The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-11-07
a9ashrille 9Aniou.
WIN. CAMERON q co.. Publishers.
TURspAY. NoVFlIRFR = -.
From le Albany Evening Journal.
Georgia.

Georgia Is even less practicable and Iowa
than South Carolina, in addressing hersel
10 the work Of recJn instruction. In her Stat
Convention on Friday, an act was adopte
which repeals the ordinance of secession
instead OF declaring il null and void, as Mis-
sissippi and North Carolina have done. Thi
is virtual assumption that the State ha
been out Of the Union, and that all act
done in the interest Of Rebellion, were lega
and justiiable. In Ferfset consistency wit
this semi reasonable course, was the relu
ssl Of the Convention 10 repudiate the rebe
debt OF the state, Notwithstanding q dis
patch from Secretary Seward, announcinl
that " the President cannot recognise an
Stale os having resumed the re ation o, 10y
atty 10 the Union, that admits as legal obi
gauons, contracts or debts created in II
name to prosecuts the war Of the Rebellion.
| This subject, after an exceedingly acrimo
nious debate, was referred 10 a eommitte
| with Instructions TO ascertain whether Ia
/ position taken by the President is his ulti
matum. As it perfect secords with tn
line OF policy marked out by HIM as itWa
emphatically insisted upon in the case O
| North Carolina, and as any other cours
would be a Justification Of his repeated dec
lsrstiOns, it is fair TO assume that the unwIs
Georgians will be the first to back down
|
lot, aud exceedingly anxious 10 get in.
The Convention has passed an ordinanc
abolisbing Slavery, but accompanied it viii
! proyiso that such action shall not estol
| future claims for compensation from thl
| former owners Of the blacks. This is thl
keynote Of an intended raid upon thi
| Treasury, which certainly viii not be tole
rated. For long time after the war begaI
II was possible for the South to return to ID,
| Union with Slavery. So late as the 22i O
| August, 1862, Mr.. Lincoln wrote, in his let
ter to Horace Greeley: If there be thcsl
who would not save the Union unless thel
1 could al he same time destroy Slavery,
do not agree with them. Ny paramount
object is to save the Union, and not eithei
to save or destroy Slavery" Previous 4
this, on the 9Th of March, 1862, he sent
message 10 Congress, in which he rec, m,
mended the adoption Of the following as
joint resolution
"ResOlDsd, That the United States, in or
der TO cooperate with any State which maj
adopt grBiual abolition Of Slavery, give {,
such State pecuuiary aid, 10 Be used BY
such State, in its discretion, 10 compensat,
it for the inconvenience, public and private
producer by such a change of system"
A resolution in almost precisely tines,
words was presented to the House on th'
| 10th Of March, by Honorable ROs
coe ConkliDg, Republiean Of this STATE.
was vehemently opposed by all the seces
sion sympathizers in that body, who de
nounced Il as an unjust and uncOnstitutiona
interference with an institution which be
| lOnged peculiarly to the States. Neverthe
less, as the Administration members sup
| ported it, it was accepted by vote Of SO L
81. In the Senate, though opposed by Sauls
bury Of Delaware aud others, II passed by I
vote Of 80 to 10. The President approved j
/ on the 10Th Of April, and on the 18th o
| May, in an order resembling the proclama
| tion of Gen. Hunter, which decreed emanei
patton in Georgia, Florida and South Caro-
| Ina, earnestly called the attention of tbs
| "people of the South" to the opportunity
| presented them-concluding
"Win you not embrace itg So much good
has nOt been done by one effort in all pas
time, as in the providence Of God, It is nov
your high privilege 10 do. May the vas
| future not have 70 lament that you have
neglected it."
But the glorious opportunity was neglect
| ed. The Southern states--includiEg Geor
| gia, which was specially designated in Gen
/ Hunters proclamation only continued
the war, but prosecuted it in a spirit Of fe-
rocty and bitterness unequa led in m derr
| history. While the COnfederates were rely
| ing upon negro labor in their fields and
workshops, and employing negroes as dr'v-
ers and trench-diggers in their armies, they
maintained, as the guerrilla Champ Fergu
son expressed il, that niggers had no bust
ness in the Union army" Consequently
an order was issued by President Davis
| directing that Gen. Hunter and his officers
| il captured, should be treated as outlaws ant
pirates, and this was soon followed BY an en-
I - FahH
| the same penalties gainst all officers of col
ored troop, and deereeing that the biscE
/ soldiers themselves should be reduced {,
/ slavery when taken prisoners.
