The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-08
from the 81 Louis Democrat J
The Distinction Defined,


ave urge the prosecution of the war
for the restoration of the Union, while
your purpose is the overthrow of sla-
very"
Such is the specious distinction which
is made by the Conservatives against the
Radicals. There may be enough of
plausibility in it to deceive the thought.
less, and, therefore, the proposition itself
may deserve a passing notice, gross fall
lacy though it be. II is true the great
purpose and end of the war is the re-
establishment of the Union. 1t is at the
same time true that the Radical policy is
to extinguish slavery as an institution.
Do these two things involve an inconsis-
tency? On the contrary, we hold they
cannot be separated. I H
If physician had in charge a patient
sick with fever, his great object would
be the restoration Of health. Would
this end be incompatible with the over
throw of the disease, or the cause of
the disease? The Union is sick
with slavery, or perhaps the propo-
sition would be more satisfactorily sta
ted, although meaning essentially the
| 5aiuG NY S0J AhE ~ 10 bibh WIN
ailment of which slavery was the crea-
ting and is the sustaining cause. The
fact that the Union had slavery for years
without rebellion and war proves moth
ing against the soundness of the propo-
sition, when il is conceded that slavery
did finally produce rebellion and war.
Do the Conservative physicians expect
TO restore the Union to health, without
attacking the malady with which il is
afflicted, or attempting the removal of its
cause? II would seem so, and such be-
ing the case, il will require but the small
est modicum Of common sense and re-
Election to pronounce them the veriest
quacks in existence. Doctors, who
would treat the disorders of the flesh =;
they propose to treat the disorders of the
country, would be hOoted out of any re-
spectacle community.
ooh" say they, when the inconsistent
cy of their theory is exposed, 1--WE arr
not in favor of slavery-we don't Justify
slavery-we don't dispute its being tbs
cause or occasion Ofthe war, the nations
sickness, but we don't want TO touch it
because the effect of the war will be
slavery's destruction, and we, therefore
propose to let Providence and natura
events work out result which is inev
table" Such is the special pleading
resorted to by our conservative patriots
every day. But if the result of the wal
must be slAvery's overthrow, is not tn,
distinction which they seek TO make
against the radicals, between the prose
cution of the war for the Union and th,
overthrow Of slavery, exploded? Either
the conservatives must themselves wOrl
as vfFec tually for the overthrow of slave.
ry as the radicals, or the radicals ar,
the only ones honestly engaged for IN,
res toratiOn of the Union.
As matters now stand in this country
il is idle, and worse than idle, 10 dream
of making a distinction between the re
bellion and slavery. We do not ohArg,
them with positive identity, but we d,
say that they are equally hostile to tn,
Union, and are fully combined agains
it. The enemies of the Union make NJ
distinction between them, aud VIII
should its friends? The two are 80 in
timately associated in the war as 70 max
separation practically impossible. II
spare tho one is TO save the other. Be
cause the rebellion, and not slavery, /
the enemy primarily sought to be des
troyed, should be no protection TO sla
very, when it sets itself up IS the rebel
lions main defence and "chief corner
, stone" What would be thought Of th
Union soldier who, because he had gon
forth to destroy living rebels, would re
fuse to FIRE upon and batter down en-
trenchments behind which the rebels ha
fortified themselves, on the ground tha
he had no war TO wage against the cart
and stone of which the entrenchment
were composed? His position would b
quite as logical as that of our conserve
tive politicians, who refuse TO fire upo
slavery, Notwithstanding il is the strong
est bulwark behind which the rebellio
lies entrenched furnishing II not only
means Of protection against the enemy
; but supplying it with tho means of sus
tenance within its stronghold. Bait
down slavery, and the rebellion yields
the self same hour 0 I its fall