The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-24
The Slavery QuestiOn-E highlands
Policy Of Abolition.


Prom tho Richmond Examiner, Feb
The sentiment Of the British Cabinet
was never more truly expressed than In |
the recent declaration OF al English pub |
licist, that England would assume the |
support from the public treasury Of her |.
entire manufacturing population, or stand !
and see them stArye, rather than change |
her national policy" The policy alluded !
10 - That tobich she has long pursued tcith ref
ere7oe 10 African slavery. What that policy |
is t0e are at no loss 10 determine. The at
tention OF the Southern mind was FIRST
seriously attracted TO The subject about
the year 1914, when England's attempt
to defeat the annexation of Texas 20 the
United States was discovered, exposed
and baflled by Mr. Calhoun. Mr.. CAL
houn's long cherished approximations of
British intrigue against slavery were first
publicly confirm- d by report, which be
saw in an English newspaper, Of con-
versaliOn between Lord Brougham and
the then Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, Lord Aberdeen, which occurred
In the House of Lords on the 18th of
August, 1913, Referring to Texas, Lord
Brougham said, in the course OF an ex-
tended speech:
As all access 10 the African slave
market was shut out TO them (tho Texans,)
their market for slaves was the United
States, from whence they obtained a
large supply of negro slaves. The
markets from whence they obtained their
supply of slaves were Georgia, the Caro-
liuas and Virginia, which States con-
stantly send their surplus slave popula-
ton, which would otherwise be burden
TO them, to the Texan market This
made him irresisiibly anxious for the
abolition of slavery in Texas for if IL.
were abolished there, not only would that
country be cultivated by free and white
labor but il would put stop 10 the habit
| OF breeding slaves for the Texan market.
! The consequence would be that they
would solve this great question in the
/ history Of the United States, for il must
ultimately end in the abolition of slavery
in America. II, therefore, by our good
! Offices, we could get the Mexican Gov
ernmtnt 10 acknowledge the independ-
ence Of Texas, on the condition of the
latter aboishing slavery, he would sug-
| gest hope that it might terminate in the
abolition of slavery in Texas and ulli-
mately in the whole Of the Southern
! States in America. Thus the abolition
Of slavery III Texas must put an end TO
one OF The most execrable crimes that
could disgrace pedple-namely, the
Nearing and breeding Of slaves, or the
being engaged ia the sale OF our fellow
creatures. He therefore hoped that his
noble friend (Lord Aberdeen) would have
no difficulty in letting hiu know whether
he could give any Information as TO the
state Of the negotiation ON this subject,
or as to the instructions that had been
given to cur Minister in that country.
The EARL or ABERDEEN, in the course
of his reply said -
7 He did not believe that there was any
importation of slaves into Texas by sea /:
but it was true that there was large i'm
portation Of slaves from the United
States into tliatcountry Immediately on
the negotiations being entered into Texas,
the utmost endeavors in this country
were used to put an end TO the war
which prevented the full and entire re.
cognitiOn OF the independence OF Texas
by Mexico. 1t was with great pleasure
that he was able to say that an armistice
had been established between the two
Powers. This was an important step TO
obtain; and he need hardly say that every
effort on the part of her Majesty's govern
mcnt would lead to the result which was
contemplated by his noble friend. He
was sure that he need hardly say that no
one was more anxious than himself to see
the abolition of slavery in Texas, and il
he could not consent TO produce papers,
or TO give further information, it did not
arise from indifference; but he could as
sure his noble friend that, by means OF
urging the negotiations, as well as by
every other means in their power, her
Msjesiy's Ministry could press this mat
ter.
Lord Brougham observed that "noihing
could be more satisfactory than the state
ment Of his noole friend, which would be
received with joy by all who were favor
able to The object Of the anti.slaYery So
cieties."
Thus, at an unguarded moment, the
policy of the British Government was
distinctly announced TO be the abolition
of slavery in the Southern States of Anne
RIGA. Abolition in Texas wa then a mi :
nor affair; for there were not twenty Eve
thousand slaves, as admitted by Lord
Brongbam, 10 the republic Of Texas
The great object was, by means Of a free
Stale in Texas, to undermine and destroy
the institution in the Southern United
States.
The peFsistency with which Great
Britain purgues a DolicV once defermined
upon through every change of admins
tration and Of dynasty, from century TO
century, without variableness or shadow
Of turning, is proverbial What tBas her
policy tl0eaty yeurs ago IS her policy now.-
She then unequivOcally aYOwed her de-
sire to destroy the slavery institution in
these States, and The eVents Of he present
reV0lutioa only render her ai,re confident and
he mare eag.r in LSs prosecution Of her
policy
The important debate from which we
have quoted may b. said to have procur.
ed the annexation Of Texas 10 the United
states. Up ~ that lime tbs measG-e
seemed o have langhished and fallen
through. But that debate Ia Parliament
at once aroused the Southern States, aud
before eighteen months had elapsed an
nexation had become a consummate fact.
In the correspondence which transpir-
&c on the occasion between she federal
and British governments. Mr. Calhoun
speedily forced Lord Aberdeen 10 an
ayowal Of the policy Of his government;
and though that minister broame alarm
ed az The excitement which his incautiuus
| declaration in the HnuCa Of Iorda nd