The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-09-20
Gov Bradford 90 Ex-Govrrnor
Thomas.
Emancipation in Maryland.
u state TO, veution groposcd
The iniis,Ineut ct slaves.
srrE or NArASD, F,EutiI,r urr,atsr,r.,
ANNAT. fts. a.ut. % tsI.

'HO 81 Na'o y" "Ale Pieaetu 10 express
the opinion that the view then presented
on these subjects might, il broueh. TO
public attention, lead 70 a more accurate
understanding Of The our position and
purposes by the members of the Admin
is,rahon, and tend TO harmorize the
differences al present so unhappilv ex.
listing among the Union men Of the
State.
From the commencement Of the war
to the present moment the loyal people
of our State, constituting, as we both
know, vast majority of it's population.
have been absorbed with the thought of
so Prosecuting the war that the rebellion
against which il is waged should be
subdued in the speodiest and most
eil5ctual manner. When they have
bought at all on other issues, or turned
their attention to subjects of State policy
Of local institutions, it has been always
with the determination to make them all
subordinate to the great purpose which
ergrossed their most anxious thouphis
and to the accomplishment Of which
they ever have been, and still are ready
TO make all else subservient.
The qcstion of slavery and the best
method Of disposing OF that institution
has, of course, engaged much of their
attention. The abstract consideration of
the qu,stion-lttla as they were dis
posed to embarrass moro important issues
by its agitation was, 10 some extent,
unavoidable.
TWAS the mighty subjec of the South's
pretended wrongs, and out of which they
constructed the pretext for their rebel.
lion. II was, also, continually brought
to their attention by the repeated mes
sages of the President recommending it
to their consideration; but more than
all, the effects Of The wa upon that
species OF property forced the subject
upon their notice, and compelled them TO
consider some plan of disposing of il
whilst any thing valuable in it remained
to be disposed Of The discussions
which have ensued have developed various
phases of opinion.
The greater part, if not all, Of TIE Sc
cessionists among as, still strangely
clinging to the hope that the rebellion
would succeed, the Southern Confsderaov
be established, and Mary land be made a
part of il, have been, as a matter Of course,
opposed TO every mode of emancipation.
and determined to cling to slavery as the
great pillar of their new Republic. Bit
terly, however, 40 they may have hith-
erto been bent on that purpose, The stub
born facts of their situation, the waning
prospects of the rebellion, and the steady
depreciation of slave property, are fast
opening their eyes g. the necessities of
the case, and of pr viding by prudent
legislation for such of il IS is left. Be-
sides the class above mentioned, there are
doubtless some--in my opinion, however,
a small proportion of the true Union men
of the State-who from early associa-
tons or other Influences, have not vet
relinquished their attachment TO slavery,
and still cherish the hope that il, as we'll
as the Union, may be preserved.
They, too, however, as they calmly
consider the death-blow which tho re-
bellion muet necessarily inflict upon up
on the institution, and actuated by a
desire to avoid all collisions with their
loyal brethren upon any subject that
may weaken the effect of their united eff
forts in behalf of the Union, are day by
day yielding their first impressions up
on. the subject and acquiescence in the
policy of State emancipation by the ear
liest practicable means; and nothing
but the most inconsiderate and violent
measures upon the part of those who
may be called ultra in their emancipa-
ton views can prevent ere long, an al
most unanimous sentiment among the
loyal men Of the State in favor of grad
usl emancipation.
That such is at this moment the prev
alent sentiment of our loyal men l can
not doubt, and il is daily extending and
becoming more and more decided, and
the only thing that can possibly arrest
it is the inordinate and violent policy
which a few seem disposed to adopt,
and which bears the appearance. wheth-
er so designed or not, of cOnsiraining by
military force the public sentiment of
the State into some short cut contrary
to the current into which it is so salts
factOrily gliding.
am satisfied that the conviction has
been slowly, but surely, FEATURING in the
minds of our people for years past, that
the future growth and prosperity Of our
State demanded a change in our system
of labor, and the events of the last two
years have only served TO show the ne
cessity of providing for that change
with the least possible delay. When
We speak Of gradual emancipation il
must not be supposed that the phrase is
employed by way Of postponement Of
the operation, but il honestly expresses
only what il truly means that such
emancipation shall only be 90 gradual
as to guard against the evil consequences
that must necessarily result TO slave
as well as master from too sudden q
change in any system Of labor that is of
indigenous growth. Nor will any one, /
trust, imagine that in speaking of emau-
cipation by legal or practicable means,
we mean TO embarrass or delay the pro-
ject by the use of any eQuiyocal terms
calculated 10 leave any doubt Of the
good faith of those who aVow that poll
cy. Bot the good people Of the State
honestly and earnestly as they may look
10 the policy of emancipation as calcu-
lated TO secure future prosperity
however, never consent that such a poll
oy shall be contaminated by any means
but those which their constitution al
lows.
That Constitution expressly prohibits
the Legislature from abolishing the rela-
ton of master and slave as a. present
subsisting in the State, and il can hardly
be supposed that, however inclined We
may be to abolish that relation, we can
consent to do so in the face Of this posi-
tive prohibition.
The first step to be takez, therefore, is
TO provide for taking the sense Of the
people upon the subject Of a Convention