Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-02-07

Ole OF January, Mr.. WALKER, OF the MO-
bile District, Democrats American, pro-
posed meeting Of all national men to
agree upon candidate, which Mr.. CLAN
cEY JONES, of Pennsylvania. in behalf of
his fellow partisans, rejected This same
gentleman subsequently submitted reso-
luton appointing Mr.. BoYcE, of South
Carolina, one Of the immortal seventy
four, consistent State rights Democrat,
as Speaker, which was defeated by the votes
of the Administration party, the Ameri-
cans generally supporting it. At later
stage of the proceedings, Mr.. CARLISLE,
(American) of Virginia, offered Q resolu-
ton declaring as Speaker the Hon. WV.
SMITH, of Virginia, who had voted for the
Administration candidate, Mr.. RICHARDSON,
from first to last. This resolution was voted
for by every American except one, and had
it received the votes of the forty-fve Rich
ardson men which were recorded against it,
Mr.. Smith, sound national Southern man,
would now have been Speaker, and not
Nj. BANKS, whom we shall continue to
maintain has been placed there through
the instrumentslity of the Administra-
ton party. The total vote cast on that
resolution was one hundred and sew
enty-eight if the Administration men had
desired an election, they could have given
it ninety-two votes. They sullenly refused
to do so, and the country has reaped the
consequences in having Speaker of the
House of Representatives, the third officer
in the Government, and contingent heir
to the Presidency, in man who has dared
| to avow that, under certain circumstances,
he would "let the Union slide" What a
frightful responsibility have these furious
partisans assumed in their wild and reckless
scramble for power What terms are too
| strong in which to characterize this exc
cradle partyism?
When Gen. Zollicoffer wrung from Mr..
Richardson his opinion of the constitution
atty of the Wilmot proviso and the pow
er of Congress to prohibit slavery in the
Territories, and demonstrated its rotten
ness-when this specimen, which the AID
miniStration party were attempting to palm
upon the country as virgin gold, was pro-
ven to be vile alloy, when bis record was
unrolled, it became inevitable that he never
could succeed, and he was forced to with
draw bis name. But what did the Admin
istration party now do? Did they take
occasion to rescind the offensive resolution
of the first caucus Not they. Again did
party triumph and trample upon country.
They deliberately reiterated the insult and
put forth Mr. ORR of South Carolina, who
had been one of its noisieSt supporters on
the floor in the House. Hear what Vir-
ginia Democrat, MILLsoN, says of this move:
When came to Washington at the commence
ment of this session, heard with establishment
that most of the Democratic members had met in
caucus and made nomination; and made nomina
ton for reason. | bad never heard before of a
nomination, under such circumstances, for reason.
| hat party was in an ascertained minority. The
very resolution they adopted proclaimed that they
we're in a minority; and though | will not UNDER
take to say that the thing never happened before,
yet confess do not remember to have ever be-
fore heard OF a minority caucus for the purpose OF
making nomination. Caucuses belong to ma or-
ties. The object of a is to secure the cleo.
ton Of candidate by a concentration of votes.
! But no concentration of the votes Of a minority
ever effect an election All that they do ~
| to take advantage of the chapter of accidents.
had supposed sir that the experience OF eight weeks
would have brought with it some instruction, and
that the withdrawal of my friend from Illinois Mr.
| Richardson would have beeen followed by the Sc
| lection-not by caucus nomination, but by gradual
concentration of votes-of some other gentleman
to be supported by But it not A
Gus was again held, and it put in nomination anoth-
er gentleman OF great ability and eminent fitness
for the station, bat il placed him on the precise
ground occupied by his predecessor, and subject
him to all the disadvantages and difficulties which
have prevented his election.
The disadvantages" he refers to are to
be found in that resolution which forbid all
approach, unless it was preceded by an
utter abandonment of cherished principles,
and the slavish admission that their foul
and slanderous charge was true.
We have not yet received sufficiently
minute reports of the action of the House
Immediately preceding the election, to speak
positively, but we are strongly inclined to
suspect that this rabid partizanship actuat-
ed them to the last We find them accu.
sing AKIN, of South Carolina, who had ex-
pressed his disapproval of their caucus ac-
ton, of collision with the Southern Ameri-
cans, as if they were in search Of some ex
cuse to oppose him. But we have pre-
scented enough IN this brief review to direct
public attention to the culprits. We have
given an array Of facts which viii force
every impartial Judgment to the conclusion,
that the gallant little band Of National
Americans, have done nobly; that despite
SANDER and insult, duty, was ever the pole
star of their action; that taey sunk every
consideration of sell, aud every thought Of
party in their earnest desire to organize
and rebuke the spirit Of faction and sec
tionaIism which was rearing its horrid
'front.'" in the halls Of the National Council;
and casting dark and baleful shadow over
the bright anticipations of the patriot.
R9- The Union and Anlsrioan, Of yester-
day, announces that f. c. DUKSISorox
Esq, has purchased the interest Of M.
G. G. CSuRcH, Esq, id that journal, aud