The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-13
Reycrdy Jehns0a on the Abolition OF
Slavery.

The great speech delivered in the
Senate, on Tuesday, by Hon. Reyerdy
johnson, Of Maryland, in advocacy Of
the amendment of the Constitution to
abolish and prohibit slavery, affords a
striking signal Of the movements of the
times. We quote from a synopsis Of
Mr. Johnsons remarks
Mr.. Johnson said we had heretofore
kept four millions of slaves in bondage
They had been kept in state OF al
most absolute ignorance This was a
thing of which the worlds history az
forded no parallel. Whether this was
for veal or woe, the future must decide
The only question for statesmen to con
slider was whether emancipation was
right Independent of its consequences,
If those consequences were such IS TO
render it expedient at-this time. There
was period in our history when there
was but ore opinion about the question
of right The men who fought through
the Revolution and recommended the
adoption by the American people Of
our Constitution, thought that sla-
very was not only an evil, but an
evil of the highest character, which
it was the duty of all Christian people
to remove The history Of these times
would bear him out in the assertion.
that if the men by whom the Constitu-
ton was formed and the people by
whom il was adopted, had anticipated
our present troubles, they would have
provided Constitutional enactment, at
some unremote period, to revoke, the
clause permitting Slavery. Almost ey-
cry man Of reflection, at that time, was
satisfied that sooner or later the coun-
try would be involved in trouble On &C
count Of it. and they looked with conf.
deuce to the time when it should be
eradicated The provisions in the
Constitution protecting Slavery were
adopted upon political and material
reasons, and not upon grounds OF NOR
atty and religion, and because they be
loved it would DO difficult TO have q
Union at all without Slavery.
Whether they were right or wrong,
it IS impossible to say now If they
had voted to adopt our Constitution,
without the recognition of slavery,
one now a spectator of the scenes around
Us would regret it He entertained the
same opinion of slavery that he had
from the time he first studied the sub
iect Of human rights. In advocating
this measure, he was not departing
g., Biz i
appeal TO the Constitution itself in JUS
LITIGATION Ofthe vote he should give for
the measure. He would not inquire
whether slavery had produced the W, r
or not. The war was upon ug, and
slavery had produced mischief UnIess
the measure before the Senate should
be adopted, there could be no perma-
nent peace. He proceeded at length 10
controvert the idea that the abolition
Of slavery could be accomplished either
by direct legislation or by the exercise
of the war power by the President
Mr.. johnson contended that the only
practical way Of accomplishing what al
Christian patriots desired, was by the
adoption Of the present measure. He
contended that the very preamble to
the Constitution, which stated that It's
objects were to establish justice, pro
duce tranquility and promote the gene
raj welfare, and that first of all, that
liberty might be preserved gave full
warrant for the proposed amendment
Was there no justice in putting an end
to human slavery? Was slavery doing
no injury TO the tranquility Of the coun-
try2 Was it not against the general
welfare and against all true ideas Of hui
man liberty2 In conclusion, he said
our sole consideration should be to
bring this war to a successful close and
secure the restoration Of the Union
He believed the Union would be restor-
ed, and we would have our National
and State Governments without human
bondage