Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-17
A Word To Americans.

r We cannottoo often or too strongly urge up
onour friends throughout the State, tie impor-
lance Of an early and efficient Organization for
the canvass of the coming year. Situated as we
are at the metropolis of the State, we are ena-
bled to perceive and appreciate the absolute
necessity of this step. We tell you the enemy
are on the alert. They are adopting means to
present an organization perfect in its details
They are spreading their nets in every civil
district in the State The work is progress
ing silently, but with fatal certainty, against
! our success, unless instant and effective means
are taken TO counteract their efforts. They
I have hypocritically denounced our o-ganiza-
ton, which openly proclaimed its principles,
while with eoGal openness and honesty it an
nounced that, for the better seeurement of lis
ends. and the success Of its measures, it thought
proper to keep its counsels to itself; while they
have practiced system Of espionage and Sc
cret drill sergean;ry which makes their party
discipline as odious as serfdom itself. Their
rulers admit of no compromise, and receive no
timid, half yielded support-they require I'M
conditional and accomplishing compliance with
the party regulations and woe to him who
daros trargress.
The leaders here at the Capitol, in cOnjnnc-
ton with the Democratic members Of the Le-
gisature, are drawing up the general orders
assigning the posts TO be filed, and the duties
required of every man, from the State Electors
down to village postmasters. Since the drawn
battle of August last, they have slept on their
arms. That Pyrrhus-like victory was too dear
ly bought to be lightly placed in jeopardy.
They know the powerful current of popular
sentiment that is setting with resistless impe-
tus in favor of American principles. They feel
the earth growing shaky as the great ground
swell heaves beneath them. The period is ap-
preaching when the people are to pronounce
upon their acts, and they tremble at the YER
dict. Like faithless servants, they hear the
footsteps of the master of the house, as he
comes to demand an account of their steward
shin. and their limbs are qnaking with guilty
fear. The hustle is active among them to
cover up their short comings, and gioze over
their impurities. In remote corners Of the State
it may not be heard, bat here the dreadful din
of preparation salutes our ears on every side.
We want to notify our friends Of these facts
in order that they may be prepared to meet
them. We have seen no indication of apathy
among them. We do not believe it exists. But
prudence dictates an early and vigorous prepa-
ration for the great battle which Is to decide
the question between the sons of the soil and
impudent and pretentious foreigners; between
those who believe that the interests of free
dom throughout the world demand that Ameri-
cans should control the government and rule
the destinies Of their country, and those who
would trust the priceless treasure in the hands
of those who do not know its yalne.
We say, then, 60 to work earnestly and
heartily. Watch with wary eye every move
ment of the enemy. Give circulation far aud
wide, to American newspapers and documents.
Let the light of truth but beam before the peo
pie, aud they will follow in the path MAJ ked
out by patriotism and devoted attachment to
American Institutions. But put the enlight-
ened voters of Tennessee in possession of the
facts, and we can rest secure that our cause
will triumph. We again repeat, we cannot be-
gin too early. At least dozen or two copies
Of good American newspaper should be taken
in every civil district in the State Let our
: -nds take immediate steps to bring the
agency of the press to bear in our behalf.