Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-11-17
., g. EAsTnAN a co.
Edward hates, of Missoari, on slavery

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER ~, 1889.
--------------- -----------------
Edward Bates, of Missouri, on slavery.
The St. Louis Meas lately published an authOrita-
tive exposition Of the views of Hon. EDWARD BATES,
Of Missouri on the slavery question. Mr.. BATES is
one Of those distinguished statesmen who were in
Tted to attend the great ETzEEIDoE-BELL jolitica-
ton at Memphis last fall, and the sentiments of his
letter in response to the committee OF invitation,
were highly commended by the Southern Opposition
press at the time. We saw clearly foreshadowed in
that document the views on slavery now authorits-
lively given to the world through the columns of
hiA organ When we remember how rapsurously
the New York Tribune dwells upon the merits Of
Mr.. Bates (even preferring him for the Presidency
70 Messrs. BELL and Boris both Of whom are regard
ed by GREELET as safe reliable" men, whom ii could
conscientiousy support antislavery platform,)
we cannot be astOnished TO find that he regards
slavery as an immoro unchristian institution which
makes @the word Of God sealed book to the slave,
"And gives his body to the service of human mas
"ter.n
The Nashville Patriot says that notwithstanding
the demonstrations of satisfaction with which the
Republicans receive this exposition Of Mr.. Bates
opinions il sees indication that it lessons their
autipathy to him as a probable candidate for the
Presidency"
He was one Of those" continues the Patriot,
" who slnned in 1856 by supporting FILLMORE and
thus aided in defeating the republican nominees.
This is a stumbling block which will sadly inter
Sere with the movement to put Mr.. Bates in the
cline of safe precedents. The SEWARD organs, be-
FIRE they were strengthened by the elections in
New York and New Jersey, declared no enemy of
" lS56 should be permitted to supplant their favo-
rte and they viii hold out to the last moment be-
al re they consent TO knock under now that the
shadow of the succession has fallen upon him.
They are as confident now as poker player with
four aces and it win take little more than Ordi
nary bluffng to make them resign
We are glad that our neighbor Is becoming
sensible Of the fact that the Black Repub-
icans viii consent to terms Of union with the
Southern Opposition which do not involve an aban-
donment of the rights Of the South, and we congrat
ulate our contemporary its evident desperation to
rebel against the humiliating and degrading cond-
tIons of the coalition. 1t is certainly true that the
Northern wing Of the Opposition will consent TO
receive their Southern allies only suffers, OF as
GlDDDSos says, Tbaggagemen" to the graEd anti
slavery army. The concessions must all come from
the Southern Opposition and they expect nothing
in return but few subordinate positions and avery
unequal share Of the spoils.
But while the Black Republicans may decline, as
the Patrio. thinks they will, to support Southern
Opposition man for the Presidency, they eagerly
seize upon their admissions against slavery, to ex-
suse and justify their outrsges upon the rights
and property Of the South. The New York Post, q
leading Black Republican organ, claims that Mr.
Bates, himself, but lately STAKEHOLDER, does butex
press the opinions of thousands Of shareholders in
Tennessee Virginia and other Southern States, who
do not hesitate TO affirm the doctrines of the ire
pressible con 1ict" This Abolition organ exults in
the fact that Mr. BATES has the courage to say that
such affairs as that at Harpers Ferry-'paEics. in
surrections AMI massacresr-are the inevitable re-
suit of the institution of slavery We quote the Ian
Ruage of the Post:
While the petty and msan-spirited politicians of
the North are trying 10 turn the accident at Har-
pers Ferry account the result OF the agitation
of the slavery question, Mr.. Bates has the courage
TO cay to che Shareholders that such afairs-pan-
les instructions an6 massacres'-are the ineVits-
Bile result of the institution itself.
