Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-14

for circulation at the South had an extract from the
Nicholson letter condemning the Wilmot proviso,
while those for Northern consumption had this ex-
tract removed and, in its place, extract from Mr..
Cass's speech on the recent French RevolutiOn?"
Impeed by an ardent love of the spoils anxious to
faten upon the oaves and fishes Of Office, too many
Of the Democratic leaders were willing to resort to
any artfce no matter how disreputable, to obtain
votes and, by billing and covering with the Adolf
tionsts at every Presidential election they have
succeeded in elevating that which, at one period,
was the weakest of all parties to an importance
scarcely If at ALL inferior to that of any other party
in the Union. This importance is not the mere
heeting and transitory consequence which is only
manifested election days and relapses into
obscurity, but it is permanent power which has
been steadily growing ard advancing, and systemati-
cally pampered and augmented through the instru-
mentality Of an unhoy alliance with modern Demo
cracy.
Its true that in 1852, the Democratic party, as
already stated, pledged in one of the resolutions
of its platform, to the support Of the Compromise
measures OF $780, but will be recollected that this
pledge was made in a very questionable shape. So
long had they been in the habit of counting the
Abolitionists-so long had they endeavOred, in their
platforms, TO state their principles in such manner
that they would be susceptible of Northern and
Southern Interpretation, that, while three of the
sections OF their platform contained plain
declaration the South could desire in favor of the
Compromise Measures and against slavery agitation,
a tub was thrown to the Northern whale in the
shape of Resolution 'upholdng the principles laid
down in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of
1898 and in the Reports of Mr. Madison to the
Virginia Legislature in 1892" when it is notorious
that the second of the Kentucky Resolutions de-
clares, in effect that all Acts of Congress which
assume to create, define or punish crimes, other
than those enumerated in the constitution,
altogether void and of no force;" when it is well
known that the Constitution does not define and
punish the offences inhibited by the fugitive slave
law, and when it is equally undeniable that in the
contest of 1852, the Abolitionists regarded the
previous declarations in the Democratic platform,
dead letter and supported Mr.. Pierce, on the
ground that the saving in favor of the Kentucky and
Virginia resolutions of 1898, was equivalent to a
declaration against the fugitive slave law. The
memorable argument, upon this subject, of that
celebrated free soil paper, the New York Evening
Post was equal to the best specimens of hair-split
ting logic ever produced by the college Of Jesuits,
and is in every sense, worthy the Abolition, Catho-
lie and Jesuit allies of the Democratic party at the
present time. The Post said among other things.
"In like manner, if the Virginia and Kentucky
resolutions are acknowledged by the Democratic
party guides in the Interpretation of the cOnst
tuition anything which contradicts them is, of
no part of the Democratic creed. If Convention
of the party issues declara ion affirming them to
contain the true political doctrine and, at the
time, commends any public measure which is in d.
rect opposition to them, the commentator goes
for nothing"
Not only so, but the Post denied that the Demo-
cratic party ever adopted the Baltimore Platform in
1852. Itargued that the resolutions merely spoke
the sense of the Committee who framed them, and
declared that they were not put until large num-
IL, Ill II.
debated not considered, not even heard; consider
able number of members present voted against
them and those who said AYE" did not know to
what they were giving their applause"
JOHN VAN buren, said that che would would not
stop 10 inquire under what vote or what influence
it the Democratic platform Of 1882 was adopted,
but h" would say that he must unqualifedly APP
prove of that platform for this election" meaning
the election OF 1852.
Without citing the abundant evidence which
must be fresh in the recollection of the people, suf
fee it to say that in the contest of 1852 many OF
the Democratic Abotonists repudiated the Demo.
cratic platform but supported Pierce; and that, al
though Hale was voted for bya portion Of them, his
vote about l40 900 less than the Abolition vote
cast for Mr. Van Buren, in lS4S; and that 'where
the abolition vote fell off largely, she Democratic
vote increased, as any one may see by comparing
the tabular statements, of the votes for President
York alone, where Mr.. Van Buren, received l2O,479
votes in s4S, Mr.. Hale only received about "a, 900
in 1852; while Mr.. Pierce received 1862 239 votes
and Mr.. Cass, in 1913, received ll4,9l9. This fact
and other facts to be CLEANED from the election Ia
bles, published shortly after the election, and to be
more accurately ascertained from the official votes
which are not in my pOssessiOn,-can leave no ra-
tiona doubt upon the mind that the great body of
the Abolitonists voted for Mr. Pierce in 1852. 1t
u Al
Democratic platform of 1852, like its 'illustnOus
predecessors" of 1914 and AS, was Janus-aced in
its character and meant as it was, doubtless intend
ed 20 mean, 'a things to all men," 1t is not at all
to be wondered at that AbOtionists cOalesced with
the Democracy, when golden visions of place and
preferment were continually fitting before them
during the canvass. While Mr.. Fillmore had pa
triotcaly and manully conquered the prejudices of
education and locality; and true to the obligations
of his oath and faithful to the mandates of the Con-
stitution, had approved the compromise; and re-
gardless of his popularity in the North, had, with
infexble integrity executed the fugitive slave law
and removed Higher Law Wings from Office the
Hon. James Campbell, a Pennsylvania Democrat,
(and believe, present Catholic Post Master Cen
eral declared in his speech of the 29th October
1852, at Pittsburg, that
"When Franklin Pierce is elected President, as
he undoubtedly will be, he can be looked upon as
the President of the whole country. He will not
make tavOrite of one party or section,
but distribute his hvors among all. Such Presi-
dent want and will have.
That pledge was, in effect endorsed by the
Washington Union and most faithfully was it re-
deemed by Mr. Pierce, when he came into power.
'Black spirits and white, blue spirits and grey"
had rallied 10 his support and every conceivable
hue of the many coCred Democratic party spanned
the sky Of preferment, on his advent TO power, like
a rainbow of promise. Abotionists, Free Sellers,
Catholics, Secessonists, Foreigners, Federalists-the
odds and ends of all partes-who hadrallied, with
greedy avidity, around his standard were rewarded,
fed, pampered, aud inflated with Davis, McCleland,
the rich spoils of conquest. Marcy McCleland
Dix, Bishop, Hayne, Chatfed, Cochran, Fowler, and
hosts OF Others representing all the factions into
which the country is divided, were literally prOvi-
ded for While such men as Judge Bronson were
removed, the jealous advocates of the Abolition
Buffalo platform of ls4s, were placed in the line
of ''safe precedents" and faithfully remembered.
While such Democrats as Gov. FoOte, Jere Glenn
ems Andrew J. Doneson, and Thomas II. Bayly
his appointments, large majority of
the party leaders, skilled in partzan tactics and
well broken TO the party drill, have tamey submit
ted to the dispensation of political favors among
the Abolitiousts and Free Sellers and have quietly
stood by and witnessed their rapid increase of pow
er without effort TO prevent iL-And, whether
Mr. Pierce will be the nominee of the Cincinnati
Convention or not, the Democratic party, by its
servile acquescence in his abolition promotions, as
well as by its previous daplicity the slavery
question is AS already stated, chiefly responsible to
the country for the growth and increase Of the Alb
orion strength. Il will be in vain to urge that Mr.
Pierce after having done the mischief could repair
II 10y his posthunous message sent the on eve of a
Presidential election, or that the party can atone
lar IL by nominatiug another in his stead and by
pursuing the course TO secure the North and
the South that il has adopted for the last twenty
wears, as may reasonably be expected.
Not the least remarkable feature in the history
Of the repeated coalitions between the Democratic
party and the Abolitionsts is that nearly all the