving himself to be mis-
represented, writes to the editors under date of
June Is. In his letter appears the following
paragraph:
"The passage in my letter referred to is as
follows:
al have not intended to defend the institu-
ton of Slavery. / have long considered it an
evil-an evil las Mr.. Rives once admitted in
the Senate) morally, socially, and politically
Until within the last twenty-five years. never
heard any well.informed Southern gentleman
give expression to any contrary sentiment
About that time Mr.. Calhoun first announced
the opinion that the institution was a desirable
one. Now, many Southern men, following Mr.
Calhoun-and pressed by aggressive attacks
from the North-hold the same opinion. But
have never sympathized with this sentiment
hold Slavery to be an evil-a greater evil to
the master than to the slave"
Judge Green urges that "this paragraph
does not assert that in the relation Of master
and slare there is anything wrong Such an
opinion was never entertained by me, nor was
any such sentiment intended to be con,aiued in
the part of my letter referred to. Isay that
Slavery is an evil--'a greater evil to The mas.
ter than to the slave Of course, if there we're
any moral guilt tn the relation, the evil would
consist in q crime perpetrated upon The slave
by the master. In that case, the slave was the
sufferer. But my position in the letter is, that
the master is the principal sufferer that az an
| incident to the institution of Slavery, evils re-
suit to the white race among whom they are"
If our readers will compare the two para
graphs-that originally quoted by the Aduerti
ser, and one quoted by the Judge, in defence
they will see that no injustice has been done
that gentleman-that while the exact phraseol.
ogy was not observed, bis opinions have been
correctly stated.
| But, says Judge Green:
al was born and brought up in Virginia.
Ny father owned slaves, and have owned them
for fifty years, and now own them. / have al.
ways lived in the South, and have been identi.
fed with its interests and alive b its honor"
We agree with the Aduerticr, that Judge
Green may believe that, became he was born
| of parents in Virginia who owned slaves, and
because he owns slaves himseE, he is therefore
true Southern man. But il will be hard to
convince the Southern peoplethat any man can
be true citizen ofthe South, Who publicly lends
the authority of his name, character, and posi-
ton, at this day, and circrmstanced as the
South is, TO the damnable ssntiment that SIa.
very "is an euil, morally. s,cially, and politi-
l CUtty. "A INV pfOtcb0Or WaO, IN Ms social re-
lations with students, inculc.tes such doctrines,
backed with the inf uencesof his position, and
of kind, social nature nd pure individual
morality, is dangerous q well as untrue citi
zen in the South.
The editor has been cHdibly informed that
Judge Green has often made the subject of
Slavery the topic Of conversation with such stu.
dents as are thrown within his social influence: :
and that the effect uponsheir opinions has been
observed.
In his defence, judge Green says, that du.
l'ring the early days of he Republic, such opin.
ions as his were common in Virginia. and en-.
tertained by such men as Jefferson and Mad;.
son. If Jefferson ami Madison had undergone
the experience of ne last thirty years. thev
would have changed their opinions, and sided
with Mr.. Calhoun, nose opinions Judge Green
candidly admits 'ise neUer has sympathised
pnh"
In this last option, Judge Green will find
himself in vocal minority. The South il
becoming more thoroughly convinced every day
that the great Cfolinian was correct, and that
Slavery is not DRY right per Sc, but is the best
for the South, nd best for the country-and
that, at the Soah, it is best for the master and
the slave. If Jdge Green holds adverse vieva
he is q dangertas man for the South, and moi
fit to instruct Southern youths in the lava q,
their country. The Advertiser is right in saw
ing that his sntiments constitute the only baa;,
upon which Oolition can be justified: an ;n.ti
tuition that an evil, morally, sociaIlv. And
politically, deserves to be attacked by religion
; 70 be uprooed BY every lover of good society