The Winchester home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-07-29
SLAVERY.
Mr.. Editor:

cation at this day to write on the sub
ject of slavery, after so much has
been said about it in the last 80 years.
1t would seem that our true position in
the South was fully known to US, but
when we make inquiry into the opin.
ions of southern men we find great
diversity in sentiment in respect to
those features of slavery upon which
the perpetuity the institution depends.
must say that feel alarmed when |
hear men of exalted position in the
South declare that the institution is
absolutely wrong, or that it is essenti-
ally an evil in any respect, whether
morally, socially or politically. We
lately have heard from a high position
in Tennessee that the institution Of sla-
very is not a desirable one, and that
this high authority had no sympathy
with the sentiment Of those who think
it desirable, that such sentiment new
or had an existence until in com
paratively a recent time. If il can
be made to appearto me that slavery
is practically and essentially M evil
rs above stated, |, to be consistent
with myself, will at once declare my
self an abolitionist in the fullest sense
of that now odous term. On the great
principle Of doing unto others as !
would have others do un'o me.
| should be for perfect and immediate
manumission, even if it bankrupt the
United States for ages; for what will
it profit q man if he gain the whole
world aud loose his own snnl,
If it be an evil ! do not care that
,lc master feels the most of it that
r;oes moi effect the principle. If God
or Nature ordained the institution, then
it is no. essentially an evil, either to
master or slave, for God forces no evil
upon us, and conscqu emily if it he an
evil we make it so, and thr proper
slnns';on is, how shall the corrective be
applied. All good is desirable, all evil
is to be Stunned, even the appearaace
OF it. 1t is most childish argument
in Justification of continuing slavary.
it is not now convenient TO abolish
tive have the evil here, and must
make the best of it--that it is now
right to keep it up; that is in sub
stance to say, though we did wrong
by first ensaying the African, still
as it would put us now TO great incon-
veniencc to liberate them, it is right
to hold them in slavery, just what the
lawyers call taking advantage Of our
own wrong. Upon the same princi-
pie could we rob a man and by long
possession, claim right to the fruits
of robbery, and tue robbery Of liber-
ty is greater sin than robbery Of pro
perty.
80! what tangled web We weave,
When we practice to deceive"
If such is the reasoning. and such
the views, and such the tenure by
which southe rners hold slaves in bon
dage, and if there is none better, God
help them in the day of retribution.
Then there is something wrong
such reasoners should either change
their sentiments or change their home.
| look upon such sentiments as dan
gerous to our peace, absolutely alarm
ing. This is the poison that so much
disturbs the healthy functions of our
system of government and if my mind
was diseased by it, can imagine al.
most any state of things might appear
right or wrong. Even Giddings or
Greedy might appear great and good
men. Like the effect of some mar
cotics that cause double uision, blind
ness &C., and hence the politics OF
many have two faces, turned North
and South. say, Mr.. Editor, the
South needs sound, healthy senti-
ment on the Slavery question. ain
sorry to see some of our prominent
papers in Tennessee acquiesce in the
tone OF sentiment here condemned
Slavery is just, or it is the most wick.
ed oppression ever perpetrated BY a.