Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-18
Answer TO Justice CatrOn's Communities


To THE EDITOR or TIE UNION AND ANERCAN:-I
have read with establishment a communication adj
dressed to YOU by Judge CATEoy, upon the PROPOSE
ton now before the Legislature to from the
State the free negro population. or to allow them,
ut their election to select masters. The Judge
would have better performed the duty of the South
crn Patriot Nv combining his remarks to the objcc-
tionable features of the bill now under considera-
ton. and by treating them in a different tone and
spri,: but it Is manifest from the character Of his
communication that his objections are against this
og any other bill intended TO have the same effect,
and not to the provisions of this particular bill. In
opposing measure Of public policy, deemed essen
tia for the safety Of the country by lis friends,
proper respect for the opinion Of others, and for the
Legislature of the State before which the measure
was pending. should have indnced a calm and dis
passionate consideration Of the arguments for and
against it. But the honorable Justice, while he
makes fauatcal appeal to the sympathies Of the
people of the State wholly ignores the condition of
the South and the dangerous character of the free
negro population to the safety of the whole and its
corrupting influence upon the slave population of
the State.
The Constitution of 1896, he says allowed
free negroes the right Of suffrage. That is true.
But the free white citizens of tire State did not re-
gard that class of persons safe repositories OF
political power nor the equals Of the white race,
and therefore in the new constitution they denied
the free negro the position of political equality he
had formerly occupied and it may be that in doing
so. the State did an outrage" perpetratcd an 'op-
preston and cruelty in the opinion of tne Hon.
JUSTICE revolving to his feelings the propo
stion now requiring that the free negroes shall
leave the State. or select MASTER and go to work.
to earn an honest living.
Is Mr. Justice CATRoN IN favor Of restoring the
rights Of suffrage to the Tree negro? If net, why
bring up the subject and note the fact that he was
deprived OF the rights Of suffrage?
Is the present proper time to have measure Of
of public saicty,-proposed in obedience to the de-
mands OF public opinion from almost all portions Of
the country denounced as an outrage, intended to
pelpetratc an oppression and cruelty
Is he quite sure that his denunciaton may not be
REGARDED as an attempt to intimidate the Legisla-
turc9 Would not his passionate appeal to '' women
and cIergymcn" have found a more suitable re-
sponse in a meeting Of Northern Abolitonists-with
Miss Lucy Stone and others OF her like, as spoons
crSe
The Honorable Justice asks, In what nook or cor
n of the State are the principles Of humanity so de
pIarahlv deficient that majority Of the whole IN
habitautS would commit an outrage. not committed
in amy country OF which history gives any account
Is he not aware that nearly half Of all the slave
States in the Union has passed. cor now have be-
fore them) measures intended to effect this ilcnti
cal outrage" and that they have been driven to
this as measure OF lubiic safety?
Is he ignorant OF the almost universal conviction
Of tbe public mind throughout the South that there
is no class of our population SO dangerous to the
rcqca and safety of the white. and SO corruptlng
and dcmoralizing to our slave population, as the
F,.,, rcrr,as-n5ne SO convenient AMI safe, As
channel OF communication, between the abolition
nr,;ssarv AMI the slave, as the Free negro. II
~, chance. the abolition emissary should mistake
his man. and make propositions which the free ne
GRO should repcl. the negro would not he compe-
tant ,witnoss against the white Aboiit'nisJ' and
hence he escapes vourlaws.
is the Hon Justice ignorant OF the TACT that IN
all the large towns of the state and the SOUTH TIE
chief means bv which the Free negroes live, cen
sts, in selling liquor from hidden dcns OF iniquity)
to the slaves. and iullcinE them 70 steal from
their masters and others, to pay for this corrupung
drug and that this vice exists in spite OF the u
most vigilance of the corporate authorities Of the
cities anl is especially rampant on the sabbath
the day givyn mp to worship and to rest for the
-lay" by their mas .ers and the laws
Is he not aware OF the fact that where slaves are
permitted to associate with Free negroes it is next
to impossible 10 control the slaves and that this con
tact bcgcts the necessity OF much more rigid disc
pine with the slaves?
is be willing that Tennessee shall be ovcrrun by /