Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-12

We yesterday, in our comments on Mr.. BELL
letter. referred to what we considered the lameness
and impotency of his conclusion from his own prem
ises that mo serious mischief need be apprehended
during Mr. LINCoIN-s Administration, except the
usual evils attending the agitation Of the slavery
issues We return to the subject for the pur-
pose of correcting some erroneous impressions
which have undoubtedly been made upon the minds
of those who have credulously read that letter.
Mr. BELL says Mr.. LINCOLN, it is we'll known, does
not hold extreme opinions on the subject of Slavery
We believe that the Black Republican party gene
rally concur in this with Mr. BELL. But we doubt
not very many Of those same Black Republicans who
thus concur with Mr.. BELL. will be somewhat sur
prised to learn that he does consider the opinions
of LINCOLN on the subject of slavery as "ertreme"
1t will be remembered that Judge DOUGLAS is a
citizen of the same State with Mr.. LINCOLN that he
has known the President elect long and well, that
he is certainly much more familiar with Mr. LIN
ooLN's political views and history than Mr.. BELL
Mr. DOUGLAS is a Northern man; Mr.. BELL South
ern man. Mark the wide difference which exists
between these recent candidates for the Presidency
Mr.. DOUGLAS and Mr.. BELL, about the opinions Of
their successful competitor. Mr.. DOUGLAS, while
commenting upon these very opinions of Mr.. LIN
coin in his speech at Chicago, July 9th 1885, (See
Debates Of Lincoln and Douglas page 81 said:
In other words, Mr.. Lincoln advocates boldly and
clearly of sections, war Of the North against
the South of free States against the slave States
war of extermination-tO be continued relentless
ly until one the other shall be subdued and all
the States shall either become free or become slave
The Southern man, Mr.. BELL, says LINCOLN docs
not hold extreme opinions the subject of slavery"
The Northern man. Mr.. DOUGLAS, says LINCOLN adj
vocates Ga war of determination" "of the free
States against the slave States Ito be continued re-
lentlessly until or the other shall be subdued"
These are the views of these two distinguished
gentlemen about LNCoLN's opinions. Which is cor
rect in his estimate! Let the record determine
Mr.. LINCOLN recently said to one of his visitors
During the last six years have placed my views
on all public questions fully and frequently on
record, that those desiring can learn them by sim
ply referring 10 them If my past assertions obtain
credit present ones will be treated no better
Il his speech at Peoria, H., in October, 1854, Mr..
LIOcoIN said: [Ses Ho1osrs Life of Lincoln, page
279l
What do say is, that no man is good enough to
govern another man, 10it50;d The others consent
say this is the leading principle, the SHEET AN
CHOIR of american Rep1bbcdaism, Our Declara-
ton of Independence saws.
We hold these truths to be selfevident-that all
men created equal that they endowed by their
these are life LIBERTY and the pursuit of happiness
That to secure these rights Governments are inst-
tuted among men, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWER FROM
THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED
/ have quoted so much at this time merely to
show that according our ancient faith the powers
of Government derived from the consent of the
governed. Now. the relation Of master and slave is
pro tdE0, total Uioti0R OF this principle. The
ter not only governs the sl1Ue without his consent
but he governs him by set of rules altogether
different from those which he prcscribes for himself
Allow ALL the governed an EQUAL VOICE IN
THE GOVERNMENT; and that, and that only is
self government.
In his speech Springfield Illinois, in June 1855.
at the close of the Black Republican Convention
which nominated him as candidate for the United
States Senate he said lSee Debates beoeen Lic0nI
and Douglas. P. ~
We are now far into the fifth year since a policy
initiated with the ayowed object and confident
promise of putting end to slavery agitation I'm
der the operation of that policy that agitation has
not only not ceased but has constantly augmented.
In my opinionit wnOt cease until crisis shall have
been reached and passed Il house diujded against
Itself cannot stand believe this Government CAN
NOT ENDURE PERM ANENTLY half slave and half free
do not expect the Union to be dissolved; do not
expect the house 20 fall but do expect it will cease
10 be dirded. II will become all one thing all the
other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest
the further spread of it, and place il where the
public mind sall rest in the belief that it Is IN the
n.
