Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-18

the worthless negroes (now pouring into this State
from the surrounding States,) under the operations
of laws which their own safety have compelled
them to enact?
Does he think the South would be safer with all
Free negroes at liberty to preach rebellion" in
their daily and nightly intercourse with the slaves,
than if the Free negroes were driven from among
them, Or put to work and kept under the watchful
vigilance of master or "0verseer?'
Does he think the christian sentiment Of the coun-
try would be offended by adopting the only meas
ure left of public safety, ard by closing forever
the negro liquor-shops of our cities .t.l
Does he DEM the great principle which under lay
all Governments viz that where the safety Of the
great body of the people are endangered by the pre-
sence of any particular individuals thatthe rights of
such individuals must be subordinate to the safety
of the community or States and that this principle
of sclf-preservation is exercised by all Govern
ments, by the expulsion CT the obnoxious pOpula-
ton?
These are questions of grand import which Mr..
Justice CArRoN would do well to consider before he
Eliminates any more of his anathemas and fanatieal
appeals at the Southern people
The honorable Justice seems to- lay much stress
white blood in them-some half some three-quarters
and some eighty-seven and half one hundredths
while in others the negro blood Is nearly extinct &C.
viii not question the accuracy of his knowledge
upon this subject, nor will doubt but this white
blood in the free negro, is source of real socitude
to their whiteblooded kindred; but taking the facts
as stated by him. the class to which his sympathies
lean most strongly are only dangerous, for the
reason that they the more intelligent. ard being
already deprived of all social and pOlical equality,
they only smart the more, the nearer they
approach the white race 1 cannot suppose their
white blood should weigh anything in their favor,
nor do think that the feelings of their sympathis
ers should deter the public from adopting the only
measure of public safety within its power.
The Judge says that the passage of such law is,
I'm fact opening the African slave trade" That in
that trade the stronger catch the weaker and enslave
them. and that for the majority to pass a law to
ensave the minority, is the thing in effect.
By the passage of law as proposed. the State
says to the free negroes, you dangerous popu-
latIon to the State and you must leave it. If you
disobey this law, we will indict you in courts,
and if found guilty of violating the law Cnstead of
enslaving you for term of years at hard labor in
| )
late the law we will sell you into slavery for life.
For many violations of the law we condemn the
white citizen to slavery in the Pententiary for life.
If you do not want to leave the State you MAJ select
a humane and kind white man for your master, who
will be in all time your friend and protectors butyou
must leave the State choose master, else for vi
olating law, made for the public safety, you will
be condemned by the judgments of our public
courts and sold into slavery. 1t will thus be seen
that in the passage of the law proposed the State Is
exercising out the acknowledged power Of Govern
ment, and requiring from the free negro obedience
to the public law, does in other cases from the
white citizen; and yet Mr. Justice CATRoS sees in it
'the opening of the African slave trade" in which
one individual catches another and being the
stronger. overpowers him and sells him into slave
ry!
If this be So then we must keep these free negroes
among us in all times to come; and if the free ne
groes of the surrounding States North and South
shall pour in upon until there isno living here by
the white race, we have no remedy-no, not even Il
they furnish recruits for John Brown in his treason
able war upon our rights and insttutions;-for any
law to compel them to leave the State, to protec
the lives of the white population, is opening the
African slave trade" according TO the enlightened
written opinions of a Judge of the Supreme Cour
of the United States.
The honorable Justice says ''they have yesteC
rights to their freedom and property" The pro
posed law does not interfere with their rights thei
; freedom or to their property. They go where
they please with their vested rights to freedom,
/ and may take their property with them; may sci
it or hold it as nonresdents. All the law require
is that they shall leave the State because the sover
eign political power of the State vested in the whit
, population. deems their continuance upon our sol
dangerous to the safety of the State. If they dis
9 obey this law knowing the penalty they take tn
. consequences but the law violates vested right
c unless it be maintained that the free negro has
vested right to reside in Tennessee, which is pos
ton the learned Federal Justice has not yet takeI
j In his next inhammatory communication he ma
/ discover that they have the vested rights TO Hv
l. where they choose, and matter what their cor
duct and habits may be, no matter in what they ma
= violate the law, they cannot be ensaved either
your State prison or to a kind Southern master
l their own choice To say that the Legislature hay
/ no right TO determine what shall constitute Grim
l. and what shall be the penalty Is to step upon
&c SEw,EDs higher law platform.
D, The learned Justice says other and less prominel
e States than Tennessee might do the thing but Tel
ncssce occupies position too prominent before Il
nation to lock TO her safety by adopting such mel
D., sure. respectfully suggest that the Judge may
!, as much mistaken in the position and influence
Tennessee as he is in his own position and infuenC
Is with the enlightonnd noonie of III" St"+". 49,
is