Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-12
For the Patriot
For the Patriot -s---a-
what shall be done with the SLAVERY
E-A - Question.

WHAT shall be done with the Slavery
e. -A - Question.
Mesus. Editors-I wrote you few lines
rom.fime since. suggesting that an effort be
made to form andorganize Union Party,
looking to the central States to enter into it.
and throw the election Gf failing before the
psople) into the House and then subject the
.ultras OF the nortband south to the alternatives
of embracing each other or espousing the
cause and policy of the proposed Union
Party. / have not abandoned that idea. but
hope il will be resorted, TO should both of the
sectional parties the Republican and Demo-
Presidential contest, platform of principles
and national men as candidates, that we. the
conservative, union loving men can stand
upon and sustain. l am satisfied that shonld
they persist in their ultraism, it is practice
Bile and not only practicable, but patriotic
for the union men of the central States (whO
NUT. in the event of disunion, feel the shock
more grievously than The extremists OF
either the North or Soulh.) to so adjust tfer
columns of resistance, based upon national
and equitable regard for the interest of all
sections, TO defeat the designs of both the eI-
treme parties before the people, and SO afford
An ample opportunity between the election
in go aud the action of the States in their
sovereign capacity, through their members in
Congress, to rally to our support and render
certain our success in saving the American
people from the disc calamity of disunion.
,I,.. th.f 6.fa
extreme parties before the people, if we only
carry one State as in Sc, the voice of mil
lions OF freemen would resound in the ears
of our politicians to Cease this fraternal and
intrnal, and may l not say Internal strife
about slavery, and install in power the Union
Party formed of and around the heart of the
nation; and would not many of both those
antagonistical parties rejoice in so favorable
an opportunity to bury the tomahawk of sec
tional war, and smoke with US the national
pipe of peace and harmony; and enjoy with
MS The Offices aud emoiuments, the privileges
aid honors of our glorious Union
have faith, Messrs. Editors, that this idea.
elaborated and maintained by the many able
ID talented men of the opposition proper
residing in our central States wOnd prove
succ sstul in defeating a triumph by either of
the sectional parties. Yet would much pre-
fer that both OF one at least of those parties
would so modify their views as to rend"r it
patriotic for us to cooperate with them at
the polls in electing men of sound national
views. unconqucrable love of the Union and
an unfal,ering faith in the capacity of man
for self government. Pretcring such arrange
ment TO The only alternative (as conceive)
LEFT for the conservatives TO participate mat
abe. ballot box in the next Presidential
election, have therefore been patiently
and hopefully watching from my humble
standpoint to- discover in the political hor-
lion. some bright star shining through the
fuggy vapors of party, and the clouds of sec
tionalism. that would reveal to the Amer
lean people their true constitutional latitude
and Longitude, on the all absorbing and
overshadowing question of negro slavery.
That clear aud indisputable truth and
right exist somew here on this as on all other
vrxed questions, do not doubt, but that
that truth and right have not yet been pre-
scented to the American people, in a manner
and garb to be received aud acted upon by
them is evident from the numerous theories
that have their Jealous advocates and the
voluminous essays that from time to time
are given 10 the public. For me, Messrs
Editors. to advance theory with the hope
that it would be received with more unanim-
ity than those heretofore given by our most
eminent men would appear (were | known
TO the pnblic} as superlatively presumptlve,
but Knowing the favorable circumstances
surrounding me. to survive any disappoint-
ment that may await upon my efforts; un-
hesitaiingly cast my reflections upon the
subj. CT. 10y your permission) before the
public. ssF lsa aaas1i1 +'ii+'
l then propose to show what think to be-
indisputable trnth and right on this vexed
slavery question. by adbering strictly TO th"
terpreiing our national compact; that is that
all powers not expressly granted by the
Stairs TO the Federal government, or that
ere not absolutely necessary to carry out ex-
press grants. arc reserved to the State or
prope, thereof, aud by addncing facts not
questioned. and doctrines not controversial.
will further premise that do not under
stand the difference between the North and
South on this subject to be in regard TO
slavery in the States, but that it is to slavery
In the common territories. No party can
arise in the North that would expect the
South 60 debate the question with them as
TO the constitutional right of the sovereign
States to tolerate and protect negro slavery.
insignificant factions may endeavor to pro
woke and irritate but their feeble efforts to
swell 10 the dimensions OF party fraught
with danger 30 the Union would prove as
harmless and as absurd a. those Of the toad
In the fable; could a reconciliation be effec-
ted on the question Of slavery in the terri
tories. Let US then consider the facts exist
ing at or about the time of the formation OF
our constitution. II was formed and adop-
& d by thirteen States. some Of which had
Territory and some none. What was done
with this territory was il not surrendered
by the States owning 1t to the feseral- gov
ernmeut! II was. and with slch conditions
an the States ceding imposed. The States
having no territory could only accept or
concur in accepting. that surrendered by
those having. with the conditions agreed up
on; but could not reserve any power over
that they never had. ',.rr...
Th re never having been any dficulty ia
regasi to the federal powers exercised over
she territories thus cedcd. take II for grant
ed that the conditions or power granted and
reserved were plain and explicit
All OF our trouble has arisen out OF or from
territory acquired by the common blood and