Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-06-06

The late election for Governor Of Virginia is the
most important contest for mere State once ina.
ever occurred since the foundau ~ OF the Federal
Constitution 10 truth, the existence OF the Cohsfi-
tuition and the safety Of the Union depended upon
tie result Had the Know Nothings succeeded in
alec,;no their candidate, othtr States now deemed
SECURE from their dark Vaccinations, would most
o., tainly have followed in the wake of that great
and glorious commonwealth, which has never yet
been in the wrong, in single instance, where
great principle, or point OF national policy was
concerned. She withstood unchanged, the hard
cider inundation of l940. and boldly confronted the
Taylor mania of l848. 1t is needless to recur so
far back as the exciting crisis of 1923, when, by
peaceful and Constitutional resistance to the alien
and sedition laws and other un-American acts of
the elder Adams, she broke down the administration
OF that honest but perverse and ili-advsed old
man. We refer to that remote period OF misrne
merely to remind our Democratic brethren of the
crimes against the Constitution then perpetrated
BY the Federal party, of which the Know-Nothing-
Wings are descendants and representatives. 1t
was Virginia, then standing aloof and alone amid
surrounding degeneracy, that first reused the Amer
lean people to dangers which threatened their rights
and liberties from the encroachmsnts OF the Federal
power. 1t was Virginia. frowning upon all attempts
to dissolve the Union that saved the country from
the madness of the nulifers in 1892 thereby avert
ing forever we hope, the horrors of civil war and
separation of the confederate States 1t IS Virginia
putting forth her arm before an INSCRIPTIONS and
insidous faction, trampling in the dust the most
sacred principles oflsw, and the feelings most dear
to the hearts of their saying to that
| faction in potential voice. ''thus far, you have
gone, but you shall 60 farther. You have hood
| winked for moment, the fanatics of the North
| you have shaken hands and identified yourselves
with the Abolitionsts you must stay and consort
with them in their own region and in their proper
| tabernacles; there's no foothod for you on this
| side of Mason and Dxon's line"
| Thus spoke Virginia, through the voices of the
patriot sons, at the late election. Her words are
words of truth, and they will be heard with thrill
| OF hearty appreciation in every town, hamlet and
| farmhouse from the Northern Lakes to the Rio
| Grande
Henry A. Wise has been elected Governor of Vir-
ginis by triumphant majority, and heis worthy for
his transcendent ability, his undeled integrity, his
ardent patriotism to preside in the councils OF such
q commonwealth. 1t has been remarked that when
soever our country was mensced with serious peril
within or without, some great and magnanmous
spirit appeared on the theatre Of public affairs to
rescue and save her from impending destruction
In the revolution it was Washington. In the most
gloomy time of the war of 1872 Jackson stepped
forth with his invincible arm, not only preserving
| her territory from dismemberment, but leading her
out from the contest crowned with victory and tri-
| umph. Heaven only knows what would have been
the fate of this country if the faction of the know.
nothings had succeeded in their design of taking
the government of the Union into their keeping
The Venitian Council of Ten may afford us an ex.
ample analogous to the manner in which that fac.
ton would rule u.s. should it get the administration
of affairs into their hands Like the Council of Ten
the secret conclave Of the faction would issue thei
mandates to the people and the public authorities
prescribing the course they should pursue in al
cases whatever, under pain of mourning the ven.
geance of the conclave, and that vengeance would
be sure and it would be fatal The Council of Ten
on various occasions murdered the Doge or chief o.
the state when from good evil motives he disre-
garded their commands. No man was safe from
their vengeance whom they chooses to be offended
at, no matter what his station in the government
or his position in society might have been. Theil
vengeance was executedin secret and no man cou ID
guard against it. We alege not, we dream no
that the know-nothings would follow in the foot
steps of the Venitisn council in the commission O
crime No such horrors could be perpetrated il
this country at this time of day. But who can tel
what would be the conduct Of the faction, directed
in its movements by council, sitting in midnight
darkness, ifs members unknown TO the community
and irresponsible to the laws?