The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-04

For the EashviIle Union.
The Destruction Os slavery tho se-
suit OF the Present war Between
the United Stntes and southern
RebeIlIOn.
Mr.. Editor The above proposition is
true in my opinion, whether the Govern
ment of the United States, in the prose-
cution of the war, adopts any measures
TO accomplish the destruction oil slavery
or not, if it succeeds in putting down
the rebellion. Nay, more, it cannot sue
coed in this and at the same time pre-
serve slavery. 1t might have done so at
one time, and perhaps it might do so yet
if the rebels would lay down their arms
and submit to the Government of the
Union. In that event, the armies now in
the field would be disoanded, and mill
tary rule would cease, and by the ope
rations Of me civil Law property in
slaves would be secured Bat then this
they will 40 80 They never will sub
init ii The power OF the rebellion is
crushed out by the strong arm of military
force. The preservation of slavery was
not the real cause Of the rebellion. Its
leaders only made this the pretext. But
then they told the people this was the
real cause. They could not have induced
them to go into armed rebellion by as
signing the real cause, or under any
other pretext. They knew this, and
hence they presented no other than this
pretext in its various phases to rouse the
passions and prejudices of the multitude
and induce them to assume an attitude
of hostility to the Government of their
fathers. Let any one remember the
harrangues to which he listened years
ago, and he will acknO Wedge the truth
of what say. Let him turn to the de
bates in Congress, and the resolves of
State legislature and all forms of po-
litical discussion with which the country
was lately teemiDg, and he will see the
same truth. In all these, Southern lea
ders offer no other reason for separating
from the Union which our fathers made,
than the preservation of slavery.
My attention has just been called to
this subject by pamphlet copy Of the
acts and resolutions passed and adopted
at called session ofthe General Assem-
bly, of the State of Tennessee, which
convened in Nashville in January, 1861
The message of the Governor, then print
ted, assigns no other reason for calling
the Legislature together, On that occasion,
than danger TO slavery. AZ page 40,
there are resolutions, proposing amend
ments to the Federal Constitution, in
which the words slave, slavery, slave
holder, etc, occur thirty four times.
Upon this subject change after change
was rung upon the public mind, until il
was excited to state of the widest
phrenEy. The public mind in the South
was thus made sensitive and feverish
and upon mono other subject could
1t be so aroused. Upon this sob
ject alone was ii aroused to
armed hostility against the government
And now these same leaders dare not,
If they could, change the issue. They
have put the existence Of slavery at is
sue in the contest now wsging, and that
contest must so on, as it begun, till one
party or the other submits. The rebels
will not submit, while for the Govern
ment to do SO, would be to give up its
existence. There is no other alternative,
but to go on and crush out the rebellion,
by destroying its power. This it can
not do, if it would, but by destroying
slavery at the same time, no matter what
its intentions are, or how much it may
desire TO preserve that institution,
Who then is TO blame, If there is blame
any where? Surely not the loyal men Of
the country. Slavery was safe under
the constitution and laws of the Union.
No species of property was more safe.
Like the ungratefdl and malignant adder,
il attempted to Fix its poisonous fang
into the vitals Of that Union but it only
effected, by its malicious bite,a slight and
temporary wound, while the deadly |
virus entered it's own system, Of which
il now struggles ia the agonies of GER
tain death. MORE ANON,