Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-04-30

year naturalization Iawl Clay whig and charge
Catholics wirh disloyaltyl A Clay Wing, and alb
stract politics from daylight and scrutiny, commits
ting them TO darkness and sentinelsl Clay
Wing, and surrender personal independence to the
direction of councils Clay Wing, and need an
oath to become a better Americana A Clay Wbig,
and deny membership and acquaintance with secret
clubs, until absoved by resolution Of Conventions
Clay Wing, and make birth place a criterion OF
excellence! Clay Wing, and ferment politics
with religion, until popular prejadces saturated
themselves in blood
Wing may do all these things. lie may be-
come ashamed of his name. He may abandon his
principles. He mag plot schemes in darkness. He
may surrender the only true Americanism-the
freedom of individual action-and be may become
know Nothing" He may do all this, and morei
bat let him no, claim TO be consistent ask the sym
pathy and assistance Of those Cton he has deserted
But where would be the Inconsistency in a Clay
Whigs's uniting himself with the Democrats, in the
present struggle, to check policy which both be-
ieve to be antogonistc the best interests of the
country, and tue glory and perpetuity Of the gov
eminent? If the old parties contended with a good
deal of bitterness, they assumed and maintained
certain fundamental principles of government and
differed about their measures of public policy,
which were but paths leading to the great
end. They held that mans religion should never
be brought into question: in order, directly or ind
rectly to determine bis capacity for office. They
proclaimed to the world that this country an
asylum for men OF all nations; where, after a short
probation, they could enjoy the privileges of ct-
zenship; and even as late as '52, Wings contended
with Democrats who were the best friends Of the
foreigner, and disposed to 60 farthest for his vel
fare They declared themselves not afraid of the
word in arms-much less the Pope and his follow
They had many an open, hard fought, and
honorable contest, in which no man was afraid to
avow his party, or his principles; and their differ
ences were not about the end to be attained, but
about the best policy by which it could be reached
The Bank question: the Tariff, Internal Improve
ments Distribution, the admission of Texas, and
others, were not disputes about radical principles
oe republican government, but were differences Of
opinion as to the carrying out of principles recog-
nized and admitted. Upon the defeat of the Wing
party in '52, large portion of the forces, aban-
doning their colors and prOclaming Whiggery to be
dead became fused with those who represented
the religious prestcrsft of the times. Ashamed
of their old name, they changed their title with
their principles, tainted the remnant Of the old
Wings with "volated pledges" and boosted that
the party had arisen upon the ruins of the old
ones, and was independent of them both. Aiming
at a radical change in the government they began to
question the religious faith of their fellow citizens
and made merit dependent on place of birth. Worse
than all this, they excited sectarian rivalry and
sectional strife contrary to the warnings of history
and the character of the government And yet,
notwithstanding all this, they coolly argue that
Clay Wing can very consistently become an Gamer
ican"-or what amounts to the same thing alder
and supporter OF so.called "Amercan-m" and
they ask US to support Mr.. Fillmore, with Doneson
''aunere3l' Were he the Fillmore Of the past did
be answer TO the Wing name, aud were he on
platform OF Wing principles, constructed by the
old master workmen it would require no arguments
or entreaties to rally old Wings to his support
But for Fillmore the Know Nothing-for Fillmore
the "American"--for Fillmore representing secta
ran bigotry aud sectional strle-ior Fillmore who
descended from the pinnacle of earthly glory--the
Presidency of this Republic--to a Know Nothing
construction him Clay Wings can have no sympa
thy. They remember ,eih pride Fillmore Of the
Compromise; bit they s0jH turn IN sOrroto and dis
dam from Fillmore Of tie Council.
CONCLUDED To-MoRRow)