The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-10
ror he Nashville Union.

For be Nashville Union.
The noble stand which you have taken,
Mr.. Editor in favor Of freedom-freedom
Of o~pinion--the emancipation Of mind
the thraldom of subserviency enti-
ties you 10 the appreciation of all good
men. l am r'joiced that your efforts in
this behalf are appreciated. For two
long years the darkness of a gloomy
night has rested upon my native State.
This night has seemed 10 grow darker
and darker, and the tempest that ruled
it has appeared 10 howl ferccr and Rercer
almost TO the present hour. But | fancy
] see The indications of breaking day.
The slorm-cloud is passing away. AL
ready the silver Innings which announce
its departure, appear upon the distant
horizon. All of which indicate that
when the day has come, and the tempest
that RACES, has passed the people Of this
country will be emancipated from the
most dreadful form of slavery that ever
cursed any community. Let no one be
alarmed; | am not about 10 discuss ne
gro emancipation. l know but little
about that question, and to tell the truth
| care but little about IL as an ebstract
question: Whether African slavery sur
wives the present contest, or dies amid
its throts, is a question about which i
must be excused from feeling any partic-
ular interest. Before il was made the
pretext, by its holders, for a causeless
and wicked rebellion against my Govern
ment, l was willing for it to live on
wherever itoould. II, however, in thrust
ing itself into this contest, it has commit
ted a crime for which il ought to die, and
at The same time has inflicted upon itself
a mortal wound, why it is no business of
mine--let it Gle. lis blood be upon its
own head. No trace Of the crimson
stain is on my hands. If slain, it is in
The house of its professed friends, and
murdered ghost will never rise TO dis
turb my fancy, or push me from my
pFopriety. II Is not the emancipation OF
the negro then. 10 which / allude, and
which l would hail with joy. If that
GENES, why let it come. II will neither
cost mo pain, nor afford me particular
pleasure. But ] allude TO the emancipa-
ton OF BOY own, the white race, 10 which
your paper has elevated itself.and 10 the
accomplishment Of which, in my Opin-
ion, it is contributing SO largely. Not
an emancipation Of the body, but Of the
%mihd-the soul. Slavery of the body i.
bad enough, but slavery of the immorta.
soul Is much worse. To this kind o
base and degrading servitude has III,
white race Of my native South long beer
subject. For a quarter of a century
freedom of opinion has not been tolera.
ted in the South on the subject Of Afri.
can slavery. To question its right, III
policy, or lis economy, was to subject
it's questioner to death or infamous dis.
grace. Every one had to fall down anC
worship This idea, or go strait to worss
than a lions den. So sacred was prop
erty ia a fellow being, Guilty Of a skin
not colored like our own" esteemed
that no one dare discuss its merits
This Idea was exalted to the throne, and
we were all its abject slaves. We had
resigned the right to think on
the subject. From this Abjeei
servitude - this low abasement o.
soul, u people are breaking away
The iTeebcrn white people Of thi.
country are assuming the right to think
for themselves on this subject as well a,
all others. African slavery may, or may
not, be nght-politic or economical
These are not the questions / am discuss.
ing, but the right of every fee whit,
man TO hold whatever opinions h,
chooses on these questions, and to freely
express those opinions without letor hin.
dranee. Go on, then, and stay not fo
those who would cry out abolitionist, in.
cendiarist, or any other mad dog cry
They are tired Of masters to do thei
thinking. They only want a medium 4
give expression to theirown free thoughts
mdan opportunity to speak for them
selves. That medium they have in tn
Nashville Union, and the opportunit,
will come with the triumph Of The Uniol
armies, which it is to be hoped will no
be much longer delayed. M