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

pension, the Federal Government has the
bsllgercqt right TO dispose OF the slaves,
as Of horses, Of rebels, according TO It's
discretion, limited by the laws Of war.
That is, that by virtue Of certain ere
served rightsp which the States possess,
the State Of Tennessee, when "reoon.
siyuotel, "may dispose the negro slaves
within it's borders withou. the control
or interference of The Federal Govern
ment," and the Press, 10 make its mean
ing clearer, IL possible asserts that
"atis right wiR belong to Tennessee as entirely
as 70 did before the rele7Eon.' DO we mis-
apprehend our cotemporsry's position on
this very important point? We think
not.
The Press says:
We have thought proper TO make this
definition of our position, in regard TO
an important point lest, in the hurry Of
composition We may sometimes use Lam
guage liable TO be Interpreted in a sense
which we do not intend TO convey.
Oar contemporaries editorial was meant
for a standing definition Of his position
in regard 10 the authority of the State
Government Of Tennessee, and of the
Federal Government over all She slaves
within the limits of the former. The
Press then holds that the slaves Of Ten
nessec rebels emaucipsted by the act Of
Congress, as well as all slaves who have
enlisted in the United States service,
will relapse, legally into their former
servitude, and be as much slaves as they
ever were, when the State Government Of
Tennessee shall have been reconstruct
ed" II adds, in another place in the
same article:
When we exhort the citizens of Tenues-
see to reconstruct their State government,
we intend neither more nor less than
that they shall abandon their rebel posi-
ton, submit to the government and laws
of the United States, obey the Federal
authorities, and thus bring themselves
practically into the political condition
which has been interrupted, not destroyed
by the rebellion.
And in this political condition"
stands out prominently, the Preserved
right "to dispose of the negro slaves
within its borders" which right, we
are assured little further on will be-
long TO the reconstructed State of Ten.
nessee as entirely as Il did 5efore ne rebellion.
True, the Ptcss holds that ,ha Federal
Government has the Jslbgeyem right to
dispose Of The Slaves az Of horses of
rebels, accot ding 10 it's discretion, limit
ed By he la,0s Of mar" Every slave in
Tennessee, now in Federal employ, as a
laborer, or soldier, however honestly,
faithfully or bravrly he may have done
his duty, must be seized by the relentless
slave code, (which has been interrupted
not destroyed by the robellon;" in the
words Of the Press, and rcmanded to bis
owner, although he may be as false as
Catilino and as cruel IS Nero.
viii Tennessee have a rightto remsnd
liberated slaves TO bondage and nullify
laws of the United States
Will the people suffer, ought they to
suffer, the slaves who have toiled for our
armies, built our Notifications, and risk
ed their lives in battle, TO be given back
to bondage, at tho close of the war? We
trust no such stain may ever defle our
national escutcheon. There is no "re-
served rights" in any. State to Justify or
excuse such barbaTity.
Itseems hard for some to realize that
we are in the midst Of revolution, that
this great civil struggle is a resolution IN
Voiced ,gitdin a rebellion; and that we must
accommodate ourselves to facts, not pre-
conceived theories. Look at the organi-
cation of West Virginia as a State.
There was a clear case of infringement
upon not only the Preserved rights" but
upon the territorial integrity of State,
without her consent. Shall Virginia at
the close Of the rebellion reclaim her lost
territory, in order TO maintain her
"rights," even though the Supreme Court
should solemnly sanction such recls-
nation? We must recognize facts, and
consult the welfare of the Republic
in 4 conyulsion like the present