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

-
Mr.. President The pressure Of bust
ness in the Senate during the last few
days Of the session prevented my attend
ance at the meetings Of the Border States
members, called to consider your pro-
position in reference TO gradual emanci-
patton in our State.
1t is for this reason only, and not be-
cause / fail TO appreciate their import
ance or properly respect their sugges-
tiOns that my name does not appear to
any of the several papers submitted in
response.
may also add that it was my inten-
ton, when the subject came up practi-
cally for consideration in the Senate, TO
express fully my views in regard TO it.
This of course would have rendered any
response unnecessary. But the want of
time TO consider the matter deprived me of
that opportunity, and lestnow my silence
may be misConstrued, deem it proper TO
say TO you that | am by no means indif-
ferent TO the great questions so earnest
ly, and as ] believe so honestly, urged by
you upon our consideration.
The Border States, so far, are the chief
sufferers by the war, and the true Union
men of those States have made the great
est sacrifices for the preservation Of the
Government. This fact does not proceed
from mismanagement on the part of the
Union authorities, or want Of regard
for our people, but it is the necessary re-
suit of the war now upon us. Our States
are the battlefields. Our people, divided
among themselves, maddened by the
struggle, and blinded by the smoke of
battle, invited upon our soil contending
armies-the one TO destroy the Govern
ment, Che other TO maintain It, The con-
sequence, 10 us is plain. The shook of
the contest upturns society,aDd desOlates
! the land. We have made sacrifices, but
at lastthey were the only sacrifices de-
manded By duty, and unless we are will
ling TO make others, indeed any that the
| good of the county, involved in the over
throw Of treason, may exact at our hands,
our title to patriotism is not complete.
! When you submitted your proposition
| to Congress, in March last, "that the
| United States ought TO cooperate with
| any State which may adopt gradual
! adjustment Of slavery, giving TO such
| State pecuniary aid, TO be used by such
! State in its discretion, to compensate for
| the Inconvenience, public and private
| produced by such change of system. l
! gave it most cheerful support and | am
satisfied it would have received the APP
probation of large majority of the bor-
der State delegation in both branches of
Congress, if, in the first place, they had
believed the war, with its continued evils
the most prominent Of which in ma
terial point of view is its injurious effect
on the institution of slavery in our States
could possibly have been protracted
for another twelve months; and if, in the
second place, they had felt assured
that the party having the majority in
Congress would, like yourself be equally
prompt in practical action as in the ex-
preston of sentiment. While scarcely
any one doubted your own sincerity in
the premises, and your earnest wish
speedily TO terminate the war; you can
readily conceive the grounds for differ
ences of opinion where conclusions could
only be based upon conjecture.
Believing, as l did, that the war was
not so near its termination as some sup
posed, and feeling disposed to accord TO
others the same sincerity of purpose that
l should claim for myself under similar
circumstances, l voted for the proposition
| will suppose that others were actuated
by no sinister motives.
In doing so, Mr., President l desire to
be distinctly understood by you and by
my constituents. | did not suppose at
| the time that was personally making any
sacrifice by supporting the resolution, nor
that the people of my State were called
upon TO make any sacrifice, either in con-
sidering or accepting the proposition if
they saw it, agreed with you in the
remarks contained in the message ACCOM-
panying the resolution that "the Union
must be preserved, and hence all indis-
pensable means must be employed" =
War has been and continus to
| be an indispensable means 10 this end.
/ A practical acknowledgment of the
| National authority would render the war
unnecessary, and il would at once cease.
! IT, however, resistance continues the war
| must also continue and il is impossible
| TO fOresee all the incidents which may at
| tend, and all the ruin which may follow
| it. 1t is truly impossible" to foresee
all the evils resulting from a war so stu
! pendous as the present shall be much
rejoiced if something more dreadful than
! the sale of freedom 10 few slaves in the
/ Border States shall not result from it, If
| it closes with the Government Of our IA
| theirs secure, and constitutional liberty in
all its purity guaranteed to the white
man, the result will be better than that
having a place in the fears of many good
men at present, and much better than the
past history OF such revolutions can JUS
tify us in expecting.
In this period Of the nations distress,
know of no human institution too sacred
for discussion no material interest be-
longing 70 the citizen that he should not
willingly place upon the altar Of his
country, If demanded by the public good
The man who cannot now sacrifice party
and put aside selfish considerations is
more than half disloyaL Such a mar
does not deserve the blessings Of good
government Pride Of opinion, based
upon sectional jealousies, should not b,
permitted 70 control the decision of any
political question: These remarks ar,
general, but apply with peculiar force 4
the people of the Border States al present
Let us look at our condition, A desc
lating war is upon us We cannot escap
il # we would. II the Union armie
were to-day Withdrawn from the Bordc
States, without first crushing the rebel
lion IN the South, 20 national man cal
doubt for a moment that the adherents o
the Union cause in those States woul,
soon be driven in exile from their home
by the exultant rebels, who have 80 lonI
hoped 10 return and take vengeance upoI