The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-09-08
9 P Z z O Il
Delivered American Mass Meeting at Franklin, Tenn,
on the 9th Of September. 1856,
JoHNA McEwEN, Eso.

Delivered ct the American Mass Meeting at Franklin, Tenn
on the 9Th Of September. 1856,
JoHNA. McEwEN, ESQ.,
Fellow CITIZENS: = The American party
present the singular spectacle of men grown
stronger under defeat. They are strikingly
like the patriots of the Revolution, not only
because they are actuated by the same senti-
ments, but also because they see no cause of
Encouragement in one reverse, however unex-
pectcd or disastrous Those noble men thought
that the struggle was never ended till life closed
or liberty was won. Their courage rose from
the depths of their defeat, and they never dis
played how men could dare, till they proved
how men could suffer. 1t was in the furnace
that the God of battle revealed Himself to
them. and taught them how divine was Lib
erty and how immortal the lives willing to die
in its cause. They never stopped to count the
cost. but only the value, of Independence
The reverses of war but strengthened their
faith in Providence, and IN the ultimate trl-
umuh of the Revolution. 1t is not lrreverent
10 say. that the American party feel the same
courage. and look TO the same high source Ior
a
for tbe same country, laboring to preserve the
same civilization, to perpetuate the same lnde-
nendence. and it is not strange, If we should
be stimulated by the same hopeful and persist
emit patriotism. We are inspired by the lofty
undertaking to preserve whatever Is peculiar
IN American liberty. We have seen 1t endan-
gered by principles born of another SOIL and
reared in another hemisphere. 1t is In danger
of being lost in the tide of false progress. It's
enemies encompass it on every side ana IN
thousand shapes, and are not unschooled to
mt an the seductive Establishments of assumed
friendship. Will any one deny that American
liberty needs to be guarded2 Is any one so
blind ms not TO perceive that it's life is ap-
proached by a score of avenues, and may be
taken by either9 1t is lofty faith not to des-
pair of the Republic, but that patriotism Is
ioftier. which, while it hopes every thing
for the country, prudently watches The nrst
approaches of evil, and wisely plans TO checK
its progress.
Orr political opponents tell US there is no
danger. They close their ears to the admonl-
tions of Washington and Jefferson, and shut
their ewes 10 the startling facts trenspiring on
both sides of the great water. They see moth
;ng in the conyulsive aud subdued throes OF
nonular revolution in Europe; nothing In the
war of despotism, or for the balance OF despouc
mower ON that continent; nothing IN the con-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES between hereditary roy
altv and hoary superstition, on the one hahd,
and free thought, free religion, and Tree press,
On tho other They seem to have persuaded
tbarnselves. by some delusive logic, that Mon
arcbv l. NOT the foe of Republicanism, and That
lie crowned heads of Europe would not eloice
n, Ire failure Of that sublime experiment winch
losbeen In progress in this country lot more
tLan half century. For myself, see mueh
IA fill me with alarm for my country anu eS-
,acially In that frivolous lndinerehoe Win
which men seem TO regard the most moihen1-
ous political questions, and 10 'llst
fdence, too prevalent III these I'illeS' "I'0n
teaches that this Government Poss .;s !"
cbar,ned life. and that somehow destiny OF
,,,od sncels will defend il from perlis, the re-
Ell, &c Which no human foresight can calculate'
1T,a American party owes its origin 10 the
,,ayv circumstances in which the Government
ends itself et the present day. There are some
man who are continually going back 10 lhe
davs of the Revelation for the purpose, not OF
stndvinr the genius of onr institutions, out OF
determining the true policy OF the country
NovS. while the measures OF the Governnehs
mnst be conformed TO the spirit and orlglhsl
;dea of our nationality, there Is no wiser RUE
70 d,ract the policy OF any period, than the
history and circumstances of that period. III
might have been highly impolilic to urge one
or Iwo of the leading features of the American
Platform in the days of the Revolution; put
there was a time in the future OF the kepuoIc,
clear TO the foresight of the heroic seers, VINO
blended their souls with the Inspiration OF
those eyentful times, when the princiPies Oh
thst platform, every one of them, were 10 De-
come the saving policy OF the country, as
shall attempt 10 show presently, tne Trainers
of the Constitution anticipated this future me-
cessity, as is clear from the language OF tnaS
inmortal instrument 1t Is not IN Keeping
with the general purpose of my remarks at
nrasent 10 demonstrate how it is, that neither
a. the old political parties was competent to
this new policy of the country. / have dis
cnssed that subject q dozen OF times aud on
other occasions, aud believe the proposition
AZ snscantible of demonstration as any ether
question of political economy. IL Is snincient
"a state. That we hold 10 the necessity Tor
new marty. necessity created by the present
a,,acf Of noltioal affairs, and by the assaults
which have been and are being made upon the
neace and integrity of the country. Our enc
,nies may assevefate as loudly and as falsely
nc thew Dlease. that this is but pew phase OF
the Wing party, but they VIII nnd u diinouie
10 establish that IL possesses one distinguishing
feature Of that party, unless II be an uhsitee-
able attachment TO the Constitution ano the
Union. The AmericaL organization was not
the work Of politicians One OF the most at
traciye points in its history is the fact that u
i an outbirth of the great American heart, |
which tricksters and politicians can no more
control dian can the vagabond Of the hurdy-
gurdy in the streets awake the divine soul of
snnsio IN the organ Of Beethoven or a Han.
del. II is a sufficient answer 10 this patented
SANDER. that the great army Of American sod