, 1859-12-20
J uStIco CatSou on the Question OF En-
xlnEinN freA n s.fHknan

Justice Catrou on the Question OF En-
1laF1nE free Negroes.
4 bill is pending before the Tennessee Leeis-
lature, mined against free negroes, designing to
either drive them from the State, or enslare
them. Justice Catrou, Of the Supreme Court Of
the United States, has written to the Nashville
Union and An:tr:a@tan the following letter, pro-
testing against tlp passage: Of this infamous
bill:
To the Editor Of the Union and American:
DEAR StR:-I have for several weeks past
been aaxiouslJ waiting to hear what the views
Of your leading journai we're on the bill pend
ing before our Legislature, proposing TO ens1ave
or drive frum tue State, tho free co1ored popu-
ias'op now amongst us., 1t provides that these
persons sdalzsBe seized and sold, IL found Lere
after the first day OF bag next, IT. theF ara
adults--and that the children ahall be bound
out, de-; the adults are allowed to emigrate to
Africa. IN which case some slight did is to be
portatton; OF, secondly, they may seek mas.
ter and Eo luto slayery.
Now, who are, these peorles There is not
one IN one hundred Of them, to say the least.
TINT ever has been slave, Usually their mo.
Tiers, ,grandmothers, or at.graadmothers
Me1e sIaxes: who were emane'Pased By masters
lot mer'tor1ouz services, Or from benevolent
motives, By the Courts Of Justice, and accord-
ing to law. They all bare vested right to free
dom By the Judgments and degrees Of Courts,
Under our Constitution Of 1876, the free COL
ored men voted at tho polls. That the old Con.
stitntion extended to them and protected their
rights to certaint extent, is free from doubt.
But pass By this question.
My objection to the bilt is that il propotts 10
comma On outrage, to p<rpt&ra&e an opprfssioa
dnd eTu<!y. This is The plain truth, and it is
idle to m1nce words to soften the tact. Let Us
look the proposition boldly in the face. This
depressed and helpless, portion of our popula-
slaTed for life, and their property forfeited, as
no slave can hold property. The mothers are
to be sold. Or driven. away from their children.
many Of them infants. The children are to be
bound out until they are twenty-one years Of
agc' and then to leave the State or be sold;
for life, in faet: Now, of.hese women and child.
fen, there Is hardly one in ten that is Of uu-
mixed negro b.ood. Some are half.white; many
have hali-white fubthers and white fathers.
making cast Of e7a-l0oths OF white blood;
many hare third cross, In which the negro
ate truth. This description Of people who were
born free, and lived u fre persons, are to be
introduced as slaves into our families. or into
cur negro quarters, there to be under an over
seer; or they are to be sold to the negro. trader
and sent South, there to be whipped By over
0-NA " FFtt%1N FfDfkVH IN Inc negro Quar-
ters-as they will preach rebellion everywhere
that they mar be driven to by this unjust law,
neither it be anongst US here in. Tennessee. or
South OF rs on ihe cotton md sugar plantations.
Or in the Abolition meetings in the Free States.
Nor will the women be tic least effect1re in
! preaching re crusade, when begging money in
in this State, in bondage.
Ne re arc tod that this Free Negro Bill" is
polite, popular measure. Where Is it poputars
IN what nook or corner Of the State are the |
principles Of humanity 50 deplorably deficient,
toat majority Of the whole Inhabitants would |
commit IN Outrage not committed in Christian
country Of which history gives anv account In |
What country is it, this side Of Aft7ca, that ,he
majority have enslAvsd the minority. sold The
Eeak to the strong and sppGed the proceeds OF |
[ne sale TO educate the children Of the stronger
Hae, as this oii pFoposese 1t il an open asser-
Ion that might makes right" It is reopen
ng the African slAss trade, in fact, In that
tade the strong capture the weak, and sell
hem, and 80 it will Be here, il this policy Is car
led out.
Al o~er the State, those who are RESPONSIBLE
Or passing the bill xill hare to contend with
carfut public opinion, made up of Ill The
Eomeu who have moral characters ind religious
ceilings; backed BY the clergy, and a.suredly
y very large majority Of tie 4 embers Of al
nc churches; Tor we must carry along with us
ne anpoEtaut TACT that number5 Of The people
o1&ds - ue eusaFeo OF driven out, belong to. !
nd IRE members Of our various churches and
! full communion. 1hxt these great bodies Of
hr1st1an men and women will quietly stand bT
nd see their humble co-workers sold On The
lock 70 the negro trader, i not to be expected:
or VII any set Of men be supported, morally
politically, who are the authors Of such !
Nor is this half the truth. Tale al the fire.
tates, and how will the matter stand, There.
'ose 70 ssaunch and upright men WHO IRE strug.
ing TO uphold the constitution and laws. md
Protect the rights of The South in the enioy-
ens Of their Aaye prnperty; will be net by our
n; wll be tauutad before tho million: will
ave Il put to them squ4rely whether they saoc-
on ih1s csuel measure Is ! part Of the Southern
eed, to Wit: that ali negroes. and thoee Of ne
. uflgm, can be ngattnIly sold into slayerr
dEltea from their childrrn aud the place of !
eH bsssb, the uufestFaiued wilt Of the Eonth- |
n Hhles MANI What Northern man. that has
Anhood 10 him, will not exclsim. ii ahhor. /
the North: -. >~"" ~ ">1''A0 J
II sach q measure 'ot persecution was tho :
1tk OF some new weak State, and this thing | :
me in = corner, it wou}d not he 40 bsd; bnt 4
.nnessee Is proud, succtssful community. :,
At has for thirty rears exercised controlIin. c
dueuce In the aAuirs Of the nation. she has Il
hde two Presidents;; hss lone :.tood in the =
'at rank Of the great party that bxs governed
country 70: successfully for nearly sixty
a!s. and theratafe Hk1 Liquidation NAV vel 81 1
ed before Eoythern e1u1dsss AZ deasring The
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