The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-30
rho rerrlble slare uoae.

A correspondent Of the Press, who
subscribes himself "LAw AND ORDER,"
has Just made the astonishing discovery
thEt the msjestle slave code Of this State
has hecn violated and shamefully dis
regarded in numerous cases IN The city Of
Nashville, right before the eyes of the
Federal army. And CLAW AND ORDER"
proves bis assertions by quoting divers
pithy clauses Of the slave code, which
we held up before all citizens and sol
diors Ia teyfaem, 10 let them know tho
fearful penalties which they will have to
suffer.--when Governor Harris marches
Al the head Of his ragged Butternuts,
with banners flying into Nashville.
Until that event occurs, we advise every
body to keep cool and sleep easily. Here
are the passages quoted from the slave
code
No person shall secure, conceal, or in
any manner harbor or protect any runa-
way slave, knowing him TO be arunAway.
That is pointed, but we insist that
this law must be construed strictly.
Slaves don't nm away, at all, now-a-
days, they only pick up their hats and
,gaM away wbistling with their hands in
their pockets. The Statute quoted is
plainly out of date. Bat let us read the
next one:
No person shall entice or persuade any
slave TO absent himself from his masters
service, nor harbor or maintain under
any pretonoo whatever any runaway
slave.
IL does not look to US IS it persuasion
or enticement was at all necessary. The
slaves haye.got a marvellous facility Of
running, o. We should say, Of 'oal.ing of,
OF their own accord, and who will stop
them?
Now read the alarming penalty affixed
to these crimes by the Slave Code
Every such offender shall forfeit and
pay to the master fifty dollars, and shall
moreover be liable TO the master in an
action for damages. The punishment of
these offences shall be confinement ia H!O
Peniteatiayy NOT LESS THAN THREE NOR
MORE THAN TEN YEARSl
Merciful goodness! The eOrreSpOn-
dent of the Press adds;
This, sir, is part of the common law
Of this State, and a failure 10 enforce IL at
any tiraeicouM be a great evil, but esRgially
at his time, will lead. TO innumerable wills,
both to the white and black population
$ *EoF%
Here is one law Of the State Of The
HIGHEST importance TO the public welfare,
aud which is by very large number OF
our residents aud citizens violated and
set at naught every day --thus breaking
down the labor Of the country, and des-
troying all idea Of la,0 and order.
Law and Order seems to have been in
dulging in 3 sleep as sound and pro-
trscted as the immortal slpmber of RiT
| Van Wrinkle, and we dJubt whether he
is wide awake yet. He is surely talking
in his sleep. At least his foolish disqui-
si(ion, essay, or exhortation in favor Of
enforcing the old slave code, sounds very
strangely to the ears Of the overwhelm.
ingsmsjority of Unionists of Tennessee
If anybody entertains the insane ides
that people are to be locked up in Peni.
tentiaries from three TO ten years, fol
harbOring slaves who have left their mas.
tors, or whose masters have left then
and run Off to the rebel army, we advise
him to secure all the jAils, penitentiaries
churches, and public buildings in tn,
State, 70 inprison the army Of offenders
and then the dungeons will be crowded
to OVERLOOKING.
The editor of the Press is dumb il
reference TO the communication Of hi
correspondent, although it is very i'm
portant topic. When an editor admit
such articles in his paper without wore
of comment either for or against thei
positions, il is the general lulo to suppOs'
that he endorses and is responsible TO
them. That the Press is in favor of th,
enforcement of the inhuman, obsolet
and iniquitous slave code, there can b.
no doubt although it would be very i'm
polite 70 take such position openly
and in 50 many words. NttAaat