Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-22
The sIavery Questlon.

Here is curious paragraph to find in
the most influential and widely circulated
paper in the State of Tennessee. We clip
it from the Nashville Daily Union. The
+. edirUr is S. C. Mercer, a Kenluckian, and
until recently a smyeholder:
The path to safe and enduring peace for
Tennessee lies straight through the complete
destruchOn of slavery. To daily and tamper
with conservatism or proslayeryism will
surely involve her in still greater trouble
and difficulty. If she wishes to obtain
happiness she must first be just. She can
not hope at this day, when the light OF
Heaven over truth, fills the world with its
glory, expect to eUjoy her own rights while
she cruelty and dishonesty disregards and
withhoIds the inalienable rights of others.
And we are pleased TO know that thous-
ands of her citizens are warmly in favor of
the removal of slavery, and that their ranks
are recruiting continually. All see the as
tonshing change which is coming over the
people, on this question.
The numerous letters from planters and
others, published 10 the Union, express the
same general opinion as the editorials
The news items of the same paper show
that the slave. population of Tennessee is
rapidly disappearing. Probably in year
from this time Tennessee, like Missouri,
will have entered on a system of emanci-
patton. Events follow fast these days.
War is a sword that cuts the Gordian knots
of society and solves questions in a day
that have been the puzzle of generations.
Who, three years ago, would have supposed
it possible that upwards of twenty four
thousand square miles should be cut out
of Virginia, in SO short time, and erected
into free State. The most ardent of US
three years ago only looked forward to
1865 as time when possibly we should
be able to wiring some concessions to the
West from the East in State convention.
Now we know that we will meet no more
in State conventions with the east. She
has gone to her ruin in the mad pursuit of
her selfish interests, while we who chung
to the Government of our fathers have
been saved.
The State of Missouri affords as striking
an example of progressive retribution as
our own case. But few months ago it
was the seat and hot bed of border rufian-
ism and slavery-propagandis To-day
the whole topic of discussion is an issue
between gradual and immediate emaucipa
ton. TIE majority of the people favor
gradual emancipation and endorse the &C
ton of the Convention, but there is nu-
merous and powerful party that wholly
disseuts from the Convention, and is not
willing to accept its prudent and safe de-
cision as fnality. This shows the tenn
per of the times. The same feeling is rap
idly extending itself to Kentucky and Ma
ryland. 1t is to be doubted whether this
war will leave slavery existing in either Of
those States. The Baltimore American, one
of the very best and most Influential pa.
pers in this country, continually presse:
the subject on the attention of the people
of Maryland, and in this work it is ably
seconded by the Cambridge IntcEtigenee'
and other papers. h. Winter Davis ant
such men are throwing themselves into the
canvass, even Gov. Bradford himself, auC
the tide of influence seems to be for imme
diate steps to get rid of slavery.
All this only shows how true is the an
cieut Aphorism, that "man proposes but
God disposes." The Southern FIRE eaters
went into this rebellion to found slave
empire-to build up government whose
corner stone should, confessedly, be slave
ry. See what work they have made. The!
have destroyed slavery. It is gone beyout
all hope of salvation in any of the States
All the inceudiary publications of the Alb
olitionists for hundred years to come
would have failed to loose the foundation
of the Southern social system halls mucl
as this war. War itself is the greatest o
disihtegrators much more, so is 1t when
Northern armies march southwark, carry
ing with them the accumulated resentment
of their section. Every northern man ii
the army, conservative though he be, cher
ishes recollections of all the hard name
that have been put upon his section by th
Southern FIRE eaters both before aud sine
this war He feels that he is regarded a
an Inferior by Southern rulers and he re
seuts this feeling by telling the negroes a
Rosecrans did when he was leaving Tulla
homa, to "fall in" Conservative regf
ments sing "Johu Brown as they .,g
marching along" through the South, AMI
they explain to the negroes who JOhl
Brown was, and also tell them all abou
the war and the nature of the contest be
tween Union and secession. Parson Brown
low writes letter. 10 ahe Philadelphia
Press from Nashville. Tenn, under date o
the 18th, which illustrates this progress Of
g'incendiarism' better than anything We
could say. wesquote his remarks on this
head: 60 ,ba.ia aoai.aoa
In our neigbboring town of Bdge6eld,
lust over the Cumberland river, there was