Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-15
STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WEDNESDAY. JUNE Is, 1859.
Col. NetherIand and the Slavery Ques-

Under the above caption the Union and
American, CT yesterday, has leader from
which we clip the following
Col. Netherland said at Charlotte, 1--WE be-
lieve we can report him almost to the word:)
The slavery question is settled, and my COM
petitor, Gov. H., knows there is nothing in
it. 1t was settled in your Convention of
1852 and 1856, and again by the convention
that nominated my competitor. Why is this
eternal cry of Niger, Niger, raised and con-
tinued? How many are there Of you here to-
day who own slaves? You are not all rich
not all shareholders. There are a good
many of you here who don't own negroes
and who are as much interested in other ques-
tions as the Shareholder is in the slavery
question. And if my competitor will talk
about this question: he is resolved to at
tend to the business of the niggerS. let him do
SO. and | will attend to the business of the
Ehite people.
After thus stating what Col. NETHERIAND
sd the Union and american remarks--"We
regard this as the most dsreputable species
OF argument ever INDUCED in by candidate
for Governor in Tennessee" We are glad to
see that our contemporary is beginning to ex-
alt its ideas of prOpriety. If it be improper
to think and assert that there are others
besides Shareholders who are interested in
questions of public policy; it is quite as i'm
proper, if not more so, to studiOusly attempt
to impress upon the mind of shareholders
the conviction that the Opposition in Ten
nessee are willing TO haz ,rd their rights and
Interests, and We shall expect the Union and
American ere long to repent and ask forgive
ness for its sins in this respect. There is not
man amongst the Opposition in Tennessee,
who is not as loyal to the South and Southern
rights and who would not go as far to defend
them, as the Editors of the Union and Ameri-
can or any of its party. The sham democracy
make the use they do of slavery issues be-
cause they have succeeded heretofore in di-
verting attention to other questions by them,
and Col. METH ERL.AND is right in permitting
Gov. HARRIS TO rant on the subject without
response. The profgacy and extravaganza
of the government, and the democracy upon
the banks are subjects of more immediate in
terest to the people,-subjects upon which
Gov. HARRIS appears to the worst advantage
and upon them Col. NETHERLAND and the
Opposition ask the verdict of the voters of
thC Ao'"'C' -h''N my ih'NiiN W h"'S I've an
the rant and cant that may be used about the
slavery question, will not induce them to
turn to the right nor to the left.
But when did the conversion of the Union
and Anae icdr take placel We have never
known that 1t was opposed to arousing the
prejudices of the non-slaveholder against The
STAKEHOLDER. We have thought it considered
that species of political warfare something
good-a most excellent thing To catch votes
for the party. The reason for this impress
sion is to be found in its warm support of
ANDREW JOHNSON. He has never scrupled to
arouse the poor against the rich-the non
Shareholder against the slaveholder-whe he
thought it would advance his interests. If
the Union and .4mericdn ever thought il dis
reputable in him to do so, we are entirely
unaware of the fact. In 1853, ANDREW
JOHNSON was a candidate for Governor. He
was pressed bard upon his proposition in the
Legislature 10 adopt the white basis in the
apportionment of the State; and when he got
up amidst the mountains in East Tennessee,
he defended himself with renewed vigor, and
"dppealed 10 The venerable old fathTs If Il lrere
right that the SldUes Of Middle and West ZyHnesscc
should be counted against them and their far,
charming and baoitching DAUGHTERS" Here was
something really "disreputable." but how
was it regarded by his party and presses?
No voice of condemnation was raised by
them. On the contrary, it was deemed a
shrewd way of counteracting the bad effects
of his propositions; and his organ at Green
vile, followed up with an article in which it
said:
HI.nhnring men nf East Tennessee you who
earn an honest support for yourselves ana
families by the sweat of your own brows, we
appeal to you, and ask you If you are pre-
pared to vote against Col. johnson because.
in 1912, he struggled in the legislature to
place you on an equal footing with the proud
and rich STAKEHOLDER of the West"
Turn you, Union and American, to these dis
reputable tricks and rebuke them, before you
presume again to read lecture to Col.
NETHERLAND.