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

The Enforcement of the ConTIsca-
cation Act tho sheet AnchorIHope
OF the south,
kf1Thc Philadelphia North american says:
Illinois is becoming an important field
Of colonization for fugidves from the
border States. Thousands Of such emf
grants from Missouri, Kentucky, Ten
nessee and Virginia, are now buying land
along the Illinois Central Railroad, and
settling there 70 be out of the way Of the
tread of armies from which they have
suffered 40 much during the last two
years. an III northern States hare received
large aocessions Of population from the south
in some i0ay since he war Jegan.
We have reason to believe that this
statement is true TO a considerable extent.
II it be true, it furnishes us with sub
ject demanding the deepest reflection and
contemplation. Personal observation,
and the observation Of others, satisfies
us that this exodus of white citizens from
the Southern 10 the Northern States con-
sists entirely Of mechanics, small faru-
ers, and non Shareholders in other avOoa-
tions Of life. The startling fact stares us
in the face, that the South is in danger
OF losing her very best population; her
Intelligent industrious, laboring classes,
who constitute not only the foundation
Of the Commonwealth, but the pillars
which support il. This class is dis
Il. .tinguished above all others, both the
slave class which tolls in degradation,
and the wealthy class which does not
toll at all, for itsentsrprise, morality, in
telligence, and frugality. Itisthat class
which in all countries and in all ages
has furnished the great minds in science,
religion, craftsmanship, and the arts, who
have elevated, controlled, and advanced
the fortunes Of our race. We cannot af-
ford to lose these people, any more than
man can afford TO let the. blood
bealrained from his veins. Look at un-
happy Ireland. Depopulation similar 20
that which we have spoken Of, has been
going on in her border for years, and
she now stands
80 Chidless and orownleas in her yoiceleBs woe.
Her mobiles remain, and her aristocrats
still ride in pomp over her fields, still
% beautiful in their very desolation; but,
alas, she is living Ireland no more! The
strength Of the island has fed when
her sturdy peasaatry fed from her bor-
ders, she stood like Sampson shorn OF
/, his. locks. The familiar lines of her
greatest poet, cmbody not only poetry,
but one of the cardinal truths of po-
htical science.
Ill fares the land to fastening ills rrcv
whan wealth accumulates aud men decay;
q Princes nd Kings may flourish or may fade
breatn eau make them as breath has made,
Btt a buld peasantry, their country's PRIDE
when ouce destroyed can never be tupplsd."
81 Would that the profound philosophy
embodied in these lines might sink deep
.ly into the minds Of those who now con-
troll the nation. -a %.
Now, why isit that many of our citi-
zens who belong to whN is called the
middle class, are seeking homes in the
!. free States? 1t is not merely desire to
move their families from the scenes and
turmoil Of the present struggle of con-
tending armies. We have talked freely
with some Of these men, and have inva-
riably found that their minds were filed
with apprchensions Of another struggle
TO follow in this and other Southern
States, after the war shall have termina.
isd--a struggle with their old enemies
Of the slave olgarchy, which they fear
will terminate in The ahject subjugatiou
of all other classes to the same organized
and consolidated slave faction which has
ruled the South for so many years with
q rod of iron. These men say that In
tho contest between the rebel and the
Federal Government the stakes are not
all equal; that all tho advantages at
present are on the side OF treason; and
that IL the Federal Government shall
permit the old oligarchy to revive in the
slave States, with its mulifarious en-
gines of oppression; IFS black code; its
gag-laws, its lynch laws, its land mo
nopoly, its political Olose corporation; it,
universal espionage aud tyranny exereis.
cd over society schools, churches, newspa.
pers, courts and legislatures, one Of tire,
results must follow. Either every mar
must swear abjcct allegiance TO thii
Black Despolism, aud talk, walk, eat anC
drink, and even exist, ever after, on con.
ditiOn Of Implicit obedience 10 the AFRO
giant master who stlnds by bis side with
whip in hand, or be mnst ly the coun.
try, or he must die.
The rebel Government imposed up
on the Unionisis Of the South the al
ternatives Of submission or ruin. It pro-
claimed TO all who yet retained a linger-
ing love for the Federal Government
Submit or be outlAwed," aud il speedily
and vigorously followed up it's procla-
nation with deeds, The proclamation
was the voice Of war; il was the battle
y cry OF men, who, like RICHARD ON Bos-
worth Field,
Had sot their lives upon east
and who were resolved to