Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-03-29

Ject OF slavery is concerned, says:
The Patriot thinks the new platform as
good as the old-the 9Th section as good as
the 18th. How can this be, in view of the
fact that the new platform is compromise
between those who opposed and those who
favored the old one 2"
The interrogatory is to the point, neigh
Dor, and we must place you in the stand to
answer it for u.s. This course will save US
unnecessary trouble, and furnish the infor-
nation you wish to elicit. We will inter-
rogate, and you answer:
Question By the Patriot Tell u.s. neigh
Dor, of the Union and american, what you
think of the 18th section of the American
platform adopted in June 1855?
Ansloer By the Union and Amerioan.-We
expressed our opinion very decidedly on
the 26th of June last. We declared that
ut expressly preteruatted any expression Of
opinion upon the pOlosr Of Congress to esta6-
Iish or prohibit slarsry in any territory, con-
tenting itself with the weak and wishy-
washy expression that Congress ought not
to interfere with slavery in the territories"
We said further that the convention THUS
refused to sanction the PRINCIPLE OF THE Ne
BRAsEA BILL"
Question. You regard the principle of
the Nebraska bill" then, as more favOra-
BILE to Southern interests than the 18th
section
Answer. Certainly If we did not, why
would we have made the comment, just
cited?
Question. What do you understand to
be 'the principle of the Nebraska bill ?"
AnsOer. The principle Of non-inter-
vention on the subject of slavery )" and
moreover, as we remarked on the l4th of
September, 1854, We regard this principle
as the "test Of democratic sOundness erery-
aChcre."
Question. We wish to hear your views
more at length touching that principle ?
AnsWsr. We refer you to our comments
upon the Nebraska bill, on the 18th of
March, 1854. You will find that we then
said-"we believe that the bill declares the
only true non-interventiOn doctrine. 1t
says to the people of the territories Just aohat
the SOUTH has for gears asked Congress to
say-'we leave to you the exercise of all
the legislative powers vested in you by the
federal constitution If the right to pro-
hjbit sLaUery IS vested by the constitution in
the territorial legislatures, then this bill
does not prohibit the exercise of that right.
But if this right IS not vested in the terri
torial legislatures (and eUery Southern man
beIieres IL is not then the clause of the bill
requiring the laws of the territories to be
subject to the constitution of the United
States is an emphatic prohibition Of such
legislation,-the only prohibition which
Congress can constitutionally enact, or the
people of the South consistently require
The South has nerey asked Gny other prohibi-
tjon-she can never ask any other without
gross inconsistency"
Question. In your opinion, then, the
bill in effect denies to Congress the power
to establish or prohibit slavery in any ter
ritory," and recognizes the equality of the
South in the territories
AnSUer. Undoubtedly. This is what
gives the principle" of that bill so much
superiority TO the weak and wishy washy"
ought not of the 18th section.
Question. Very good-glad to hear
you say so y Now tell us have you ever
intimated that the "new platform" "the
9TH section" sanctioned the principle of
the Nebraska bill ?"
Ansloer. Well, on the 18th of this
month, we did say it "rery nearly copies the
act."
Question. But have you not been more
explicit? Think
AHsloeT. We recollect, on the 2lst, we
showed the difference between the It'll sec
ton and the Nebraska bill, respecting the
description Of persons permitted to vote,
and declared that ruth this difference, the
PLATFORM COPIES THE PRINCIPLE OF THE
BILL"
Question If the new platform copies
the principle Of the Nebraska bill-the
principle of non-intervention"--so lauded
by you, and which you say the old platform
refused 10 sanction" it necessarily follows
that the new platform is the sounder on
the slavery question, and better for the
South, don't you see that this is the case T
AHsiOer. Well, as the teacher in pros
pective said TO the examining committee
who had given him stumper-" RaaRv,
| yoR're got me this time ~
Comment. That will do neighbor ! We
thought you would not show yourself so
inconsistent as TO admit that the new plat
form topples the principle" Of the Nebraska
bill, - the principle of non-intervention,
which you say is "all that the South can
ask'-the test Of democratic soundness
everywhere'-and yet believe it less favor
able to the South than the old platform
which you declared refused to sanction
this principle. We haze got on your hobby?
What If we havel Don't you want us
there 7 We will ride it with You to the
death, and more, we intend TO hold the
reins