The effect which this publication may have upon
the Presidential prospects of Mr.. Bates is topic
that we do not care 10 discuss cur journal is not
tunes of individuals; of arguing pro or con the
respective claims Of persons who may be candidates
for nominations 20 office; is that the light in
which We regard the paper as most interesting II
Is as an expression Of the feelings of eminent cit-
zsns ofasaTsholding State that it possesses most sig
nifeance just at this time, when the explosion at
Harper's Ferry has given new impulse 10 the sla-
very discussion. when the Southern mind is stimu-
lated by il TO a more intense ianauclsm and the
Northern mind is more than ever aroused TO the
evil il is noble thing in these Missouri citizens 10
step forward with their bold. free, unmistakRble,
yet calm aud judiclous protest against slavery and
The extension of slavery, We say these Missouri
ctizens because Mr. Bates does speak Exclusive
lv for himself he has large party Of men in Mis-
souri, behind him who think he does aud all
over the slave States in Maryland Virginia Tennes
nessee North Carolina, Texas, Louisiana-eVen In
South Carolina and Mississppi-there are thousands
who entertain the same convictions. Overcome by
the interested csmors Of the parsans, they do not
ALWAYS make themselves heard, but, II we mistake
not this proclamation Of Mr. Bates and his friends
will help them 10 louder enunclatlon OF themselves
hereafter.
The argument presented by these gentlemen is
succinrtly expressed but with remarkable force.
Slavery they assert is Injurious and wicked 10 eve
nv aspect; the extension of It Is notmerely unaesf-
able, but is unconstitutional except ny the alhrma-
tive legislation Of Congress: property in slaves IS
peculiar prOperty not subject to the laws OF other
property and owing its rights and safeguards who'll
" to the local legislation by which 1t Is created the
laws of the free states have already abolished ana
branded il so that il cannot be carried into any free
stsoa and o,t not 10 be carried into any territory:
nor has the South ever complained Of tins dIstnc-
tion AZ hardship: while state after state, from the
origin Of the government, has enanclpated ltsei
from the curse of such form Of sOciety, ana STATE
after state viii emsncipate itself until tue disgrace
IL removed Mr. Bates and his friends do not hest |
tate TO affirm the doctrine which, under the phrase
N che "irrepressbe conflict has lately excited so
much foolish clamor. Slavery, they say, Is doomed
oy the irresistible laws of nature, winch regulate
times and seasons. freedom must become predoini- |
nsnt: and they rejoice that Missouri largely onthe
way towards the glorious hour Of her redemption !
On the subject Of the Fugitive Slave Law these |
Missouri gentlemen are not so advanced IN senu-
ment as many of Us at the North, who hold that the
federal government is not the power TO act under
fhe clause 81 the constitution commanding the
surrender OF fugitiveS. There are some other
points which We should not perhaps agree with
then but their general position is so noble thelr
exposure Of slavery so honest, their argument so
likely 20 do good at the present juncture. that we
shall not stop to discuss our differences We cannot,
however, conclude this brief reference 10 the paper
without commenting IT 70 tha attentive peTusal of
southern men who seru inclined Just now, 10 allow
The Cid Brown fever 10 run away with their brains
Mr. Bates and his companions arc OF their own num-
nor what they say is not DOSe perhaps, for II is
What all the greater statesmen o: ile south have
lai6 in former years but they say i Wi1h much
,mphasis and at a time when such truths deserEs to
be reiterated
The Southsrn statesmen and Southern organs
who are furnishing fuel to the flames OF abolition
'anaticisu, by the publication of such sentiments
70 those OF Mr. BAvEs should be held to strict &C
,ountabiity for the consequences Of their treaehc
r. It is time the South should present an unoroken
ront against is enemies. 1t is time that all parne'
hould unite to resist the mad schemes Of the lanai
cS who encourage and perpetrate ostrsges up'n
he lives and property Of our citizens like That 81
HHrpsr's Ferry.
The charges and insinuatiors against this paper,
contained in the leading editorial article IN the
Nashville Ns5s of yesterday, utterly destitute
f truth. We cannot consent to carry on 5 news
lsrer controversy with an editor who utterE caluiR
lies against contemporary trusting to the sup
...l.... I'm, -..........-