The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-11-06
The PenitentiarY Question.

The Penitentiary Question.
In the Senate yesterday morning, the con-
sideration of the bill to change the manner q
electing the Keeper Of the Penitentary was
resumed, and Mr.. WHHTHoRNE concluded hi,
remarks in opposition To the organization o.
the American party. He compared them Il
the Jacotins Of France, and expressed the
opinion generally that their organization was
unpatro,ic, auti-repubican and daugerous.-
Whatever Of sincerity there may be in thes'
opinions, (lnd we presume the gentleman from
Maury has heard aud read the fragrant msl e
presentations of the American party until hC
really believes then) his breath and hi,
strength aud Ais eloquence are all wasted
The peculiar organization OF the American
pariy. against which so much has been said,
aud against which Mr.. W. has spoken about
two hours and a halt, not as it is misrepresent-
ell, but as it really existed, has been dropped
by common consent in nearly every State in
the Union. 1t has answered its purpose, and
a patriotic purpose it was TOTO break
through the corrupt party ties which held the
people of this country, and controlled them,
frequently contrary TO their Judgment and
placing that people in a position which per
mits them to act with and support the most
patriotic men and measures which offer for
their approval. This was glorious mission,
and having accomplished it, this peculiar or
ganization passes away, leaving the great, pa
triotic, Uniou-suppOrting, American party, a
party the success of whose principles involves
the peace and perpetuity of the government.
Why do not these anti-American orators at
tack these principles2 The gentleman from
Maury said lie supposed such an attack would
be ruled ont of order by the Speaker Bah
What an excuse. lie had consumed hours IN
attacking the machinery of the American par
ty, and other gentlemen on the same side had
done the same, but to attack its platform OF
principles would be out of orderl We con-
graduate the gentleman upon his facility IN
making excuses, and taking sham one when
a good Que is not at hand We do not deem
it necessary to review the charges made by the
Senator from Maury against the American
party organization. They consisted of the
same stale aud effete and unfounded balder-
dash Of which the "son of sainted father
makes up his epis,les, and which have been
administered to the people in allopathic doses
all over the State. As a specimen their
consistency, we refer TO barely one. The
speaker stated that the Representative from
Monroe county in the House (Mr. Rudd) had
been denounced 10y members of the American
party in the Legislature as a pejurer for vo-
ting for Col. Turbett for Treasurer, and he had
a paper before him proving that fact. Mr..
HALL called for the reading of that paper
And what paper was ii2 The Democratic
Herald of Columbia. And who the writer
An anonymous correspondent from Nash vile
-most likely a democratic member Of the
Legislature. Rather poor authority, surely
SO poor, indeed. that when called upon 10y Mr..
HALL TO say whether he endorsed the correct
mess of this statement, the gentleman from
Mary gracefully put his hand on his heart,
and declined to do it. Upon such slender
threads hang the grave and unjust charges
made against the American party by their OPP
ponents.
Mr.. JOHNSON followed Mr.. Whitthorne in
few pertinent remarks in support of the bill,
and ia defence of the American party. lie
was followed by Mr.. Caldwell, who spoke at
length and ably in support of the bill, in de-
fence of the American party, turning most
signaly the tables upon the other side. We
regret that we have not time 10 write out his
remarks at length. After he had concluded,
the Senate adjourned to O'Clock.