Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-02-07


there Is An irreconcabse conflict betgeenthe north
ern and southern systems Of labOri Experience
has proved that the systems are not only har-
monious bat that they mutually benefit aud sustain
cannot refrain from adducing an authority, bear
ING on this subject which no who has any self
resect will fail to regard George Washington. al
ter speaking Of other considerations which ought 70
excite the love Of the people for the Federal Onion
says in his farewell addres
equities considerations hoaeTer powerfully they af-.
themselves 70 yeur sersoy -s ~ $500
which apply more Immediately 70 yoar interest," hee sSs
csrIly guarding an preserving the union Of the gn2ie
s,The North, uuIeatfaned intercourse VIII ~ sol',
protected w tie equal Of common government hnds ~
he productions Of the latter, great additional resources o. mari
i'm M en srprss and precious materials Of man
iosv The South, in the iercourse, bene
fang by the agency Of the North sees its agriculture gros ana
/ its con Herce expanded"
General Washington saw nothing IN the divers /
tes of tie peculiar interests and institutions OF the
several sections, growing out Of difference OF the
climate productions and pursuits Incompatible WAN
/ a harmonious union Of the whole. On the conlia-
~ he SAW in these diversties OF interest Il wisely
directed clements of national strength, snd bonds
of union that would give permanence and prosperi-
! tv to the Confederation. 1t never occurred to nun
to illustrate his patriotism by counselllng free IA
bor' to orgaaize itself assume the government OF
the Republie' to .inyade' slave labor in the Terri
tories IN DsldlDqre in Tgnia. in B@ydad IN eaOd'
,tpder the trODics and 10 demand its determination on
the whole eontineutpeacea5g if slave labor woulo
seasonably submit but BY UoleHce, II that Should pe
necessary to enforce the Ja. Such an hiustiA.l~i
of patriotism was reserved for the Repubhcanlsnl
Of 1858 So,
no specal sentiment Of humanity or sympathy lOr
the Slave race that the organized invasion IS recoh
mepded The Senator from New lork embraces
the yghselof the 1ohe within the range Of ms
political philanthropy. It IS for TIER interest,"
shat he demands the ultimate emancipation OF an
! men, In the name of the free laborlng white men
| I'll the South / protest against his pragmatcal
Kindness These men have clear heads and strong
arms fully eomprehending their true interests ana
their rights, and possessing the manhood 70 hlll-
tain them under all circumstances They constitute
an overwhelming majority in the Southern States.
adduce them "a witnesses to testify against the as
sumption that slave labor il that degrading and
r blqhting system which must perish from lnherent
r error This host Of witnesses possess intelligence;
they have had abundant opportunities TO judge OF
slavery in all its social political moral, and prac
cal bearings They know how it affects their inter
ests; and their united testimony is, that whenever
that system is invaded they feel thai their own IN
terest is assaied and with all their strength and al
$ their ener gies they VIII repel the assault.
The relation which free labor bears to slave labor
= in the South furnishes complete REPUTATION OF TN
e idea that there is any antagOnism between them
IF There is none of that jealousy and envy whlei
1t spring up from the conflicts between capital ana Ia
= Dor in other countries The controlling capital Il
n the South is laboreaptal- capital vested In labor
ut the interest of the man whose capital Is vested
e Dor is free The latter has the constant guarante
10 that the controlling capital will exert its power 70
he the benefit Of labor. Slave labor Is directed mani
ut TO the production of the greatSouthernstape Ere
r labor is drecedto otherproducuons useful or nece
c sarv to the saveabor capitalists If the interest
slave Labor prosper the interests OF free labor pro
to per also this way harmony and cooperation ar
as secured and in this way both systems are contene
he with their condition, and both concur IN Peslstn
v every attempt TO disturb their relations. The resu
OF Is practical conclusive refutaon of the assumpto
dy that there is an inherent principle of antagonsm b.
to tween the two systems Of laoOr
lily It is no uncommon thing Mr.. President for pa
in +;san disclaimers TO draw disparaging comparison
he between the North and the South, and to proclaim
its the wonderful progress and prosperity Of the TO
tn rDer as the legitimate results of the superiority
free over slave labor No one doubts that free 1
On Dor is the system for the northern Sates no OF
re- denies the wonderful Of the application
of that system directed by the energy Skill enterprl'
IA and capital Of northern The results are Gauss
ne of pride and boast, in which every true patrlo
IN North and South, most cheerfuuy symphthlzes Bu
on whilst we eoncede that freeabOP the true syste
ny of the North we insist that the slaveabOr system
lal the true one for the South Why may we not be
co. lowed to entertain this opinion in peace. 1t Is sa
e that the slave labor system has proved failure
ice the South, because our progress IN ali elements
ne wealth and prosperity has not been rapid al
ne marked rs in the North. There Is an Immen
re- amount of popular error as TO the real condition
me the southernStates This is the result Of ongco
me tinued and persistent misrepresentation OF fact
er Southern men are not only satisfied with their co
lsh dton but are proud of the steady advances the
nd are making in all that makes people happy al
to great They do not envy the more rapid progress
if more rapid it be-which the North claims to ha'
'ed made They are conscious Of having contribute
ISL largely to the prosperity Of the North and thu
III therefore claim to share in al the glory that IRE
lie labor has achieved. The South has borne at least
fair share of the Federal burdens in the shape
its taxes and bounties on which the North has built
the much of her prosperity and wealth. The siay
~ labor of the South has furnished the precious N
sry terials for manufacturing industry" on wn'
in, northern capital. enterprise. skill. and treeab
ana have produced such astounding results In no si
,e6 degree the North has been dependent on southe
ads slave labor for Ter great success How unreasoH
the bic then in freeabOr 10 turn upon slave-labor al
oics demand its eXterminatlon
ven have sand that there is vast amount OF err
and and Misrepresentation peryading the northern IN
late as TO the relative condition of the two sections
inst Without intending institute any invldious co
all parsons on this subject, will now avail myself
TEN a comDartiye table. which find in phanlphlet
VII gentlemen of much learning and Of high standI
due in Virginia Edmund Ruftn, prepared from t
hich census returns of 1850 This table may be stud
e Of to advantage by all who labor under the delusl
Gus that the southern States have been cursed by
To institution of slavery:
ties Comparison in regard to tie free population 81 Tie s;s
y Of England States 9oh nee 0td ana more SSseI H1'e
5y census returns Of 1850
- ~ 81