Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-04-22


question Of ezpedisncy. [ an truly thankful for
me patience ana kind attention with which you have
listened 10 me- The subject is deeply important
and Interesting in all its phases. We cannot if
We wished to do SO, prevent friends as well as
enemies from looking into the motives and main
springs Of our sotiOns and enlightened Christian
governments subject to The same law Of human
society. Can We satisfy our own minds and con
sciences that the expulsion Of free negroes from the
State is wise, politicand just Will We DC able TO
justify or excuse it o. a proper remedy for any
maiady existing in the body politic7 Will we
stand uncondemned before the bar of enlightened
public opinion We have seen, Sir, that these
persons we're permitted for nearly forty years. 10
worship with our fathers at the same altar in the
temple Of civil and political liberty. Have we any
sufficient reason for denying to them now the light
that gushe5 from its windows Thew have been
suffered for quarter Of century more TO rest
securely in the shadow Of that temple and feed
upon the crumbs that fall from the festive board
within. Have We On this day adequate cause for
driving them away from their homes and the count
~ of their birth find early graves in an inhospi
table climate? do not believe that any sufficient
justification or excuse for their expulsion can be
/ found in any or all the evils existing in cOnse
/ queuce Of their presence in our midst.
Down 10 the year 1881, it was part of the polli-
/ cy of our legislature 10 foster aud encourage the
! spirit OF emancipation. We held out to bsnevO
/ lePt masters an assurance that their slaves Whcn
set free, should be allowed to remain here and
have permanent homes. The Courts in asserting
/ TO their freedom on behalf Of the State, embodied
this assurance in the DEGREES and many a master
emancipated his slave and went down to his grave,
believing that the plighted faith and honor Ct the
/ State thus given would be kept inviOlste. More,
Sir, have allowed these persons t. engage in the
pursuits of industry, to acquire aud hold real and
personal property to contract marriages with their
own color, bond and free, and under the sanctions
| Of our law many of them have farms, comfortable
! homes and dependent wives and children. Can we
in justice and good faith repudiste the fruits Of
! that policy, disannul the solemn decree Of the
Courts, violate the plighted faith Of the State,
break up their homes and families and seBd these
unfortunate persons adrifL on the world like waits
on the ocean? Such an act of cruelty could net be
reconciled with the moderation and c'emeDey
which has heretofore characterize d our legislation;
| il could not be reconciled with that noble and
pure Christianity which constitutes the
stone OF our political as we'll as our moral nsiiiu
Ons could it be reeoueiled with that spirit Of
/ genial humanity which fills and sRes the great
heart of our people
have, Sir, too much condolences in the inlelli-
gence Of the people, and their of justice TO
believe that gentlemen are cOrrec. When they tell
US that the country demands the passage Of sucd a
measure have mingled with them enough TO
! know that they will denounce such 8 wholesale
injustice and wrong. They will not open out our
public domain for homes to penniless wanderers
from the Old World yet deny 10 the humble
,
they will not give TO prosecuted fugi.iTos from
ether governments all the blessings Of our free
institutions, yet refuse free persons Of color, resi-
dent here from their BIRTH he privilege Of breath
ing the air that sweeps our hills and valleys.
Why, Sir, the people DO not enforce the law pro-
hibitng fee negroes f. ON coming and residing
here from sister States. Will they execute
one tenfold more harsh and severe! Some laws
are 50 repugnsnt to ltural justice and enlighl-
ened bumaui y, that the are q dead letter On the
statute book. How manJ persons prOsecuG-
! ed under The odiOus Alien and SeditiOn Law, and
how few were willing n defend or excuse its
enormilies, When il attempted TO be enforced
Pass this bill, Sir, into law, and Ike results will
follow. Many of those who TO be its victims
will doubtless Je here when the Sheriff starts on
HES missioa underit to hunt them ou and mark them
TO" the sscrIhce5. Can Senators ccntem plate with
out emotion the scene that will trEnspirs in many
counties in the State? Look On that motley group
Of men, women and children, with saddened hearts
and streaming eyes they the victims of the
law, on their way to hear its penalty pronounced
against them They led by the Sheriff and
followed by grsy-headed father grandfather,
who cannot stay behind they are huddled together
and crowded into court; he Judge pronounces the
sentence of expulsion from the State againsS all
under the age Of forty-dye years and tTanspoTta-
ton TO Libers; and they are now ready 10 be
stsrted ca their journey whose emu esu only be
equaled in horror by what preceded the Exodus
Of the Jews. All, Sir, parental feelings will have
the mastery. That gray-headsd sire is seen hob
bling forward his scars received in the storm Of
battle, perhaps at Kings Mountain Tslladega or
New Orleans, pleading in his behalf He makes
one simple request: ''Let me 90 along With my
children and grandchildren, that their hands may
close my eyes in death" Oh Sir, there will be
| present crowds Of brave aud generous Teunesseans
| whenever and wherever s1ch scenes may trauspire,
| and there will not be heart among them that
| will rot thr0b aad beat with wild indIgn ton.
| sincerely hope that No such scene may trauspire;
| but let l. trInspirs whenever it may under such
a Law. the condemnation VI the people will de-
scend As in ''dlated flakes Of fire. the heads Of
is authors and champions.
have done, Sir, what appeared t. me to be my
duty to myself and aud my oountry. l shall
have no remorse. stings Of conscience, whatever
may be the fate Of his measure. l desire 10 re-
cord my vote against each enc Of its provisions %
| which have directed nay remark. Some fu ure
| historian will gather up the events AMI Incl
dents of this day, aud this mea ure will no doubt
have page in that work. l trust that my humble
name viii he associated With those who IA been
Grme,U in opposition to il. I wish This vote to be
| transmitted a rich legacy to my children and
| grandchildren testimonial Of my fItufuness
| to the Constitution AMI the impulse Of common
! humanity In conclusion, l entreat Senators, in
the name OF that COhsitutioa which embraces the
! rights and liberties Of these unfOriUDa e persons
in its solemn guarantees in the name ofIhe plight
ed faith of the State, which held out to them the
! hope Of premauent homes. and in tn uans Of
! common Charistanity, TO pause, pause long before
! they enact this measure into a public law. May
| high Of Truth, Justice and Mercy lead
you all TO such q conclusion will plant thorn
on your pillow in the hour Of death