Gates viii push 1t forward till 1t shall become alike
lawful in all the States, old well new, North
well rs South
THIS is the Irrepressble Conflict doctrine,
which Mr.. SEWARD subsequently promulgated and
made famous by his Rochester speech. On the 4th
OF November 1858, the Baaaa, which has always
been Mr.. BELLS foremost friend commenting on
SEwAED's enunciaton, few days before Of the
irreprcssible conflict " said
- The utterance Of such an infamous sentiment
has placed Senator Seward within the pale of the |
abolition organization. Heretofore he has made |
some preensions TO nationality and has proessed to
be a Republican. But when he declares that the |
country must and will become wholly free or wholly
slave territory. and that the party to which he be-
longs is devoted to the task of making that country
free, he places hmsef by the side of Lloyd Garrison
and Gerrt Smith. lie no longer has the shador of |
4 claim to nationality, and do hesitate to de-
clare that the election OF such man 10 the Presi-
dcncy would be the instant signal for the dissolution
Of the Union With the avowal of such a sentiment
upon his lips he would go into the Presidential chair
if elected, pledged to the power and patronage
of the General Government for the extinction Of
slavery. Such interference or such pledge 10 in
terfere with the domestic affairs of the southern
people would not be tolerated moment We
know the threats Of the South have become contempt
ible in the eyes of the North. from having lecu |
made often without any intention Of carrying them
into execution. We never indulge in the idle luxury
of making threats. but we state il as a fact which
cannot be disputed denied that the Federal Union
could not exist a single day after the election OF
William l.Seward TO the Presidency while the above
declaration is unexplained and unretracted. He
made it for the purpose Of securing the Republican
nomination, but we feel assured that If nominated
at all It will be by the ab0litOuists and not by the
Republicans. We believe there Is 50 much COnserv- |
atism in the North that Seward will not receive a
larger vote than was given to Birney in 1874"
The sentiment uttered by Mr.. SEWARD was the
same uttered four months before by Mr. LINCOLN.
Mr. BELL says Be- Mr.. LINCOLN, it is well known, does
not hold extreme views on the subject of slavery"
The Banner says Mr. SEWARD by the utterance of
FtNooIN's sentiment, has placed himself within
the pale Of the abolition organization that he has
placed himself by the side of LLOYD GARRISON and
6ERRT SMITH, that " with the avowal of such a
sentiment upon MS lips he would 90 INTO the Presi
dental chair, if elected pledged to use the power
and patronage Of the General Government for the
extinction of slavery The language of the Bd'-
per applies forcbIy to the author of the
Irrepressible Conflict" doctrine, Mr. LINCOLN as
to the repeater Of that sentiment Mr.. SEWARD. We
return to the expressed opinions - of Mr.. LINCOLN
on the subject of slavery. In September, 1858,
three months after he announced the Irrepressible
Conflict and month before Mr.. SEwARDs
Rochester speech Mr.. LINCOLN said:
That central idea, in our political system at the
beginning was, and until recently continued to be the
egUdIgg Of men. And although it was ALWAYS sub
grteG patiently to, whatever inequality there seem
ed to be- as matter of actual necessity its constant
working has been a steady progress toward the
PRACTICAL EQUALITY or ALL NEN.
In what have done ! cannot claim 90 have acted
from any peculiar consideration Of the coored peo-
.e as separate and distinct class in the community
int from the simple conviction that all the indiyIda-
a. of that class are members of the community, and
in rirtue of their manhood, entitled 10 EVERY ORR
GINAI, RIGHT ENJOYED By ANY OTHER MEM
RFR We feel therefore. that all LEGAL DIS
FUNCTION between individuals Of the same commu-
nifty founded in any such circumstances as color,
origin and the Ike are hostile TO ne ge'uS q our az
stiidi9as and incompatible with the true history OF
American liberty. SLAVERY and oppression must
CEASE. or AuiaicqR Liberty must perish ~
In Massachusetts, and an most. il not all inc Ne"
ENGLAND States the eolored man and the white are
absolutely equal before the law
In New York the eelored man is restricted as 10
the Cht of suffrage by property quabH eailoA' ~
,+Ior yoeuapte the same equality prevails