Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-01-07
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Thegreat Soa.sa issijition slavery. is attracting
more than usual Attentions at present. Upon it de-
pend the cotton sugar, rice and tobacco crop Of the
United States Their value and national Importance
It is not necessary now to discuss The position Of
the white and black races. as it exists among rs.
cannot be changed BY fanatcism or by Black Repub-
licanisrn Il exists in obedience to the laws OF ma
ture Intellectual superiority ia The white race !;
adaptation to low latitudes in the black.
Noforeign power pretends to disturb our quiet on
this subject; but q worthless crusade, is waged by
portion Of our own household upon This donles-
tic relation" found in fifteen States Of this Union
This institution must be, and ought to be preserved
and the best mole Of meeting this assault upon our
rights is a question of moment.
One Of the precautionary measures is now being
acted upon BY nearly all the slave States and should
extend to al beyond question That is fixed poll
cy to be adopted by all the slave States, that there
shall be but two classes the white free the black
slave There Is no position for the anomalous class
called free Jecl-it is a misnomer, as they merely
have privileges enough to make them, as a class, a
nuisance. They are source of discomfort among
slaves depreciate their value-they are the chan
mel through which our household enemies may
reach the slave with evil suggestions. and thus in
crease the dangers lately shown at HaIpers Ferry.
The fifteen Southern States, are compelled to act
on this question as a unit. The removal Of this
nuisance, the closing of this avenue now resolved
upon as a wise and prudential measure.
Suppose fourteen States pass the acts now under
consideration, requiring removal, or if found in
the State after day fixed, it shall Re felony and
the penalty shall be confinement for life in the Peni-
tertiary; or in lien of going into the prison, that
they shall go into the possession of citizen
can the fifteenth State fail to pass it?
Much has been said in Tennessee, in the Legisla-
ture and in the papers upon the po,osr to pass acts
on this question. ] regard it as a police regula-
ton. involving the question Of the safety ard pro-
lection Of the lolfs race. State necessity gives
power to annex penalties to her acts TO accomplish
the ends aimed at The object aimed at in this in
stance is to be relieved from the presence and bane-
full influence of a certain class. A removal from
the State will accomplish it. They, regardless Of
the law refuse to go. The statute is a dead letter
without a penalty. There must be, therefore, a
power 10 annex penalty. So far as po,osr Is con
cerned, what is the limit Of the penalty? What is
the difference, in principle, between the right to
conne in the penitentiary fer life, and the right
to change the mode and place of confinement A
removal from the confines of the State, avoids the
penalty; a refusal to remove incurs 1t. Those who
stay, do so with the intention Of taking the penalty
It is their own selection. All who have property
will, no doubt, take it and go to Mexico or South
America, climate for which they are fitted by ma
ture Some no doubt viii remain, and better their
condition by becoming part of an organized fam
lily, presided over by responsible head, where the
means of supporting them viii be obtained by
labor.
regard it as a measure Of humatity, and believe
that a large portion of those to be acted viii
be improved in condition. There may be. and
no doubt will be, some cases of hardship: these
must yield to the general good. Time and expert
ence have proved that the African race have accom-
plished nothing except under the control of the
white race. It is an to apply the term free,
dom to the former Abolitionsts Black Republi-
cans and religious fanatics all in error this
point They do not comprehend the difference in
the races and evil consequences may befall our
public before they learn this important lesson. As
the subject is up for examination. have compiled
the probable number of free negroes now in the
slave States, which is about $1,000 distributed as