Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-24
mrReu ON LINCOLN.

Mr.. BELL, in his speech at the Capitol on Tuesday
made some handsome apologies for Mr.. LINCOLN and
Mr.. SEWARD. He did not, by any means think they
are the dangerous persons they are generally be-
Eevcd to be ia the Southern States. Indeed he sad
that he had hailed the appointment of Mr.. SEWARD
TO the Premiership in Mr.. LNCOLN's cabinet as an
auspicious omen, and he thought II was favorable
Gipn that conservative and c0nciiatory policy was
to be adopted
Speaking Of Mr.. LINCOLN, he complained of Gov.
HARRIS for condescending to assert in his mes
sage that Mr.. L. believed in the equality of the
negro and the white man. This he fatty and boldly
denied, saying that Mr.. LINCOLN had himself refuted
the idea. 1t may or may not be 4 con-
descension in Gov. HARRIS to call attention to
the dangerous, ncendiary and revolutionary prin-
ciples Of who has just been elevated, by a
sectional party to the Presidency of the Republic
We think however, it was a much greater conde-
seension in Mr. BELL, late the chief Of great
Southern party, TO defend Mr.. LINCOLN against a
charge so web established by his declarations
We have only to refer to the speeches of Mr.. LIN
coin in proof of Gov. HARRIS allegation. The fol-
lowing, however, will suffice for the purpose.
In September, 1856, Mr.. LINCOLN said
That central idea in our political system at the
beginning was and until recently, continued to be
the equality OF men. And although it always
Submitted patiently 10, whatever inequality there
seemed to be, a matter of actual necessity, Its
constant working has been steady progress toward
the,PR ACTICAL EQUALITY OF ALL MEN.
Let pSst differences nothing be; and with steG-
dy eve on the real issue, let US re-nsugUrate the
rood old central ideas of the Republic We do it.
The human heart is with us; God is with Weshall
again be able not enlyto declare that all the States
as States are equal yet that all citizens, citi
gems are equal but renew that broader better dec
Iaration including both these and mach more, that
all men created equal.
In what have done / cannot claim to have acted
from anv peculiar consideration Of the colored peo-
pie as separate and distinct class IN the communi-
~ but from the simple convection that all the ndl-
yiduals of that class members OF the community
and in virtue of their manhood entitled to every
original right enjoyed by any other member. We
feel therefore, that all legal distinction between IN
diTiduas of the same community, founded IN any
such circumstances as color, origin, ana me Ike,
are hostile to the genius Of institutions, and IN
COMPATIBLE with the true history Of American I'D
srty Slavery and oppression must cease, or Amer
lean liberty must perish.
In July, 1858, Mr.. LINCOLN said:
~ should like to know if taking the old Declara-
ssoD Of Independence, which declares that ali men
arc eou1I upon principle and making exceptions TO
IT where VIII it stop? II man says 1t does not
mean q negro, why not ansther say It does not mean
epother MANI If that declaration is not the truth
let rs get the statute book in which we find it, and
true let us tear it out! (CTies of no, no. Let us
stick 70 it then-et stand hrRly by 1t then. Let
az discard all this clubbing about this 1asn and the
ether man, this race and that race and tie ether
race being inferior. and, therefore, they must be
placed ia an inferior position, dscarding the stand
ard that we have left US. Let US discard all these
things and unite as people throughout tins land
until we shall once more stand up declaring that an
men are created equal. leave you hoping mat the
Iamp of liberty will burn in your bosems until there
shall no longer be doubt that all men are created
froe and equal
Can any candid man read these declarations ana
fail to be convinced that Mr.. LINCOLN is one OF the
Nsost dangerous, fanaticai and open enemies the
sosth has ever had? His apologists may endeayor
now to place him in a conciiiatoTy attitudei Mr.
SEWARD may play the Union role, and Mr.. BELL may |
sztenuats his position, but his opinions stand out
for themselves in bold relief, proclamirg him tho
enemy Of institutions,