Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-05-13
TULIP GROVE. MAY 9th. 1856

TULIP GROVE, May 9Th, 1856.
Sir Your letter of the 4th ult, forwarding to
me the proceedings of the American Party at
Sacramento, rstifying the nominations at Phlladel
phia, reached me yesterday; and thank you for
the kind terms in which you have communicated
them.
I took ground, at an early day. in favor of the
right of California to come into the Union, with
without slavery in her State Constitution as her
citizens might determine for themselves, unia-
huenced BY the action Of Congress; and no one has
witnessed with more satisfaction than / have the
peaceful solution which thus given to q ques-
ton of much alarm to our country. The principle
involved was that upon which rests all our Repub-
lican institutions; that is, the right within the
limits of the Constitution, of the people of the
States and of the Territories when forming State
Constitution, to govern themselves, and nooly has
this principle been vindicated by California in the
unparalleled prosperity she has soon attained
under her own laws. II does not therefore surprise
me to find her citizens prompt to lay hold of the
great national doctrines which form the basis of the
American creed. Exposed as she is to immi-
grafton from countries which the lights OF civiliza-
ton have scarcely yet reached, she feels perhaps
more keenly than do here, the necessity OF
guarding the ballot-box from the dangerous in
huences which will act through il, if no discrimina'
ton is to be made hereafter between the native A.
mercan aud the foreigner just landed on our shores
So too with the other great reforms proposed by
by the American platform, which are the restora.
ton of the government to its original purity, and
the correction Of those abuses which have convert
ed sectional Issues into element OF political pow
er, and have brought the patronage OF the Pres.
dent into alarming conflict with the freedom OF
elections. The principles here involved naturally
strike the minds and command the support OF a
young and enterprising people, who are fresh from
the task of forming government OF their own,
- fhnnE
value those old party tUdtebcords by which the many
have so often been made the dupes OF the design
lag te,c.
The only matter of regret to me, sir, is that the
friends of these necessary reforms did not bring
forward in connection with the name of Mr.. Fill
more, some individual for the Vice Presidency
around whom could be rallied stronger guarantees
for their success than belong to my humble char
acter and services. But, however inadequate may
be my name in this respect, you may rest assured
that it will sanction nothing adverse to the great
movement.
should have been recreant to the lessons
received from Gen Jackson, if / could have wit
messed in silence the attempt, within ten miles OF
his tomb to revive the odious doctrines OF the
Hartford Convention, or if l could subsequently
have given my sanction to that coalition of Sec
tional ultraists which has secured to the influences
engaged in that disorganizing attempt, in the name
Of Democracy, the control of the Federal Govern
| ment.
Gen. Jacksons whole life is a reputation Of the
leading characteristics of what is termed De-
mocracy. In 1917 recommending to Mr. Monroe
the appointment of Federast, he warned him
against the Of party spirit. In numerous
publications he announced his conviction that we
ought TO be more Americanized as a nation. One
of the strong reasons assigned by him for his veto
of the bill to recharter the United States Bank is
| bis dread of Foreign influence in the management
| of that institution. And every one who knows any
thing of his administration as President must re.
| member with what Indignation he denounced the
doctrines of notification severng the ties even OF
long personal friendship rather than subject himself
! to the imputstion of compromising with heresies
which he deemed fatal to the perpetuty OF the
Union and the spirit of the Constitution In his
Inaugural address, too he declared it to be one OF
the high duties of the executive to restrain the
| patronage Of the Federal Government SO that it
should not be brought into conflict with the freedom
Of elections; and in the same patriotic pap er, he
announced his determination to be guided by the
| great example set by Washington and the early
| founders OF our republican system.
Now these brilliant points in the career Of this
great man constitute our polar light Americans;
| and ye, we are denounced traitors to De.
| mocracy, aud the whole patronage of the Federal
Government is employed to Ostracise and calun-
| Mate US.
/ II remains for our countrymen to decide which
is the best democracy, that which acts with US in
unfolding the doctrines of Washington, Jefferson,
T Madison and Jackson or that which has set up
that theory of State rights out Of which have
sprung notification and abolition and all the other
isms that array portion Of our country against
another, and have impaired the maxims LETT by our
I forefathers
1t is consoling to me to End that there are men,
like yourself in every quarter of our extended
! country who see the dangers which beset us from
the causes thus briefly adverted 20; and | canno;
doubt that the great body Of our fellow citizens eve
erywhere will ultimately concur with US in the steps
we have taken TO avert them. AT all events, my
4 dear sir let what may come, must do our duty,
I relying upon the merits OF cause, and the Ger
tainty that truth WILL ultimately prevail
Thanking you for your kind remembrance, and
for the too partial terms in which you and other
old jackson Democrats have spoken Of me at the
| public meeting Of whose proceedings you are the
honored organ on this occasion, beg leave 70 sub
scribe myself
Very truly,
Your obedient serv't,
A. J. DONELS0N.
To Hon. J. PoEELL Sacramento california.