The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-09-08

The editor Of the Louisville Journal selected these
forty afidavits from large number Of such depo-
sitions, which were furnished It is abundantly
proved, that the Irish and Germans attacked un-
armed and inofensive Americans, quietly passing
along the street. and suspecting no danger, with
guns, pistols and knives. They shot indiscrimi-
nately at men, women and children, and gave evi.
dence Of the disposition of Gends It is abundant
IL proved that they had armed themselves for DAYS
before the massacre. And how is it, if Americans
the sssaants that the foreigners we're so well
armed. fighting behind doors and windows, and
houses. while our own countrymen were able to
defend themselves only with bricks and stones, and
sticks and such weapons as near at hand?-l
How was it, that the entire foreign population in
that quarter of the city, nearly the whole of it,
happened TO be armed with muskets dOuble-barrel-
ed guns, bowie knives aud revolyers, and ope3ed
a Simultaneous fire upon such Americans, as chanc-
ed 70 pass alongi The whole affair is easily under
stood--the attack was premeditated and malicious.
The blood runs cold at the bare mention of the
bar0arities committed 10y them. And yet we are
told that they ought TO have been punished by the
law and jurie5 of the country. The only law for
such outlaws are the musket and the cannon.
would try them by that law, TO which they them
selves had appealed. / would slaughter them in
the very streets, where they bad fired at unoffend
ing meu, women and children. would hunt them
down as | would the wolfe Of the mountain that
had strayed among the habitations OF men. have
neither mercy for the perpetrators OF such outra.
ges, nor patience with those who excuse them. Il
is needless TO say that foreigners stimulated
20 these atrocities by the doctrines of the Ameri-
can party. This does not palliate the crime in the
least If American citizens cannot assemble peace
ably together, or form themselves into any party
so long as they respect the rights and persons of
their fellow men, then our liberty is but a name and
our country is no longer ours. say that Americans
have this right, and death, instant, bloody death,
=.
foreign population, who love order and the coun-
try join US 10 our efforts to preserve the peace of
society, the supremacy of law, and the very exist
ence of our institutions Let them not mslead
themselves with the imagination, that they have |
no interest in these things. The happiness Of their
hresides, the stability of their possessions, the |
hopes Of their lives and the future Of their chl-
dren are all deeply involved as are those of the
native population.
have not time to discuss these subjects more
fully, even to advert TO other prominent points |
of the American platform. would be glad, had |
time to show the conservatism of our party on the
slavery question. l tremble for Tennessee, when |
! reflect that she has twice endorsed the doctrines
OF GiddiBgs, in twice electing Andrew Johnson
He has do all he could TO sell the political inter
ests of the South Believe me, my countrymen,
If ever Southern rights shall be fatally stabbed, it
will be by the hand of Southern men The North
has always had the numerical strength TO over
whelm US at any time, but she has never had NOR
al power equal TO the attempt When the South
shall lose her sacred rights in the Union, 1t will be
the fault of such as | have mentioned, who
would sell portion Of heaven for kingdom on
earth.
Notwithstanding the disadvantages, under which
the American party has fought its first battle, 1t
has been able to divide the victory with It's adver-
saries They have not scrupled 70 fight with pols-
oned arrows and with all the weapons forbidden IN
= rlr rTrT % in
this first trial of its strength IL is not unreasonable
20 calculate that il will henceforth 60 on " from
conouering to conquer" There are many good
men still standing on the outskirts, who lend II
their sympatlies but who are not quite ready to
give it their fnll co operation, on account oil some
objection either to the mode OF organization or 70
some feature of its policy. We have never claimed
infaibiity for the party. Ii may have some points,
which are Objectionable TO some minds. But Is 1t
the part of wisdom to reject it altogether on this
account? Shall we stand of from great reform,
because we do not approve some OF its secondary
details, when its general purposes commend 1t to
our admiration How long could we i've 10 any
earthly society, il required it to be perfect =
What single church in all Christendom would we
ioin. did we wait to find one precisely what we I
would make it, in creed and practice The only
true philosophy and practical wisdom IS TO ADOPT
that system, which we most approve. Every so
ciety or party is founded on the compromise OF IN
dvidual right and private Judgment Where VIII
that man 60 who rejects the American party, on
grounds like this Will he find more taultless
resting place in the bosom of Democracy VIII
he attempt party of his own? Let no man lin
ger in this dark and fatal uncertainty, but with
shout for what is right, and a sigh for what is
wrong, let him rush into the ranks OF the great
American army, praying ever for the cause OF his
country before It's battles shall be tonight and all ITS
glories won.