Smyrna times., 1862-01-16
Change Of Opinion on the Slavery
Question,

DIR. J. S. PrettymaR editor ofthe Peninsula
NepS, it will be recollected by those conver
SAINT with the paper, took bold and decided
stand in favor of ema nc psting the slaves of the
rebellious Southerners. In his last letter from
Glasgow, Scotland, he, as will be seen below
recants his tormes doctrines on this subject,
and places himself on a more cOnsiderate ba-
sis:
The rapid grogrcss Of events and more ma
ture consideration and reflection have con-
strained me to change an opinion often express
ed ia these columns: that slavery oughtto be
abolished throughout the rebel States by whist
J. q. Adams properly styled the war power
This opinion. am now satisfied, war erroneous,
and | hasten to cUTTsct it. | still believe thai
slavery is an uamitigated evil, but that it,
sudden abolition in the condition in which we
find the negroes of the South is am now con
fdent lmpolItIc and impractlcabIc. A few
thousand of them liberated in the natural
course of war can be provided for, but it 4,OG0.
900 of these ignorant creatures are turned
loose upon a community in their present degra-
ded and brutal coalition, a prey to their own
brutal passions, the results cannot be calculated
My OWE conclusions therefore are, that THE
rebelliOa will forever overthrow the rule OF the
slave power in America and put the peculiar
Institution in a process of ultimate extinction
The policy hen, heretofore indicated by Pres
Ident Lincoln, of putting down the rebellion
under the restrictions of the CONSTITUTE lon as tar
as is possible, is the true policy; and unless
circumstances occur that make it absolutely
| necessary to declare the abolition of slavery to
save the Union, should be vigorously adhered
! TO.
| Great wrongs, under the order of Prcvidenc,
even, are not rghted ia a day, or the gospel
would not have been preached tor 1861 years
without converting the world or al least with
ont more effectually sboishng the kingdom
! and rule of tue prince of evil. The history q!
| the world teaches US that great changes IL the
| policy of States or communities are always
| gradual and must necessarily be so In the
abolition Of the great evil of human bondage as
It exists IN our empire, time must be allowed
! for mems minds to GENE up TO the point and
accept the change; otherwise IN removing the
evil you bring about others Of more danger
Gus character. The war now in progress ii
rapidly purifying the body of the nation from
the person of slavery, ahd ultimately il will gair
enou h of the healthy vitLl force Of liberty Il
extefminate the disease 10 perfectly natura
aud legal manner. Is THIS not the - iet
course :! We verify believe it is, and 50 bt
lieyiag, nolh.ng shall detcrus from advoco {. .ng
lis adoption. II 4,000,00H degraded slaves
could be restored 10 liberty and invested ~'''
all the rights cE citizenship by the dUSh Of {
pen, would not such an element prove dagger
Gus to the liberty and civil governmen, Of iht
nation! 1t with all our beasled civilization
and education The white race can scarcely
govern itself, without being carried to destruc
ton by party and other passions, would Their
capacity for self goverRmsnt be increased b,
this large accessi0ns to their ranks from The
most ignorant and degraded people ;hat evel
lived under an enlightened government Lei
the Union be saved and slavery will die a nat
ural death.