Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-08-24
The slavery Agitation.

During the recent convass in this State,
the Memphis Enquirer published an article on
the subject of Congressional interference for
the protection of slavery in the territories,
which we thought was yielding too far to the
desire and efforts of the democratic leaders
to make the issues of the canvass hinge upon
q discussion of the slavery question. We
then called its attention to the fact; to which
it replied, and there the discussion appropri-
ately ceased. In its issue of the 2lst inst. we
find the following judicious views expressed
in relation TO that subject, which occur In
the course of our article correcting certain
errors into which an Alabama contemporary
had fallen in relation to the success of our
Congressional ticket. 1t gives us pleasure
to transfer the Enquirer's remarks to our col
umns and we heartily commend them to our
friends in Georgia and Mississippi:
ain this connection It'll not improper to re-
mark, that the Opposition in Kentucky would
have done much better If they had not made
IA kindred mistake to that of their brethren IN
Alabama. They made the question of Con-
gressional protection to slavery in the Terri
tories, the main Issue in the canvass. The
principle was right one but there was no
necessity for its discussion. There is nothing
practical about it. In the only Territories
now remaining il can never arise, and the
only result of its discussion was to enable the
Democracy to escape from the necessity or
fling answers to the long list of charges
which an outraged people had preferred
against them. We have fears that the same
error will be committed in Georgia and
Mississippi. We tell them that the slavery
question. if fairly and boldly met, has lost its
power in their States a. well as in Tennessee
aud Texas. 1t is only dangerous when it is
truckled to, or timidly Stunned. Indeed it
never was dangerous under other circum-
stances, as the contest of 1851 conclusively
proves. Let them but do as we did, and they
will themselves be astonished at the result of
the coming elections. The attempt to make
themselves out better fire-eaters than the
Democracy, is a folly, and madness, of
which years of bitter experience ought to have
cured them.
Their only hope of success lies in the con-
servative sentiment of the country-to that
their appeals should be directed, and when
the hour of real danger comes, that element
thus united and concentrated. and conscious
of having done nothing TO provoke the strife.
will be as ready as the most extreme OF the
extremes, 10 defend their own rights, and the
rights of their section. We do not believe
that time viii come when any essential
right of the South will be unjustly invaded
by The North. unless they are provoked and
tainted, and aggravated into a hostility for
which they can have no taste, and in which
they certainly can have no interest. But if,
contrary to our expectations. that time should
come, it is not TO the loud-mouthed brawlers,
who ere now using every exertion to disturb
the harmony OF the Confederacy, that the
South must look for her firmest, and most re-
liable friends. The men who have done all
they can to avert the storm, will be the first
to brave its terrors. and the last to shrink
from its dangers. Let us then discard the
subject, until we are compelled to look it in
the face as great FACT, and then no dis
cussion will be needed. In the meantime let
no member of the Opposition fail to hold the
Democracy to a just accountability for the
msdeedS which have disgraced the Re
public.'