Slavery was thus brought into direct and
| irreconcilable antagonism with the Uuion
making it apparent that the two could no
continue to exist together, and that thu
| President, whose paramount object" VA
.to save tho Union could only do so by
| resolving 10 destroy slavery Therefore
on the 22d of September, 1862, Mr.. Lincoln
| Issued his p eliminary proclamation o
/ emancipation. In this, still desirous Of con
ciliating by exhibition Of magnanimity, h'
| called attention to the Joint resolution befor'
| alluded TO- and expressed his determination
20 on the next meeting Of Congress to agaiI
recommend the adoption OF a piaetea
measure tsndering pecuniary aid 10 the free
| acceptance or u lection Of all slave State
| so-csIled, the people whereof may not theI
| be in rebellion against the United States, auC
which States may then have voluntarily
adopted, or thcren ter may voluEtariiy
| adopt, immediate r gradual adjustment Of
slavery within their respective limits"
This was the last opportunlty Of the rebels
] to secure compensation for their slaves
/ The generous offer Of the President would
| have applied 10 any State which seeded
| from the Confederscy aud conformed its
policy TO that of the Federal Government
| before the lst day Of January, 1863. Al
| that time, the faith Of the Administration
was pledged 70 a declaration Of emancipa-
ton in al Territory whose inhabitsnts were
/ then in a condition Of srmed revolt. EC
/ rebel State accepted the terms end on the
| Ist Of January, the President sent forth hi.
final proclamation, decreeing the abolition
| ~ slavery in an the then Conlederacy
/ which included the State Of Georgia. From
/ the date of that act, the rebels ceased {.
| hold property in slaves; who, upon coming
/ under control Of cur authorizes, were con
/ fscsted TO the Government, under the laws
Of war, and precisely as chattels are When
| found in possession Of an enemy m arms
I Gen. Sherman, in an able and exhaustive
| letter TO Assistant AdlQiant General sawyer
/ 1t Huntsville, wrote thus upon this subject
'sTnree years ago, they Che rebelsl BY :
/ little reelection and patience, could have
| had hundred years Of peace and prosper.
| ity; bnt they preferred war. Very well
| Last wear, they could have saved then
slaves but now it is too late all the POtge7
! OF earth cannot restore 10 Mcm their siaDes
| anu more. than hdr dead graHdfatheTs
] Next year, their lands viii be taken for in
| war We can take them, and rightfaily, t0o,-
and in another year. they may beg in vsir
| for their lives. A people whowll perseverl
/ in wsr beyond q ceftain limit, ought G
kuotg the consequences. Many, many people
| with less perunacily than the Ssuth, have
been wiped out Of national existence
| Asa master Of the Laws OF war, Genera
/ Sherman thus pronounced in favor Of IN
/ compensated emancipation and confses
| ion,-asserted the justice Of the Govern
ment policv,-and maintained that tn
S, nth sought to" suffer, having passed il
| its .'pertinacity" the point where 4 coull
claim forbssrance from an outraged Govern
ment.
This view has been adopted and uphell
] by Mr. Johnson. On the 12th or April, b
! directed q rejection Of the agreement be
tween sherman and Johnston, for the rea
sons, among others, that it would practically
recognize rebel STATE governments, enabl
| the South virtually 10 re-establish slavery
snd create a responsibility fr debts incur
| red in The pro ecuti8n Of treason. up0l
these points. the Georgia Convention there
fore places itself In conflict With the Prest
dent IN his address 70 the South Carolinl
delegation which recommended the appoint
ment Of Benjamin Perry as ProYlsiana
| Governor. Mr. Johns0a said 'Ihe right O
| the Governments % take and free your saves
hiss been established. slavery being
thing Of the past, it becomes your duty q
conform your future policy 70 the change Il
youf polisieal and social c0ndition.H
1 A cursory review Of what hss been dom
| BY the Government, and the positions 60
snmed by its official representatives., en-
forces the conclusion that Il Georgia hope
/ to resume her position IN the Union, sb
must absolutely nalliiy the ordinance Of Sc
eession, repudiate the state rebel debt, abel
| ish slavery without any proVisos, and euac
such laws Is shall sfurnish substantial guar
antises 10 the freedmen That they viii enjol
all he rights pledged % them in their lev
con.iition.'