The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-09-29

retain az TO acquire, and neither misers
nor mOnArchs ever give up their gold, or
their crowns, under the influence of moral
suasioD, or the most convincing logic of
Craftsmanship. We indeed read of one
despOt, Sylls, the Roman dictator, who
after his
Eagle few
Ger PROSTATE Asia
and he had taken vengeance on his enc
mica at home,
laid down
With M atoning smile, more than earthly crown
Tho dictstorlal wreath +"
But SyllA is the prodigy Of history
without an example, or an imitatOr. Force,
physioalJorce, either actual or apprehended'
is the only weapon by which an sristoc-
rAcy can be put down. Men who are
pampered and pulled up by lOrg enjoy
ment Of peculiar power and privileges,
must have them wrenched forcibly from
their hands, for power and privilege in
vAriably tend TO blunt the sensibilities
and blind the mind of their possessor
Let US consider these statements, in
connection with the present condition of
things in Tennessee. There has existed
in Tennessee for many years an aristOc-
rAcy of Shareholders, who have enjoyed
extraordinary favors and privileges. The
slavehoiders, though not more than one
thirtieth of the population, really consti-
tute The State, which is designated as o
Slave State, just as if there was no other
species Of property within our borders
deserving consideration. This aristoc-
rAcy has been virtually broken up,
in consequence of the slave prop
erty on which it was based, being made
vAlueless by rebellion, which was in
stigated by the slAveOcracy. The ques-
ton now before us is, shall we restore
slavery in Tennessee 10 its former posi-
ton, and re-establish the slave arisloc-
racy, or shall we as people approve
of and endorse tho destruction of slave
ry, which has been brought about by the
commissions and violence of tho rebellion.
The throne of slavery is fallen down
shall we rebuild il? The slave aristoc-
racy is overthrown; shall il be re- estab-
ed f? Slavery is demolished and in ruins
shall we reconstruct it? II is not for US
to decree the abolition of slavery, for
that is already accomplished; but we
are to determine whether we shall re-
stOrea system already destroyed.
Strange TO say, many who profess TO
regret the existence of slavery, and pro-
nounce il An evil, advocate its restora-
ton. They say that when slavery shall
have been secured again to its own
ers and the slave code of Tennes-
see is again in force, that they
will then be in favor of discussing
the prOpriety Of emancipation. Strange
position, indeed, for rational and sincere
friends Of emancipation. But these per-
sons point us TO the cases of Pennsylva-
mia, New York, and other Northern
States, where slavery was removed by
legislative emancipation. These illus
trAtions of the prActicability of emanci-
patton by legislative action alone, are
quite inspplicable Slavery had ceased
to be profitable to any stakeholder in
those States, and had only nominal ex-
istence years before their Legislatures
established by law what ,oas already a
fact. II had virtually died out before an
emancipation act came to enclose its
corpse decently in a coffin. Those who
say that after the slaves in this State shall
have been caught and restored to their
masters, and al The complex machinery
Of the Slate Government shall have been
put to work for the protection OF our
aristooraoy of 10000 shareholders,
many Of whom are cultiyating fer
tile plantations with their slaves, aud
reaping rich revenues, there will
be any prospect Of persuAAding this
aristocrAcy TO surrender it's privileges
and power even gradually, either deceive
themselves, or seek TO deceive others.
The shareholders of Tennessee are just
as good, and as generous, by nature, as
other men, but they will never relinquish
their hold on slavery, while il is profit
able, until they are forced to do so. II
is idle to expect il. Men do not volun-
tArily surrender power. individuals are
tenacious Of power, and classes are moro
tenacious OF power than individuals, be-
cause they give each other mutual coun-
sci, protection, and support. AyArice
Wili long protect and support slavery,
and when that has died out, pride steps
in and takes the place of Ayarice. For
proof of this look at Delaware, where
pride and political intrigue maintain
slavery where there are but LOO slaves
To the slave aristocraey the day of in
Quiry and discussion never comes.
with il the vote is always either too
early or too late, To-day, in Tennessee,
while the State is convulsod, and all
other property save that of the solid
earth floats like drift upon the angry
waves OfrevolutiOn, this sristoorsey as
sures as that tho public mind is too