The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-07-09
~ Hon Nathan Greene has lately been

rY- Hon. Nathan Greene has lately been
rudely assailed for entertaining anti-slavery
views. He vindicates himself in the subioin
ed letter to the Nashville Patriot:
Messrs Editors am under many obIiga
tions to you for the notice you take, in your
paper Of Tuesday. Of an attack upon myself,
and upon the Law School at this place, made
In the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser. The
article in the Advertiser is strange mscon.
struction and perversion Of the paragraph of
my letter referred to; and had the letter,
taken as iohoLe, las YOU well remark, been
considered, think it would have been i'm
possible for any sensible, fair man, TO have
imputed to me the sentiments alleged against
me by the Advertiser.
Ii will be remembered that was writing
to the Secretary of the Tract Society in view
of the annual meeting that was to take place
on the 18th of May. At this meeting the ex-
eeutive committee was to be elected, the pub
fishing committee to be appointed and the
question to be determined whether they ere
to be sustained by the Society in their Iefusal
to publish tracts on the subject of Slavery.
This question was to be decided by the
life members and life directors. A large ma.
jority of these live North, and of southern
men entitled TO vote but few attend these
anniversaries at New York. 1t was manifest
then, that the conservative life members and
life directors, who reside North, were almost
the sole reliance for such action as would
continue the usefulness of the Society in the
South, and thus carry out the objects of its
institution. Ny letter was intended to pre-
sent such considerations might legitimate
" act favorably upon the conservative men,
North. With this view revie wed Mr. Whip.
pies tract, which the Tract Society had re
iected and which the Abolitonists desired
should be published. [ showed its gross
misstatements as to our law upon the subject
Of Slavery, and denounced its grossly libel
Gus statements as to the moral conduct of
Southern men rs connected with Slavery. /
then gave n succinct account of the negro
race as they actually exist amongst us how
they are civilized; that many of them are
christians; that they are contented and hap
py, well clothed, well fed, and not overtask-
In this connection the paragraph occurs to
which objection is made. The Advertiser
purports to quote it, but does not in fact do
SO. 1t is as follows:
81 have not intended to defend the nstitu.
ton of Slavery. Ihave long considered it an
evil--an evil (as Mr. Rives once admitted in
the Senate,) morally, socially and politically.
Until within the last twenty-five years new
er heard any wellinformed Southern gentle.
man give expression to any contrary senti.
ment. About that time Mr.. Calhoun first an
nounced the opinion that the institution was
desirable one. Now, many Southern men,
following Mr.. Calhoun. and pressed by ag
gressive attacks from the North hold the
same opinion. But have never sympathised
with this sentiment hold Slavery to be
an evil--a greater evil to the master than to
the slave"
Now, this statement, taken alone is not
susceptible of the meaning that there is NOR
al guilt on the part of master, in being the
owncr Of slave. On the contrary, it asserts
,ha. the greater evil is endured by the master.
That, incidental to the existence Of Slavery,
there are evils, which fall principally upon
the white race, among whom the institution
exists.
But if the whole letter is considered, and
am interpreted in view of the attitude oc
cupied, and the object had in view, it seems
TO me there is not the slightest preteXt for
the attack of the Advertiser.
The attack Of the Advertiser does NE great
injustice. 1t imputes to me opinions never
entertained, and sentiments detest. was
born and reared in Virginia, and have lived
in Tennessee mere than forty years. My
father owned slaves, and | have owned
them for fifty years. my own interest ana
those of my children are identified with the
South, and its fortunes. How then can be
supposed to be unmndful Of its interests, OF
regardless of its honor2
The sentiments expressed by me were en-.
tertnined by jefferson and by Clay. They
are entertained by Gen. Cass and President
Buchanan. Many, nay, until recently, all
our reverend aud honored Southern states
men entertained them.
make these explanations because my let
ter has had but little publicity in the South,