Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-27
ExfolIa,inr and somersettinx.

1t is humiliating in the last degree to note with
what facility soma men change their political prin
ciples and party relations With or without public
cause, if they see opening for Themselves
they discover a chance # promoting their own self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, they turn an immediate somerset,
and then deport themselves in their situation,
as if they had always been accustomed to it. With
such men, base recklessness compeusates for their
want of intellect and virtue. Without principle
and without shame, they set their hearts upon in
dvidua success, and care nothing for the means by
which they attain IT,
The political history Of Virginia affords perhaps
more numerous instances of this shamelessness Of
conduct than the history of any other State in the
coufederacy. And yet the history of all is full Of
just such examples. In almost every political con
test find de-ertion after desertion from the mis-
nority to the majority party. That is we find poll
tcians and Office hunters going continually over to
the strong side; and always upon the plea of an e1-
ceeding love of country. Watch them closely
for while, however, and you will discover in what
their love of country and their devotion to prnci,
pie consists. You will soon see them ''bobbiug
around" after office-caiming of their new allies
the wages of their iniquity
Take the immortal "GIZzARD FooT" for example.
Who ever suspected him of feeling any concern for
principle or for the country? Aud yet who pirates
more necessarily about bothP And who has "wir-
ed in and wired out" of parties oftener than he has
and always with an eye to the main chance? We
doubt not he would somerset il a dozen times a day
il you could make him understand wherein he was
to benefited by the operation. And he is only
of a very numerous class. Where one man deserts
one party and coalesces with another from sincere
and honest considerations, thousand men do the
same thing from motives as black as Erebus None
Of them worthy Of trust-they are either too
tickle or too corrupt to serve an honest purpose
Tho afnrda InrS
ersettng in a remarkable degree. The confusion Of
the times is such that may almost sneak from
one party to another without provoking observation
or criticism. And many are availing themselves Of
the privilege. few, more conspicuous than
Others call forth passing remark, but, being poll
ticians by trade, their course excites no surprise
They are only doing after their kind
II selfish and treacherous politicians could have
destroyed party, the Wing party would have been
dead and buried many loug year ago. But for
tunately, the stubborn honesty and independence
OF the people stood by it only the closer for the
treason that would have ruined and blasted it. And
so it is with the Fillmore party of to-day. A few
"scVrvy" and corrupt politicians may desert to the
enemy, but the hearts and judgments OF the people
with it, and will sustain and defend il TO the
last Pearce, Pratt, Jones, and others of their
ilk, looking only to personal preferment, may find
it to their advantage to stink awav from their life
long friends and affiliate with their lifelong enemies
but the intelligence and patriotism of the people
will discern aud rebuke their motives, and render
their treachery harmless to all but themselves.
In short we care little for these assertions so far
the effect upon Mr.. Fillmore's prospects is con.
cerned. His reliance aud his hope are not upon
the politicians, but upon the people. The one
corruptible-the other incorruptble. The one are
tor themselves-Ihe other for the country.
Wing,