The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-02-04

i
ions exist it IS simply impossible toput
the machinery of State in operation
without soma irregalpr action. In a
word, to do with perfect regularity, that
for which there is no regular way is
simply absurd. The question Of regu-
larity being thus disposed of, the con,
clusion follows inevitably that the
shortest and most efi aacious means of
attaining the end is the best. As to
mere questions Of srpsdieHey, mach of
individual Judgment may well besacrj-
iced for the sake of harmony. The
unauirnity With which the Pfobosed &C
ton was recommended by the recent
Convention IS an unanswerable afgu-
ment in its favor Individually l
might have preferred some other mode
of procedure, butshould Ioppose this,
which has been determined upon by
common consent, + become factionist
and disorganizer. After all, as the
proposition is fora direct reference to
the people, the source of all power in a
popular government there can be no
insuperable objection
As to the amendments proposed, the
only one to which I propose to direct
attention, as it is, ! presume, the one
to which greatest objection will be
urged, is that which provides for the
abolition of slavery in Tennessee. l
am aware that upon this point, there
exist in the minds of many of our cit
liens, an amount of prejudice, the
growth of lifetime, and degree of
passion, fosterad by h0t-houss cultiva-
ton for the past two years. To reason
with men under the influence of this
prejudice, whose minds are dominated
by this passion, may be in vain. Pre-
Stunning, however, that there are very
many whose perceptions are not wholly
blinded by prejudice and passion,
will offer few suggestions drawn from
the present condition of the country. i
Whether right or wrong, the bonds
of slavery have been materially i'm
paired by the operations of the war,
insomuch that while slavery remains
the legal status of the negro, the prac-
teal control of the master amounts to
but little. The negro consequently ex
lists in a state of half bondage and half
freedom This necessarily engenders a |
mutual feeling of distrust between the
two classes subVersiye of the interests
Of both. To suppose that the negro,
after enjoying taste of freedom, and
after so many of them have Leen trained
to the use of arms, can ever be brought
again to such state of subseryiency as
to make them either profitable or de-
sirable as slaves, is simply preposterous. /
Why, then, continue condition which
can in the nature of things be adyan-
tageous to neither party concerned
Make the slave free, and relations mu-
tually benefcially will Immediately
spring up between the capitalist and
the laborer; between the man who
owns the soil and the man who owns
the muscle
Most Tennesseans, | presume, are by
this time pretty well convinced OF the
wickedness, or at least of the folly OF
the present rebellion, and would gladly |
see peace and order once more restored !
in the State. None can be so stupid as
not to discern the intimate relationship |
subsisting between slavery and the re-
bellion, as we'll as between the triumph |
of the Union cause and universal free
dom Every one, then, who would wish |
tosaYe our beloved State from the fur
Their desolations of war, to promote the |
enduring and full triumph of the Union |
cause, should earnestly labor for the |
final extirpation of slavery from its
limits The time has come for action.
Tennessee should no longer be chained |
to the car of rebellion by the letters
which gall the limbs of the slave The
masses of her people should no longer
bow their necks to the yoke which
slavery has imposed upon them as well |
as upon the negro. Tennessee should |
no longer be kept back in the race Of 1
progress, in which she has been 80 far
outstripped by her younger, and, in
many respects, less favored sisters, who,
free from the curse of slavery, have
made such giant strides to greatness.
The opportunity is now offered her
gallantpeople to place themselves right
before the world. Let them not hes.-
tate IN the work