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

In the House Of RfFresezfofuts. Jan. 9fh. On N
Lee Alnro Ri -

for the adrentifious coDst quo zee With which
this subj. ct has recently been Inverted. In
volving in the opinion Of Taiy, questions OF
vital jnterest 10 our beloved countrysl Should
not ak or desire TO he heard second tine
in this debate.
The condition of the African in the United
States, whether in state Of uijtction, or of
nominal free dom, has engaged the attention
of philosophers, statesmen and philanthro-
nixts. from the birth of this nation to the pre-
sent moment; indeed; the problem involved
in enconspassed with such difficulties as TO
rendsr its proper solution. even with the aid
FURNISHED US by history and personsi expert
ence, seemingly infeasibie even TO those who
honestly search tor truth.
Interest prejudice AID passion are the chief
sourcts of this ambiguity, aud we should
therefore end,avor 10 remove the So stumbling
blocks, and essay with proper humility, TO
trace facts and listen to eyidei &c. IL is only
in this WY that We can be assured OF True
or patriotic verdict. This country Is the
nursing mother of us all; We are all actuated
by one desire, TO sp,n nd or be spent in her ser
vice 1T were noble life 10 be found dead
embracing. her,
The condition of the free negro and that
of the slave, is so intimately associated ar to
render apology unnect ssary for the latitude
which members have allowed themselves in
this discuss on. l therefore desire the atieu-
jrct IF slavery. The first thing which i'm
pre-rtd my mind in this investigation WAS
the or al change which has been wrought ia
public sentiment on this subject since the for
nation OF our government Amongst the
Hen who founded this Republic there seems
to have existed almost undivided s, nti-
ment Oh he subject of African slavery.
The VIKINGS OF Washington. Mad son and
Jefferson abundantIy testify their hostility TO
the institution and The hope they entertained
OF its speedy extinction
Mr. jefferson made it one Of the strongest
grounds of complaint against the King OF
GrraI Britain. that he thrust this institution
upon the Colonies contrary To their express
ed desire, and in his declaration as original
iy reported, as elsew here in his writings and
correspondence, INDUCED in severity OF crit
icism On the suIject which would not now be
tolerated even IN his own State, and which,
strange to say, was opposed at the time,
chiefly by northern men. who according to
Mr. Jrfierson's own tes timOny, felt a little
tender under those censures, Tor though their
people had yeIy few slaves themselves, yet
they had been pretty considerable carriers of
them 10 Others"
1t would occupy more time than have al
lowed myself, and tax the patience of The
house unnecessarily. to follow infinitely the
history Of he country as connected with this
subject; but that history proves that up to
the time CT che Missouri controversy, South
ern Statesmen We're as hostile TO slavery as
their coadjutors of the North.
What then has caused the present geo.
graphical diversity of sentiment ON this sub
ject!
May it not-be owing to the fact, that in
4 resi-, prejudice, and pRbridled passion have
entered quite ,as largely into our theories,
spsculalions and conclusions as philosophy?
The Northern States were for time slave
holding. and their eeiIizens, as has been
shown. largely interested in the slave trade.
The c. institution and laws of the country
soon inierdicted what Mr.. Jcfferson styled
Asthis piratical warfare" and the question was
th-I eby stript of those considerations Of pro-
mt which was lis chief support. Then too,
owing TO the rigors OF the climate and the
products Of the soil, slaves were never a val
uable species of property at the North. Sla-
very WINS Tor these reasons, and not from con-
siderations OF philanthropy, speedily abolish
ed in the Northern States.
This abolition was effected, not by the
.manumissiOn of the slave. as one would sup
pose from tie moral bomiles in which por-
fion of our Northern friends are now 70 fond
Of INDUCING. but by. the absolute sale and
transfer of the negro to States where his Ia
Dor was more productive, aud consequently
hiE possession more coveted.
Until thus slript of its mask of gold, slave
either priests CT people at the North. In the
South these considerations OF interest yet at
tach TO The sui ect aud do think our fell
low-citzens of the North might excuse ms for
being attracted by that magnetic pole 10
which their O@n hearts once pointed, like
trembling needles.
Owing TO a natural diversity in climate
and productions, slave labor is. if not abs
Juteiy necessary, very valuable In all the
planting States: and this value has increas-
ed ms the resources of the Southern States
have expanded. Public sentiment has kept
even pace, in both sections of the Union, with
individual interests until at length party spir-
;t and religious fanaticism have been sub
sidized by the opposing factions. and slavery
has almost absolute control of Church and
State.
s.such is their ery-some watch word for the eight
Hust yfndrcate the wrong, and warp the right:
Religion freedom ycngeancs-xhaI on Will,
words enOGsh 10 raise mankind TO kill
some facuous phrase oy cunhing caught and spread,
That guilt may reign, and ssoyes and xOrms be fei'
Preserve. o thou God of Nations. my conn
Try from the u5uttrra5le horrors Of rcvolu-
ton, Wisdom. prudence. patriotism, ali de-
mand that We justly estimate the cost of such
wickedness and folly. The Constitution and
the u Iion is our only sure deiepce in every
time of troable-wby, therefore, this geo
graphical diyisioa Of parties upon subject
which every one must admit to be unimpor-
tant eomIared To the priceless blessings
which r.-sult iroB a union Of these States
In the North We see party urging the ia
slant abolition of slavery at any cost, whist
The South are insisting upon the recognition
of their right 10 regulate their ogD domestic
institutious to salt themselves, and naiorta-
nafeiy fpF Southern intere-ts. go beyond this
tenable defense. and contend for principles
of no practical value
81 ~ Al e - tha.N 9th
who hold abolition views, are doing 80 in
violation Of the compact entered into when
the Union vas formed /; tor no one viii deny
the recognition of slavery IN our fundamental
Law. or will dispute the constitutional right
OF the States 10 regulate their own domestic
Institutions
On the other hand. the South is found in
sisting on their right 10 introduce domestic
slavery in territory where the laws ci Nature
have interdcted il, aud some extremists con-
tend for the re-opening Of the African slave
trade in violation of the moral sentiment OF
Christendom.
These extreme views are alike saicidai in
fheir couseq exc s, sndiperilous 80 the safety
cfour free Institutions.
Ia there not some safe and conservative
ground which all may occupy on this sexa-
sious snhjecu -
Ia furtherance of this end which aildoubtless
desire to attain. | wish TO notice some OF
the objections which are urged by Abolition
ists TO cur peculir Institution. IL is said
shai, '.from ths relation in which men stand
70 one another. as ksllow-ereatures, and TO
God as their eoinmon greater, tkere are dutirs
tncumbentnpo each peculiar 10 himself: Ia
she performances az which be can be guided
only By hisown reason. which WAS eivsn him
for that very purpases that the condition IT
slavery Is nat only unfrIeadly 10, hut ALSO
luteiy iEcosipatitde with the OH CT and end
Of human esisteBce, and therefore an ouirage
without palliation or excuse.S Let as ex-
anime this speoioas rrssoning- mas moral
accountability OF individual responsibility
foe the use Of the fssaliies with which be l.
endowed, no one v i'll deny; but If history i
"a be credited these rs .lel lessons have asual-