Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-26
THURSDAY MORNING. MAY go, 1859.
The LcuisviIIe Journal, ana the ANTI
slavery sentiments of its Editor

THURsDAY MORNING, MAY 90, 1859.
The Louisville Journal, ana the Anti.
Slavery Sentiments of its EditOr'
We published few days since an article en-
bracing several extracts from the published writings
Of GRoRaE D. PRENTICE, the editor Of the Louisville
Journal showing cohclusivey that he had, from his
earliest appearance before the public, entertained
and expressed opinions unfriendly to the institution
Of slavery The editor of that paper replies to our
artice in his usual style of equvOcatiOn, attempt
ing to escape the odium which justly attaches to
those sentiments by resort to evssiOps and subter-
fuges as mean and dishOnOrAble as their author is
infamous and contemplate.
Without expressly denying the correctness of any
particular quotation given in columns, the edi-
tor of the Journal attempts 10 avoid the force of
them by producing The impression on the minds of
his readers that Of the expressions attributed
to him in our article were used. The Journal
commences by saying:
ga late number Of the Nashville Union speaks of
the editor Of the Louisville Journal having char
seterized slavery ideally vampire" and cites
various other expressions which we either never
used at all or used in boyhOOd upwards Of thirty
years ago when there no such paper as the
Louisville JonrRal and when We could know nothing
OF slavery except as boys eyes might view IL at
distance Of thousand miles"
Now, we defy he editor of the Journal to deny
having used the expression attributed to him above,
in connection with Southern slavery. We defy him
to show an instance where we have quoted his Ian
guage incorrectly. That some Of the expressions
quoted by us were written by Mr.. PRENTICE before
his connection with the Journal, does not relieve
him from the responsibility of their utterAnce. We
have never any retraetion Of those sentiments
since he became the editor of the Journal, but on
the contrary, he has again and again reiterated
them in form quite as Objectionable and offensive
as any of his denuncistiOds Of slavery contsined in
his life of Clay. The plea that these things were
written in his boyhood will not avail an apology
for their publication. We haze not now before us
COPY of the work. but feel confident that it was writ
ten after its author had reached mature age. Our
information is that the materials for the life of Clay
were collected in Kentucky by Mr.. PRKSTIoE in per
son. and that it is untrue, stated above that he
knew "nOthing- of slavery except boys eyes
might view it at distance Of thousand miles"
Atan events it is certain that in his mature man
hood, and after long residence in Kentucky he
has expressed as strong anti-savery opinions as
those contained ia his earlier writings.
In 1854, Wnen ne m1Bht Ahfe Deou buPPOSoO "
be as familiar with the institution Of slavery as at
this Time he said through the columns of the Jour
nal:
'An men have right to liberty no matter what
color"
The Louisville Journal in 1915, said:
eve have ever looked forward to the day when
Kentucky should contain within her borders no
bOndmen and we hope to live to see the light Of
such q day"
Ina number Of articles written at various times,
he took ground in favor of emancipation in Ken
lucky, and advocated as Editor of the Journal
policy which in the language of of his earlier
productions he characterized shat great revolu
tion whose wheels must continue to until they
reach the goal of universal freedom" We said in
our former article that Mr.. PREETIcE had pledged
himself as Editor of the Journal to press forward
this movement. We used the language quoted
above to characterize this emancipation movement
as he had formerly characterized it, and although
the language was used by him before his cOnnec-
ton with the Journal it is in keeping with the
timeuts expressed by him in his efforts TO advance
the emancipation through the columns of that
paper as the following extract from the Journal will
coneluSively show:
A conviction of the expediency and necessity of
ultimate emancipation has been spreading farther
and farther amoag our countrymen and taking
s'deeper and deeper root in their minds" and it
qures not the spirit of prophesy to fOretel the
end"
We have not access to the files Of journal during
the year ls47, but we fully satisfied and en-.
tirsy cOn6deuah il then advocated the doctrine SET
forth in the above extracts, TO which its editor had
been 30 long devoted. The Journals denial of this
fact will weigh but little with those familiar with the
utterly shameless and INSCRIPTIONS character of
its editor.
10 continuation Of article We asserted that the
journal only q few months ago advocated the fusion
of Black Republicans and Southern Wings for the
purpose of giving Black Rspublicanism strength to
accomplish its aims. The Journal falsely charges
that this is a msconstruction of its meaning, and
says:
1--WE said that the Republicans " needed the
SAVIOR Of nationality and that they lacked strength
to accomplish their aim through the overthrow
Of the Democracy but We presented this IS
reason why they, at least the patriotic portion Of
them should abandon those aims as impracticable,
and unite with us upon national ground"
We have before US the extracts from the Journals
article of August last, which extracts we published
at the time, and they fully expose the unblushing
falsehood which the editor of the journal perpe-
trstss in the paragraph quoted above He does not
in that article argue that the Republicans should
abandon their aims but encourages them TO enter
into coalition with the American party that they
may be enabled to accomplish their aims.
The Journal said
'The Republicans also lack strength to accom-
plish their aims through the overthrow Of ihe De
mooracy They also require aid from without their
organisation. This necessary aid they most GER
tainlv cannot obtain but in one Of two WAYS; either
by uniting in q new party of consolidated 0ppos-
tOn, or as we suggest, by aiding to resusoitate the
old Wing party"
This passage is so plain, that the editor of the
Journal with all his powers Of PerVersiOn will fall to
deceive honest and intelligent to its meaning
The Black Republicans lack streuth, to accomplish
their aims. They require aid from without their