The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-07
EmancIp alton who are its Rne.


EmRncip alton Whs are it's Bnes
African slavery was never . source Of
profit to Tennessee, ss a system existing
within her own limits. Perhaps 81 any
siue since 1885, or even before that Pc
riod, . fair discussion Of the subject upon
its own merits, would have induced the
people TO abolish it--choosing their own
time and their own method, Of COURSE
bat for the pressure, on the one hand, Of
extreme Southern men, largely interested
in slavery and its perpetuation, and on
the other, of over jealous Northern men
whose graiuitous care for the morals Of
our per pie was III received Indeed, 1t is
likely, both these bindefing causes would
have been ov ridden. but that political
party grew up from their illicit eohsbita
tions, bull. sxclusively on the doctrine Of
slavery. AZ the present time, we think
there are few who seriously labor to keep
the system alive any longer than till
such time as nav offsr fair weather for
its obsequies. Many large slaveholderF,
no doubt, would beg to be excused from
the tr' uble and perplexity Of managing
their slaves, IL the offer were made freely
to restore them. In short we may say
with entire safety, that = movement in
the direction of emancipation, made with
any degree Of decent respect to the feel
ings of masters, and of those residents
of the country who are not masters
would meet with favorable response.
But there are some, in Government
employ and ost Of ii, who are Wounding
emancipation in the house Of its pre-
tended friends. They seem determined
It shall come TO as as some barbarous
hordes were won't to come upon the
Southern portions of Europe in the ninth
and tenth centuries, with its head shaved,
its face disfgured, and its hands covered
with blood. Some of them will not even
allow that "a white man is as good IS 3
negrs when be behaves himself" Slaves
sre encouraged TO fOrsaks their masters
to their own hurt; to hang about the
depOts of the army, spOnging upon the
soldiers ratiOns; 10 proWl through the
country stealing horses and mules, and
whatever else they can end worth carry
ing of, and 10 be as rude as possible to
white people. In many places they are
nesdlsssly collected in such numbers as
g. breed pestilence. Doubtless many are
perisbing from actual starvation; and
the number. of these viii increase, as
their aversi N to labor of any kind lie
cultivated by the continuance of their
irregular habits. Unless those who have
tempted them away will undertake to
feed and clolbe them, famine and naked
ness must prevail to 8 horrible extent
before this period Of 1866; for our farmers
will scarcely be able to grow provisions
enough for their own families. 10 some
Aeighboring counties, it is said military
gentleman are undertaking TO hire the
blacks by the month, or otherwise, 10 the
farmers; but those who have contracted
for them In This way, in most cases give
but = sorry report of their bargain.
Sudden freedom, they say, has 50 ener-
waited the negroes, that little dependence
eau be placed on their labor. Yet It is
clear, those who will not work will not |
be able TO eat, unless they steal; aud |
from the prospect ahead, there will be
little to steal in the country Either the
negroes will be forcd to downright open
robbery or they must be fed on rations
drawn from the stores Of our army and /
they must go naked or be clothed at the
public expense.
All this seems unkind both TO white
aud black. while Il but renders the cause
Of emancipation Odious, by presenting
that % the world in lie name which is
most offensive to the reasonable philan-
thropist aud could scarcely please the
enthusiast whose affection lie all absorbed |
in the Afriosn race, to The neglect of his
own. Il is = course well calculated TO
produce q reaction in the public mind
against emancipation itself. Indeed, it
has already so Affected the minds of
come ,houghtful blacks, that they have e
holy horror of freedom.
1t is = fact verify Of note, that many
of those who give countenancs TO this
system Of folly, were once blatant de-
tenders Of slavery, and were loud in
their denunciations Of abolitionists.
Powerful appeals were made by some Of
them 70 their fellow-citizens Of this
State, to rally with the rest Of the South,
IS one man, against abolition aggression
lom the North. Was il simply shrewd
trick Of theirs, to entice the Southern
people into eight in which they knew
they must be whipped, and then TO have
3 good laugh over it2 Or have these
EeslOus teachers really changed their
minds? II they have been sincerely
into abOlitionists, it is just
hat kind Of abolitienists which they
we're won't to hold up IS = bugbesr to
Ihe Southern people. Men who pursue
'uch course, If they sre Of sound mind,
'AnnOt have the cause Of emancipation At
heart.