The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-02

The Chicago Times, the object of whose
greatest dread is aboliti onism, and which
czcels in getting up conservative articles,
says
The negroes arc an element Of immense
strength TO the rebels, undoubtedly.
sensible people knew they would be be-
fore the war commenced
And yet the Times is utterly opposed
to molesting or enfeebling this element
Of IMMENSE STRENGTH to the rob
els That would be unconstitutional
and radical. What strange ideas Of con-
stitutionality some editors havcl COM
mon sense and a regard for the constitu-
ton would seem to teach us that If
SAMSON is seeking 70 kill us, and we can
rob him of his strength by cutting Off his
hair, cut il Of Don't make him blind
with rage, and LET his locks grow, so that
he will have the power 10 destroy us
whenever the within may possess him.
Why allow your deadly foe 10 use an
"slement Of immense strength" when it
is the easiest thing in the world to rob
him. Of that strength? will any one
maintain The absurdity that it is riqlt to
kill your enemy, but ,orag to seize his
ioepons ? Yet this is virtually the po-
sition Of the Times The Times adds:
We have not heard Of any great exodus
OF slaves, except Of such of them as the
rebels did not want. Some halt and blind
and aged negroes have C me into our
lines, and are supported Attic public cx-
pense, but not many others.
Our contemporary certainly docs not
read the newspapers, on he would know
that great numbers Of stout, healthy
slaves have run OF rem rebel masters in
Missouri and in Virginia. In many
counties of the latter State the crops are
perishing in consequence of the stampede
Of the slaves, aud in other counties
planters are compelled to pay high wages
to their negroes to keep them from leav-
ing. Every rebel paper that we get from
the South reveals the fact that they are
in dread Of the general exodus of their
slaves Here in Middle Tennessee thou
sands Of abIe-bodied negroes belonging
to rebel masters could be got without the
least difficulty by the Federal authorities
if they wanted them OF course loyal
masters would not be interfered with, for
we strike at the resources of the rebels.
AS to the halt, blind and aged negroes"
that the Times speaks Of the editor has
been hoaXed, as that class of negroes
don't run away. The fugitives we have
seen are hale, msty fellows, who are
anxious to get employment on fortified
tons for the Federal army, and we hope
ouroilicers will find employment for them.
1t is asking too much Of human creduity
to believe that hundreds Of thousands Of
slaves would not gladly leave their rebel
masters if they could find admitlance
within our lines. The rebels all know
this and look forward with apprehension
and terror TO the day when the new
policy shall be inauguratcd. Talk to
rebel five minutes about the war and he
will betray his fears on this point.
Common sense as well as patriotism would
dictate to us the employment Of that Gle
mcnt Of strength which is so important
to The rebels, and which, if we do not
use, the rebels will soon employ with far
more startling effect than they yet have
done What if the Confederate Gov
emment should offer every slave his free
dom who should shoot a Federal officer
or bring in a Federal scalp