The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-25


General Washington to La Fayette--
April, 1888:
"The scheme, my dear Marquis, which
you propose rs a prece dent, TO encourage
the emancipation of the black people in
this country from the state Of bondage
in which they are held, is a striking eVi-
da,ce Of The beneUolencc Of your heart. IshaH
be happy 10 join you IN 50 laudable pur-
aGt"
Same to Robert Morris, 1886:
81 can only say that there is not man
living who wishes more sincerely than
do to see plan adopted for the abolition Of
slavery"
Same to La Fayette:
"Your late purchase of an estate in
the colony of Ooyenne, with the view of
emancipatiDg the slaves on it, is a gen.
erous aud noble proof of your humanity.
Would to God IKE spirit might di6uSe it,
self generally into the minds Of he people of
this country"
Jefferson in his notes on Virginia,
says:
"There must be an unhappy influence
on the manners of our people, produced
by the existence of slavery among us.
The whole commerce between master and
slave is perpetual exercise of the most
boisterous passion, the most unremitting
despotism on the one part and degrading
submission on the other. The man must
be prodigy who can retain his manners
and morals undepraved by such circum-
stances. And with what execration
should the statesman be loaded who,
permitting one half of the citizens thus
to trample on the rights of the other,
transforms those into despots and these
into enemies; destroys the morals of the
one part aud the patriotism of the other.
Indeed, Ltre'nble for my country sohen Ire
fleet that God is just; that his jpstics cannot
sleep forever. The Almighty has no aari.
butes that can take sides Nth US in such a con-
test"
Again, in 1914, he writes to friend !:
"The love of justice, and the love of
country plead equally the cause of these
people (the slaves), and it is a reproach
to us that they should have pleaded so
long in vain. When the measure Of their
tears shall be full, when their groans
shall have involved Heaven itself in
darkness, doubtless God of justice will
awaken to their Distress
Patrick Henry said:
at would rejoice my very soul that
every one of my fellow beings was
emancipated. Would any one believe
that am master of slaves, of my own
choice? Twill not, cannot justify IT,"
James Monroe said in the Virginia
Convention;
ave have found that this evil (slavery)
has preyed upon the very viisls Of the
Union, and has been prejudicial TO all
the States in which it has existed"
Colonel Mason, distinguished mem
Der of the same Convention, said:
Slavery discourages arts and manu-
factures. The poor despise labor when
performed by slaves. They prevent the
immigration of whites who really enrich
and strengthen a country. They pro.
duce the most pernicious effects on man
ners. Every master Of slaves is born a
petty tyrant. They BRING THE JUDO
MENT OF HEAVEN on COUNTRY"
Mr.. Curtis said in the Virginia Legis.
lature Of 1920:
"There is malaria in the at.
mOsphere of these regions which the new.
conner shuns as being deleterious Il
his views and habits. See the wide.
spreading ruin which TIE avarice of ou
ancestral Government has produced il
the South, as witnessed in the sparsl
population of freemen, deserted habitA
tions, and fields without culture. Strang
TO tell, even the wolf, driven back lOnI
ago by the approach of man, now re
turns, after the lapse of hundred years
to howl OUer lie deSolatioas Of slavery"
Thomas Ritchie, the founder, and lonI
the distinguished editor Of the RichmOn'
hhguirer, said, in 1882:
"When within period equal to tina
in which the Federal Constitution ha
been in existence, the slaves will increas
TO more than two millions in Virginia
when this, the fairest land on all th
continent, for soil aud climate, and sit
uation combine d, might become garde
spot ii worked by the hands OF whit
men alone--can we, ought we, TO sit qui
city down, fold our arms, and say b
each other, we'll, we'll this thing vii
not come to the worst in our day ? Some
thing ought 10 be done means sur,
gradual, sy tematie but discreet, ought {
be adopted for reducing the mass Of evi
that is pressing upon the South. The dis
ease Is deep seated 10 is at the hearts cor
IL is consuming our vitals."
Henry Clay, said
"Slqpery is he greatest curse Of all Auma
eUils." No earthly polosr ever wH mai
me uots 10 spread slGuery over territory ,0hei
II does not eriSt"
The Legislature of Georgia resolve
ia l775:
"To show the world that we are NJ
influenced by any contracted or il
terested motives, but a general philaT
thropy for all mankind, Of tOhateUer eh
mute. language OR COMPLEXION. We hereb
declare our adherence of the unnaturi
practice Of slavery in America, (hOwevi
the uncultiyated state Of our countr
e or other specious arguments may plea
for it,) g practice founded IN ifgastiee al