The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-11
THURSDAY MORNING, June 4, 1853
The war Policy OF the Nation not
AboIitionhsm.

AbOlitiOnism.
There is nothing more ruinous than to
confound the nti-slavery influence and
operations of the war with what is pop
ularly called Abolitionism. They are
widely different. Abolitionism has for
many years been understood to teach the
political and social equality Of the white
and black races, and TO advocate the de-
struotion of slavery by the Federal Gov
eminent. It did not simply imply OPP
position 10 slavery, or an effort by the
people of slave State, to remove slavery
from their boundaries. Whilst tisvery
certain that the overwhelming majority
of the Northern people have always been
opposed to the system of slavery, it is
equally as certain that very small par
", or faction rather, hold to some extra
VACANT opinions in regard TO IL, and this
faction was steadfastly opposed by the
great body of the people everywhere. 1t
is idle, tits folly, for any man to say that
the nation will be inconsistent in assail-
ing slavery, which has been protected Tor
30 many years by the Government There
is no Inconsistency between the pastand
present policy of the nation in regard to
slavery. It's true that the slaves of re-
bells are escaping to our lines by thou
sands, and will never be remanded TO
bondage it is true that thousands Of the
slaves Of rebels are enlisting in the Fed
oral army, as teamsters, cooks, mechan-
les, servants, scouts, sailors, soldiers, and
nurses; it is true that slavery is totter-
ing everywhere, and regarded as doomed
by all intelligent and unprejudiced OBJ
servers; but all this does not coviat the
nation Of an Inconsistent policy in this
matter. The people, with the exception
of the very small party alluded TO before,
were perfectly willing to leave slavery to
be managed by the people of the slave
States. They said to Mississippi, South
Carolina and Alabama: "Make the best
of keep your slaves among yourselves,
and don't bother us with them, and we
will not modest you. Let each State
manage its labor system TO suit itself"
The people opposed the extension of
slavery, as they had right to do; and
they had to discuss slavery politically
and morally, in doing this; but not one
man in twenty was in favor of the Fed
eral Government attempting to alter State
laws in this matter. a Republican Con-
gress actually offered 60 amend the Con
stitution, SO that Congress should never
have power 10 disturb the State laws on
this subject. This is the record Of IL Q
country in this matter, and it was wise
one. The change and Inconsistency,
whatever they may be, are chargeable to
the revolted Slave States, and not to the
General Government. The Government
or tho Nation is certainly striking terri
BILE blows at slavery, but they are blows
of self-defence; they are the blows dealt
by an indignant citizen at the burglar
or assassin who has crept into his house
with drawn dagger. They are blows
to preserve the Republic from death. All
men see that IL is slavery which gives
power and unityto the rebellion. Slavery is
the loord Which enlbolies tie BRIEF CREED of he
Southern rebellion. Slavery which has been
protected by the Government for so many
years, is now trying to destroy the Gov
ernment, and the Government would be
chargeable with treason, did it not deal
its blows heavily upon the monsters
head. The Con6scation Act, depriving
rebels Of their slaves; the Emancipation
Proclamation the Emancipation law in
the District Of Columbia; and, more
than all else, tho enlistment of negro
regiments in the Federal Army, are
lawful polite and necessary acts Of
warfare; they are measures of self-de-
Tense on the part of the nation, and the
whole civilized world, outside of this
country, always excepting few aris-
tocrats, so recognize them 1t would be
difficult TO determine why the necessary
war measures Of tho Government should
be called the work of Abolitionism, did
we not remember that a distinguished
rebel General, more than eighteen months
ago, advised the Southern people to call
all Federal officers and soldiers "A5olition-
lists" because that odious name would
have "a singing effect F" with the null
titcde.'i $3.50
Ex-President JOhn Quincy Adams
foreshadowed the action Of the American
people in this matter, as well as laid
down very clearly the laws of war per-
tanning to this question, in very able
speech in Congress many years ago.
The following extract is found in Part
I'd, Vol. II, of the Congressional GloJe for
the I'd session of the 9th Congress;
would leave that institution to the
exclusive consideration and manage
ment of the States more peculiarly in
terested in it-.jgst as long as hey can keep
q irlthsR her oa0n bounds. So far l admit
that Congress has no power to NEEDLE
with IT, As tong as they do not step ont Of
Their o1n bounds, and do not put he question
10 he people o. The United States, solose peace,
s0sBare and happiness are all al stake, 90
long icfN IogTes 70 leavo them to Themselves.