Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-22


every other good thing. may be. and often
are. misconceiyed and abused in their appli-
cation. 1t is the business of statesmen. in
every country. to apply them with safety,
and to give them the utmost practical influ-
ence and effect consistent with the existing
state of society. The most interesting illas-
fratiou of this sentiment, aud the most strik-
ing example of the superiority of practical
truth over lheorefic axioms. in the formation
OF government, to be found in all history
and one which claims the special attention of
the peonle of this country at this moment
was exhibited by our ancestors, when. scith
their recognition Of the abstract uh o. the
equality of natural rights still vibrating on their
tongues, they get feartessfy set their seals 10
cocendHt of union bdtceaa these States. containing
an ezprsss recognition of African SLAVERY. 1 say
express recognition; because. arhferer the jes,tic1E
doctors Of the North may sag. the clauses IN the
Constitution reLatirlg 10 the importation Of persons
Under certain Limitations. and firing the basis Of
direct tdres and representation in Congress. affirm.
DO amount 10 an cypress recognition Of slavery.
But honorable Senators announce. that we
have arrived at a period in the progress of
society and OF general civilization, when all
these theoretic principles and abstract truths
may be safely admitted, without restriction
or limitation. when all races and conditions
of the human family, within our borders, may
social and political; that, as TO African slave
~. the period of universal emancipation is
at hand; the shadow is already upon us. the
handwriting is upon the wall--upon which
the Shareholder may look and tremble. The
honorable Senator from New York (Nr Sew
ard) under takes TO speak as prophet; to
announce, in advance, the decree of
Heaven, and to call upon. all people
to hearken and obey. lie presun.ptuOusly assumes
that The iH of Deity has been ,corei, in the cO;a-
sfuutions of all societies and governments tciich
hare tolerated sLdu7y IN any form IN tunes past;
and that there can be no purpose of wisdom
or beneficrence on HIGH, in unfolding it any
longer. This may be so, sir, but, in my poor
Judgment. the time tor these great aud radi-
cal changes in the social and political con-
ditiOn of many of the nations of the earth,
which We admit to be ciZiiZ d, Is not YET.
But believe the time will come, sooner or
later, when the forty millions of Russian
seffs will break the sceptre of the Gar; strike
of the manaeles which now fetter them; as
sert the rights of freemen, and the privileges
of self-goverument; but is does not appear to
ME. that the time is yet, when all these privi-
les can he conceded to them with safety to
their own welfare So, sir, suppose. that
ut some future period the hundred millions
of liindOos, now subject to British rule, may
emerge from their thraldom, improved to
some degree OF competency Tor Sell govern
mcnt. Bat, sir, have little hesitation in
saying that, whatever may be the seeming
or actual expressions under which that peo-
pie groan ut this time, the advantages they
derive from the Introduction OF European
civilization, and the restraints impose by
vigorous and enlightened government, are
more than an equivalent for them all.
And. sir, the time many come. when the
three millions of slaves in the United States
will bs free; but it is not yet. When and
how this great change in their condition
shall take place, | do not pretend to fore
see;buI have an abiding confidence, that when
time shall come. our system, under the con-
tinued protection and favor of a benefcient
Providence. will pass that ordeal. and every
other TO which it may be subjected, in safety
and for ages in the far future, continue 20
dispense it's blessings to millions OF CRATE
and prosperous freemen.