The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-20

Already are the thinking men of Ken
lucky beginning 70 move in the direction
of emancipation. They have determined
not 10 be Outstrippsd in prosperity BY
other sections and are therefore urging the
people of tie State to rid themselves Of
an incubus which is weighing them
down, and which must continue to weigh
them down, uatil removed. They see
the results Of the institution in the past /;
they appreciate those which must follow,
if it is retained; and they see in the
present the opportoue moment for action,
and they are unwilling to let it pass IN
improved.
Within the last two days three im-
pOrtant documents have met our eye, en-
anAiing from old and influential Ken
tuckians, which are Of the highest i'm
pOrtance, both as 10 the effect they viii
produce, and as evidence Of the progress
sive spirit which, so long smothered, is
now Enthusiastically manifssting itself
The first Of these is q call for Slave
State Convention, to be held at Louis
vile, on the 22d Of February. with the
view to deviiing some plan to dispose of
the remains Of the institution, snd sign
ed, in behalf Of Kentucky, By James
Speed and Geo. Forester, both old and
well known citizens Of that State. The
document was at first promulgated by
the Missouri Radicals, whereupOn the
louisville papers, remembering the old
halcyOn days Of "free speech" when 70
hint that slavery was not divine insti-
tuition was, to say the least, good tick
ct for mile ride on a rail-grew furious,
and though not exactly threatening q
mob, came as near doing 50 IS sp-
pesred safe, IL view Of tho change in pub
lie opinion; aud declared that no respect
able Ksntuckian would have anything
to do with the matter. Bat they were
mistsken-wofully mistaken; bat it is
not surprising, as all Of the Louisville
editors were Northern men, and conse-
quently were unable to speak for real
Kentuckians.
1t is scarcely necessary 70 speak Of the
character of this call, and we viii only |
add that its object is to rid the country
of all relics Of the late fourishiDg insti.u-
tiOn of slavery, as speedily as consistent
with the interests of sll concerned.
The second is 8 letter from Hon. W. P.
Thomason, to Judge Marshall, Of the
Kentucky Legislature, urging that gen.
tIemsn to lead bis influence to the work
Of rsjuyenstiDg the State, by removing,
the present odious black code, and by /
prohibiting involuntary fervitude in the
Commonwealth. The letter is lengthy
but from ihe following extract its whole
tenor may be judged:
Emancipation is believed 10 be GER
tain; mortal power cannot Withstand the
pressure. IL lie, however, the peculiar
privilege of the Legislature TO guard
against the evils likely ID result from
sudden emancipstiOB-Our acknowledged
loyalty will ensure respect for State &C
tion. If the matter is entered upon with
the proper spirit 3 concert Of action be-
tween the State and General Government
may be effected, by which emancipation
may be gradual, accompanied by COM
pensation and colonization. The crisis
is upon US, the time for action is at hand
delay is dangerous; let us then act so IS
not only TO prove ourselves worthy of our
hitherto exalted position among the
States, but to challenge like position
throughout sll time"
The letter is an able document, and we
would be glad to give it entire, had we
the space. 1t has been printed in circu-
lar form, and will be perused with inter-
est by all thinking Kentuckians.
The third paper 10 which we have re-
ferred, is 3 letter from Colonel Lsonidas
Metcslfe, and a son Of the late Governor
MetcAlfe. lie is man of wealth, and
position, and is, or was, at least, = large
STAKEHOLDER. His residence is at the old
in Nicholas county, 3 few
miles from the Bourbon line; aud no one
who knows him, but is aware of his great
personal popularity, and wide extended
influence. The letter was 5 private one,
but was subsequently furnished 10 the
Cincinnati Gszette-whether with or
without the sanction of its author, we
know not.
It, too, is lengthy, and we are COM
PEELED to content ourselves with few
brief extracts; Ii
What has caused all this commotion? !
What has brought on this dreadful civil, |
Or rather uncivilizsd war? Why are our
sons bleeding, dying? What has caused
this mountain of debt and taxation?- s
Slavery; and be who cannot see it at this :
late date is an idiot or q knaEe. The s
nation has permitted, or tolerated pail S
pable iniquity, has by that federation S
given the lie 60 all her professions about $
= free end republican form Of govern
ment, set at naught her own declaration T
when she spTang into existence, and suf- L
fered this wrong even in violation Of her +
own Constitution, and now she is receive 7
ing Der reward. She has tolerated and
protected an uujust principle, until it hiss v
fastened its claws upon the very vitsls Y
Of the nation, and most vehemently v
swears that il will, By Ere, murder, Y
prejury, devastation, or any other means,
take the life Of that nation, which has so z
long given il foot hold and root The
nation has bowed before is behests,
and our politicians trembled at lis
.hreats, and lodged aud skalked from \
ts never ceasing demands until its srro- 4
rance know no bonds, and now it delib- 4
srately inquiries the great American Re- 4
public TO oie-to end her high career a
There are but two parties TO this coolest A
patriots and-irait0rs; or the pro-Slsve-
~ psrty who are fighting 70 destroy A
this Union, and the anti Slavery party : I.
who are fighting TO save the nation from a
death and dissolution, or the party who
are fighting TO fasten the principles Of 2
wrong, injustice, chains and Slavery up :