Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-01-11

any man who says he fears or has cause TO
fear thseinfluence of the free negro. There
are only about 900 at most in our State,
and we have more than twenty times that
number of Stree white men, within the con-
fines of this State. They received the few
privileges they have as free gift from The
dominant race; shall we not protect them in
the enjoyment of the fruits OF our own boun
ty. Or shsfi we Euthiessly exile them, or in
any way zcen<ign them to fate which We
cannot control?
1t is not thus that we can discharge our
moral obligations TO an inferior race.sor rid
ourselves of the responsibilities of our own
position. There is one view which has been
taken of this subject which desire briefly to
notice. 1t is said by. those who favor the
policy of expulsion that the free negro is a
nuisance, aud his influence injurious to the
slave population of This State. As have al
ready said, this is the Intermediate class be-
tween the Caucasian race and the African
slave. / now desire to suggest that this
may be beneficial not injurious, to the
slave owner. In my opinion, 1t prevents any
violent antagonsm between free and slave
labor. The free negro performs many me-
NAL Offices to which the white man of the
South is peculiarly averse- They are our
hack-men, draymen, our messengers and bar
bers are always ready to do rs many nee
ess3ry services; if they are driven from the
Southern States, who will supply their place?
1t has been intimated that this hiatus would
be filled by the substitution of slave-labor in
all those avocations which now furnish en-
ployment to the free man of color. But there
is one difficulty which has not suggested itself
TO those who have thought this practicable.
The owner of slave will scarcely be willing
10 place him in position so entirely beyond
bis own control and supervision; and II the
owner would give his consent, this condition
of quasi freedom would be far more injurious
to The rest OF the servile race than the evil we
are now endeavoring TO correct. 1t is well
known that slaves who hire their own lime,
are ar more injurious to those in like coudi-
ton than the free negro himself. IT, there
fore, the place of the tree man OF color can
moi aud will not be supplied by the slave,
where will such service be obtained?
say 1t matters not whether our native
| population or foreigners supply this deicien-
cy, their Influence is more to be feared than
that OF the free negro /; they Will then become
| the mean between the free and slave races.
Is 1T necessary for me to complete the pic
ture How long before this intermediate
class will discover the "irrepressihle conflict"
between their own and slave labor? How
long before the slave owner would find an
enemy TO his peculiar institution whose in
fuence would be felt at the bdftot-6o1-
And now, Mr.. Speaker, have oniy TO repeat
in conclnsion ment that this vexed question OF
CatlOnfy DE settled Dy moral euaslou. II
Will never be abolished by force or violence; it
cannot be perpetuated by disunion. These
are the remedies ofpolitical quacks--ihe oniy
security which either race has OF a rtcognl-
ton oil their rights is in the Union, and
uad"r the protection of our Constitution aud
laws.
Let Us cease therefore this constant agiia-
zion of theme which can only be freed from
perpieXIty by the operation of natural laws.
aud in future give our undivided support 10
the lettering arch of the Union Let Us tear
this colled serpent of dlsuulou from the vlials
OF cur eloved C, Try aud hold it writing
up To public scor.., then fling it forth TO ruin.
In Bunyan's Holy War, there is a city
described, The walls OF which were well
buili; yea, SO fast and firm were they knit
aud compacted together, that had it not been
for the townsmen themselves, they could not
have been shaken or broken toreoer. For
here lay the excellent wisdom OF him that
built Monsoui, that the walls could never be
broken down nor hurI by the most mighty adj
verse potentates, unless the townsmen gave
consent thereto Our countries foundations
were well laid in civil aud religions
liberty cemented at Bunker Hill and
Princeton at Charleston and New
Orleans in the blood poured out
from patriot hearts, knit and compacted
together by the ccuuscis of the sages of the
Revolution until it has become city OF re-
iuge Tor the oppressed of every nation. And
il ii be not through the treason Of townsnen
themselves the walls can never be broken
down nor hurt by the most mighty adverse
.potentates.