Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-02
For the Patriot.

MEssRs EDITORS Il am under many obi
cations 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 ar
ticle in the Aduertiser is a strange miscOnstruc-
ton and perversion of the paragraph of my
letter referred to; and had the letter. taken as
,rhole, Gas you well remark,) been consider
ed, think it would have been impossible for
any sensible, fair man. to have imputed to me
the sentiments alleged against me by the i'd
pertisr.
1t will be remembered that l 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 execu-
tive committee was to be elected, the pub
fishing committee to be appointed, and the
question to be determined whether they were
to be sustained by the Society in their refusal
to publish tracts on the subject of Slavery.
This question was to be decided by the life
members and life directors. A large majority
of these live North, and ofSouthern men enti-
tied 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 reli-
ance for such action as wotld continue the
usefulness of the Society in the South, and
thus carry out the objects of its institution.
Nv letter was intended to present such con-
siderations as might legitimately act favora-
bly, upon the conservative men, North. With
this view | reviewed Mr.. WHIPPIE's tract,
which the Tract Society had rejected, and
which the Abolitionists desired should be pub
lished. showed its gross misstatements as
to our law upon the subject of Slavery, and
denounced its grossly libelous statements as
to the moral conduct of Southern men as con-
nected with Slavery. then gave succinct
account of the negro race as they actually ex-
list amongst us; how they are civilized; that
many of them are christians; that they are
contented and happy, well clothed, well fed,
and not overtasked.
In this connection the paragraph occurs to
which objection is made. The advertiser pur-
ports to quote it, but does hot in fact do So
II is as follows:
al have not intended to defend the institu-
ton of Slavery. have long considered it
can evil-an evil, Gas Mr.. RIvEs once admit
." ted in the Senate,) morally. socially and
"politically. Until within the last 70 years
ii never heard any well-informei Southern
"gentleman give expression to any contrary
+" sentiment About that time Mr.. CALHOUN
first announced the opinion that the in
stitution was q desirable one. Now, many
"Southern men, following Mr.. CALHOUN, and
"pressed by aggressive attacks from the
"North hold the same opinion. But never
have sympathized with this sentiment. l
=" hold Slavery to be an evil-a greater evil
to the master than to the slave"
Now, this statement, taken alone. is not sus-
eeptible of the meaning that there is moral
guilt on the part of a master, in being the
ovner of q slave. On the contrary. IL asserts,
that 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 IL the schole letter is considered, and
am interpreted in view of the attitude occu-
pied. and the object had In view, IL seems to
me there is not the slightest pretext for the
attack of the advertiser.
The attack of the advertiser does me great
Injustice. IL Imputce W INV oP'"ANs -~'~'
entertained, and sentiments detest was
horu and reared in Virginia, and have lived In
Tennessee more than forty years. My father
owned slaves, and have owned them for ffty
wears. My own interests and those OF my
children are identified with the South, and it,
fortunes. How then can be supposed to be
unmndful of its interests, or regardless OF Its
honor!
The sentiments expressed by me were
entertained by JEYrERsos and by CLAY. They
are entertained by Gen. CAss and President
BUCHANAN. Many, nay, until recently, al
our revercd and honored Southern statesmen
entertained them. .
make these explanations because my let
ar has had but little publicity In the South,
md garbled and perverted extracts may mis-
lead honest men. NATHAN GREEN.
LspAsos, June 20. 1857.
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