Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-18
The Union & Americans SsGoOd Move
mentn ira Smith..Law Reform--Amcr-
icanfsm.
For The Nashville Daily Patriot.

Mr.. EDITOR:-lnere was meeting VI tuO ~
tmocrac of Smith last week, which TUNED out 70
be such ridiculous farce that had expected no
furtb er mention would have been made of it, much
Iess that the diarrhea of resolutions to which II
gave birth would have appeared in Nashville
newspaper, with ali editorial notice Of "a good
n ovement" &c. &c. There were only six OF
light men in this meeting, a majority of whom
we're doctors, whether of mdterid meded, surgery,
divinity, homeopathy, hydropathy, roots, midwifery
or steam, am unable altogether to state correctly
Il used to be customary for men, before they enter
ed the political arena, TO have at least read the
Constitution of their common country, and to have
become somewhat acquainted with the manners
and customs of their own State and Civil Districts.
How il has happened that Doctors have all at once
sprung up with the power 10 form parties, manu-
facture public sentiment make Presidents, Electo-
raj Colleges and to prescribe rules and regulations
f,r people generally no. within the pale Of their
own legitimate profession, is system Of prac-
tce to say the least of it. Revolutions even OF
ideas are dangerous balls to put in motion unless
the leaders of them are of trusted and skill
fH merit, 1t is hardly suPposahle that class OF
, men who are constitutioDslly and professionally
jeao"s of each other can with hot haste inspire the
confidence and support of other people, especially
in a new sphere Of action and upon subjects they
know little about.
One Of the resolutions of this Uatend genOte,
or assemblage of learned Doctors, declares in terms
that Andrew Johnson, Esq, has no superior and
that the said individual is their choice for the Chief
Magistracy of this Union. This is very moderate
to say the least of it. and if he has superiors he
must have great many interiors who will not feel
themselves very highly complmented when they
read this novel but authoritative pronunciamento.
l do not know how far it is from here to heaven,
never measured the distance, but suppose from the
aggregate of sin aud wickedness upon terra frnd,
that the realms of bliss and final happiness, re-
moved far away from the abodes of evil men; and
If 80, Jacobs Ladder which extended from here
there, will have to be made over again of adaman-
tine steel, or the followers of this superior being,
this self constituted vicegerent Of God-some of
whom are very mighty men, particularly the sub
ject Of this noce-in treading the rounds in search
of Paradise and Angels robed in supernal plum
age will fail headlong into the Gulf of birthstone
and penal fires. The Corypheus of abolition, the
man who would if bis theory is reduced to prac-
tce, compare the fair daughters OF Tennessee
with unwashed negro women, and deprive the
Southern States of their Constitutional basis of
representation in the general Congress, though
many strange occurrences are transporting in these
degenerate times, cannot hope to reach the highest
position of temporal aspiration. The dear peo-
pile, apprehend are not vet prepared to for
grace and favor and defy the power by adding
combustible fuel to the flames Of his ambition; a
man who insults the Son of God, by accusing him
OF being insiigated by the devil, by applying to
him the aPpeation of democracy which incorpo-
rates in its embraces as a system Of political am~
bton the shameless papsl hierarchy, which claims
to blot out the trsnsgressions of men against an
offended Col who is all.wise, all.powerful, all merr
ciful, not by pentental prayers and priceless blood
but by the corruptng influences OF gold and silver,
which taught in holy writ is the root of all
evil. From the same volume we are led to infer
that to God of evil designs is an unappeas-
able offence against the highest and hottest impulse
Of the Trinity. hope our Governor has not com =
mitted this SIM but for fear that he has done it, he
should in all meekness in humble prayer, lest be
should in future when hope and pardon are no
more, be compelled to kueel in deep agony of soul
and call upon the hills and mountains to fall on him
and hide him from the face of all animated intelli-
gence.
These Doctors 90 on and endorse the present ad.
ministraton of the Government. If the dsgraceful
condition of the country is not a sufficient commen-
tary and condemnation, have nothing further to
say.
/ These curers Of rheumatism, phthisic, toothache
and toe nails, express their preference for j. W.
Head, Esq, of Sumner county, for Eector in the
next residential contest for the State at large Per.
haps they have made an injudcious selection. l
understand he is one of the warm supporters of the
law upsettrr bill lately introduced in the LeGs-
lature. For this attempt, all of sudden, to upset
the Judicial system of the State, am prepared to
say that his influence is rapidly diminishing, even
among bis former friends and supporters. know
two influential and experienced Democrats, who
have never faltered before, and who were his warm
supporters, say that they no longer sustain him;
If any man doubts my assertion, | am prepared to
back il by proof l have only found one or two
men who are in favor Of this BILL and in my truth.
If men mean what they say, the sentiment Of hos
tile opposition is almost unanimous in Smith; and il
this be true, it ought to be warning to men how
they plot against sleeping victims, and that they
that dig pit are apt to fall in tOt by space will
not permit me to investigate at length the merits Of
this bill II consolidates the Courts of Common Law
and Equity and gives the power to a Circuit Judge
to make himself an engine Of intoerable oppression
Jures are apt to decide according to the Judges
charge; poor men are not always able, and not apt
to appeal to high tribunal; and perhaps We might
fall upon some modern JeHreys, under the influence
and in the interest OF some popular leader who
would put to fight every vestige of common jus
tice and involve the community in YeXatious brols
and strife, equal in enOrmity and barbaric usage tc
the glsdiatoria fests of the dark ages. We all re-
member the fate OF Lord Coke for his opposition tC
EQUITY jurisdiction 10 the administration OF the law
In cases OF account between merchants, no Circuit
Judge would, il he could, ever get case through
Court, without taxing the State with heavy cost in
five or six years, and still louder cry would bt
raised against the laws delay.
Aud furthermore, this bill is an awful squirting
towArIs an sz post faeto law. The people are The
fountain head of oil power in this Republic; thel
decision at the ballot box is in the nature of gram
or contract. II by their free suffrages the people
grant a man an Office franchise, the Legislature
has no power to take it away. Ifso. the next lie
gislature has the power to revest him with hi,
authority, which would lead to anarchy, monarchy
and inconceivable confusion. No Governor woul
know the tenure Of bis Office, no member OF either
branch If Cnuprcss oF anV other officer