The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-13
FRIDAY MORNING, FEB 10 1893

the attempt to destroy the nation; thai
African slavery Is as worthy OF preser
WALTON and Preparation as American
liberty that the chains and handcuIs Of
the ignorant and degraded slave and the
whip Of The oyerseer are as precious as
Che integrity Of the Republic and the
blessings Of free government We see
now the secret Of The furiously feeble
assaults upon the Administration with
which The columns Of that paper have
teemed for weeks past at time which
appeals 10 all patriots and statesmen to
concentrate their strength against The
men who are in armed rebellion against
the Government leaving the discussion
OF political questions and party platforms
to the return Of peace. IL ihrusts itself
forward on all occasions as the pro-
slavery champion Of Kentucky. It calls
itself Conservative, meaning 70 conserve
slavery quite as earnestly as il means 70
conserve the Union. In recent article
rallying its conservative alice, it asked
Shall an uubrided radical democ.
raoy, left TO themselves witleia that con.
Sentative bal nee ighich the South afforded in
oar sys en-, brandish above our heads al
the bidding Of zaalats, the rude force of
mere numbers in the control of the Cow
ernmentY
The italics are the Journals. A short
time since, in another conservative article,
itspoke Of slavery as zone Of the vital
institutions of the country" Slavery,
then, according TO the Journals creed, Is
essential TO our Government. II is a
conservative balance" TO keep UNI
bridled radical n-slayeholding demo-
Gratis In their places. II is'"a uita1 in.
stitution," as necessary 10 the political
body as the heart, the liver, or the lung,
are TO the human body. Impressed with
this belief, or protesting TO be so, IL as
sails what il calls the radical policy Of
the Administration far more deliberately
than it assails the armed rebellion, and
charges it with cfecting
The utter impoverishment Of the
Southern people through laws and edicls
in defiance al,le Of the constitution and OF
the rules of civilized warfare"
TO charge the President with de-
nance of the Constitution, comes with
bad grace from newspaper which sup.
ported ilasrant and notorious violation
Of the Constitution Of Kentucky, as wit.
messed in the virtual deposition of Gov
eruor MAoOFFIN, aud the usurpaiion OF
his military powers by Military Board
Here was case of fragrant radicalism
and disregard Of the Constitution, which
the journal defended. The step was
justified by necessity, but surely no one
will contend that the necessity Of saving
the State from treacherous Governor,
was comparable to the necessity of
saving the whole nation. There are
times when the "safety of the people is
the supreme law" and when the truly
conservative statesman governs himself,
not according TO the letter of the Consti-
tuition, tut to the unforeseen necessities
which surround him. SO thought and
acted WAsHINoToN so thought and acted
JACKSON. Why this ridiculous clamor
against radicalism? Tho war itself is
radical in its progress, and human in
genaity cannot make il Otherwise
Why is il perfectly conservative to kill
the slave-owner and yet radical To-
emancipate the slave? Is giving the
slave liberty greater crime than killing
his ownerP Why is it radical to order
negro TO shoot down an armed traitor,
yet conservative TO make him throw M
breast. works from which TO fire upon the
rebels ? Why is il radical TO set free
the slaves whose labor feeds and clothes
the rebel armies, and yet conservative to
carry OF, burn, or otherwise destroy the
clothing which the slaves have made, and
the crops which they have cultivated.
Tie Journal defends the conservative Of
the one, and raves at the radicAlism Of
the other.
Knowing as every sensible man must
know that without slavery, the rebellion
could not exist a day, il dcnounces all
plans for its removal as radical, and no
better than secession. In other words, TO
attempt 10 diminish the force Of the
chief instrument OF the rebellion, is as
bad as the rebellion itself We hold the
redemption of the Union, and the saliva
ton Of the Republic as above all other
earthly considerations, and that no meas
ure which will destroy our country s en-
emies is to be neglected,
There is a pass ve as well as an active
radiealism, aud there is far more danger
of the couniry's being ruined, by doing
too little than too much. Whatever
measure or policy will save the Union, is
conservative; and whatever act omitted
or performed would destroy, il is radical
even il il be sanctioned and authorized
by every clause IA the Federal Oonstj
tution.
-. ---
Cr,ab,.,, CHI. MI.