Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-03-09
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 9, ISIS.
THE DEMOCRATIC sPIMT.

is denounced as anti-demccratic and dangerous.
The fact shows that we are, in Tennessee, demo-
Gratis upon principle, and can give reason for tie
faith that is in us. We are in favor OF entire re-
ligous freedom, not as q mere abstraction, but ss
practical principle, to be asserted on all proper oe
casions, and to be defended whenever ana "pe'-
ever assailed. Democrats upon principle, and VINO
know 10Ay they are democrats, adopt lie
Of JEFFERSON that "error OF opinion iAAy " S@ey
tolerated while reason is left free 70 coa0a' ~
and they are as prompt to defend the rignt OF ree
thoupbt when It is assaed 10 the case OF Catholics
=. pTo,estsnts. Their creed IS 7RUTH, and there
fore inmutable and eternal.
Wbiggery, on the other hand, the creature Of
faction, fanatcisn, fad falsebood cannot be relied
upon to maintain single principle single day.
It adopts for It's creed the humbugs of the hour,
and, as one humbug is exploded seizes upon its
successor. Whiggery has no confidence in the in
telgence of the people 1t appeals only to the laser
passions of the multitude. Even error may some
times be dgnifed by persistent adherence 10 it
but whiggery adopts new errors only to make them
more abominable, and sometimes damns even that
which is IN itself good by its inconstant advocacy
of it.
right instincts Of the democratic party and the
wrong ones of whiggery than is furnished by the
course OF the two parties on this know nothing
movement. There is strong prejudice with the
people of this country against the Roman Catholic
Church. The idea of using this prejudice to sub
political party interests ingenious and it
seemed dangerous for any party to undertake to
resist it. But the democratic party had honestly
contended for religious freedom-had always as
serted the right Of private Judgment in matters OF
conscience Its members yielded TO Others what
they claimed for themselves as rights Without,
therefore, waiting TO hear the subject discussed at
all the democratic party all over the Union, with IS
complete unanimty as was ever manifested on any
other OCCASION no SOONER saw this right OF consci
ence sssailed by secret band of sworn conspira-
tors than it rallied to the rescue of religious free
dou Ii mattered not that the sect assailed weak,
and, to some extent odious. 1t was not the Catho
lies, as Catholics, that the democratic party was
pledged to defend. It was the great principle of
freedom for each 70 think for himself assaed in the
person OF the Catholics, which the party was CON-
PEELED to defend, or disband as perjured hypocrtes
And so, as we have said, no arguments from pub
press-were necessary to arouse the democracy.
The instincts of every true democrat taught him
where 10 range himself. And thus it happened
that, from Maine to Calfornia-from Iowa to Texas
the democracy spraag to the ramparts with the
first note of alarm, which told them that the right
Of q portion of their lelIow-citizens to worship
God according to the dictates Of their own con-
sciences was assaulted. A man here and there call
ing himse a democrat, but who is either all Office
hunter or q hypocrite has been led OFF by the new
trick Of whigeery. But the Of the party never
came more squarely and compactly up to any work
than they have done to resist this last most de-
spicabe crusade against the religious rights of a
portion Of their felIow-citizens.
And, equally as if by instinct, the lDlig party Of
the United States no sooner saw in the kuow-noth-
ing movement something which promised to pay,
than they entered into it. Two years before, they
had fawned upon the Catholic Influence. But
abuse promised to pay better and they as readily
embarked in it. Any thing for power. And the
wing party would as cheerfully promise to estsb-
fish the Catholic church as TO prescribe its MEN,
bers, if one operation would pay as well as The
other. They have demonstrated this within the
last three years. The wing party is now IS unani-
mously know-nothing party" as the democratic
party is anti know-nothing.
The democratic party has never earned as endur-
ing honor as in this present contest 1t will be It's
glory in future years that it resisted the attempt to
abridge the rights of conscience as an attack upon
the cardinal principles of its creed. Its eventual
triumph in this contest is certain as the truth of
the religion Of the Prince of Pace. And if any
thing could have been wanting 10 add TO the loath-
ing with which the honest people who come aftt 7
US will read the history of the decline and fall of
whiggery, it win be furnished in the conclusion Of
thst history: that the whg party, after having
been overthrown on every field of political war
fare-after seeing each of its great political meas
ures repudiated by the American peope-attempt-
ed to reinstate itself by exciting religious war
and by abridging the rights of conscience; and
that the scheme, like the schemes of all other pro-
agates and apostates in a similar cause, only earn
ed for its conccctors more deep and profound po-
ltca condemnation.
With these opinions, we have read the proceed
ings Of the democratic county meetings which
have thus far been held with more than ordinary
pleasure We have never doubted the gallant de-
mocracy Of Tennessee. But they come up to the
great work before them with even more energy
than we hoped to witness We shall, for some
days to come, devote large portion Of OUT paper
to the publication Of the proceedings of their meet
ings. And they making up a record OF which
they will hereafter be proud.
A MAYOR CIRCUMvENTED-The Mayor OF Detroit
determined, few days since, to put stop to the
driving of fast horses through the principal streets
of that city. So, in company with aposse Of police
men, he walked deliberately through the midd Ct
Jefferson avenue beautiful, wide street. which is
generally the course for trotters. Arrived at the
end ofhs promenade, the worthy Mayor was fsti-
guei and gladly accepted the invitation ola gentle
man to take seat in his cutter. Nosooner was he
seated than the horse broke into ~. 40 pace and the
conscrvator Of public morals found himself flying
along at a speed quite destructive OF anything like
dignity and entirely subversive Of municipal dis
clplne. The proprietor and driver Of the sleigh
made the most strenuous efforts to stop his horse
and pulled upon the lines till his arms were lame
which everybody knows is the wav to stop one of
our American trOters but the animal could not be
induced to tarry, and dashed on The other fast
ones in the street. seeing the Mayor set the examine
at once entered into the contest and q ,,err 80