Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-19

But evils Of this description are nothing compared
to those of an internal character 1t was reserved
to this generation and to this year TO witness the
first instance Of civil war in midst. The spec.
tsce is before eyes. The internal din has been
heard Fraternal blood has been shed by fraternaI
hands, and the strife still goes on. Those who are
in the possession of power, were bound by every
consideration Of duty to crush, if they could not
prevent, such conflict, but they seem either to be
Indifferent, or to be under the dominion of some
unaccountabe fatality. Better for our own inst
tutions, and for the destinies Of human liberty,
that our whole sea-coast were occupied by for.
eign enemy, than that there should be one drop Of
blood shed in a civil quarrel. We could repel any
foreign enemy, aud repair bis devastations and
profit by the moral benefits of the victory, But
what power, what valor repair sectional breach
es, when once eonsummated Who can wipe out
the stain Of fratricide? The chapter that records
1t will be black and lOathesome but it must 60 down
and stand forever a disgrace to and our country
and to the cause Of popular liberty. 1t will not do
to say that these evils have come of themselves
that they were unavoidable. They had On origin
with the question of slavery, uncslIsd for by any
eIigency of the country.
Under the compromise Of 1850, tue different Sec
tons Of the Union that had been arrayed in fierce
antagonism, were rapidly returning to a state OF
harmony. Seldom has the heart of the nation beat
freer or stronger than under the hallowed inhuen-
ces OF those healing measures of 1850. The Union
seemed to acquire new strength and new lease of
duration. But this was not enough for those in
power. They deliberately re-opened the sources
of agitation and from that hour this the tenden
cy has been to promote of sections. Heart
burnings, civil strife and imminent danger to the
Union, have been the first fruits of their egisla.
tion.
Admitting the abstract Justice Of the main prin-
ciples of the Kansas and Nebraska act, they are
not new in the South nor we're they new in the
Union at large prior TO the Missouri Compromise 10
1920. That measure was resorted to as a necessi-
ty to save the Union. Il performed that Office
then and since until 1854. The country, both
North and South, had reposed upon it for thirty.
four years. The interests of the South had not
suffered by it, The opinions and prejudices of the
North we're respected by it. 1t might have stood
for centuries, a monument OF the patriotism
which enacted it, and boundary between slavery
ard auti-sAvery, until every bill and valley to the
shores Of the Pacific should have felt the pressure
and acknowledged the dominion of our advancing
population, and until superior wisdom, a nobler
spirit Of federation, and deeper love Of Union
should have obterated the traces and even the
memories Of former discord.
And what have we gained by the change? Noth>
ing What are we to gain for the future? Nothing
II will not make a single slave State 1t will not
prevent single one from being Free What has
il cost? A fearful alienation of feeling between
the North and the Standardization and recrimi-
nation-hitter and unwarrantabe denuncations of
men and sections uttered in high places followed
by personal assaults And finally and chiefly, il has
cost a civil war.
Who can contemplate the spectacle before US
without feeling Of shame and indignation3 What
will the world think OF the reckless career we are
now running' What will posterity think of iti if
indeed shall leave posterity the means of judg.
ing of our folly' Men of extreme opinions on both
sides of the Union, are pressing their theories with
a vehemence and spirit Of intolerance, that ac-
knowledges no compromise while moderate men,
national men, who see in the wide scope OF their
country and in the visions of glory and happiness
that loom up in its future something else to prompt
their tolls and move their aspirations, besides
slavery or anti-slavery, are denounced as tame
submssionistS untrue to the North or to the South
What the South needs what the North needs,
Whist the Union must have, is peace and repose
Let the present agitation cesse-let all further le-
gisaton on the subject of slavery cease forever,
and let him who proposes to innovate further upon
it, North or South be branded as q traitor to bis
country.
The party in power have proved their incompe.
tency to administer the government. When Gen.
Pierce came into Office, be found, in the language
of Gen. Jackson, 'this great people prosperous
aud happy" He 10 likely TO leave them in the
midst of clouds, and darkness, and tempest.
We are asked to continue the same party In
power! What assurances have We of better and
safer policy, viii not the same passions, the same
desire Of change, quiokened by the heterogeneous
elements that compose il produce similar results'
Every indication promises, that the administra
ton Of Mr.. Buchanan il elected, would be but the
second edition Of the present. sort of afer-birth,
aud that the country would be subjected to the
same round OF ceaseless agitation aud noisy imbe-
ciity.
Il is pleasing TO turn from such picture to the
triumphant administration Of MillArd Fillmore. 1t
commenced in storm and tempest, but terminated
amid universal tranquility. Never did an admins
tration close with more signal appreciation by the
people OF all sections /, created no jars with TO-
reign nations-Do heart-burnings at home-no civil
war-nO rage of section against section or Of bro
Their against brother bur il elevated the character
OF the nation abroad, healed all domestic dsoord,
cherished the interests Of all and sunk calmly 10
rest, like a bright sun In a clear sky, amid the
mingled joys aud regrets OF twenty-five millions Of
people. WIN not the country while contemplating
that bright eminsntly bright chapter Of its history
naturally seek that skillfal hand that steady
nerve, that warm thrObbing national heart, 10 aid
again in this hour Of its trib1lstions He has been
tried and slled up ever measure Of the duty Of a
public man, and rendered his name Immortal rs
does not need the presidency 10 add to his fame,
bai the country needs bis services 10 save Il iron
destruction and 10 restore il 10 happiness and PrOs
psflly. He has been called from biz retirement
Ike another cinenaAtas without any solicitation Of
bis own, and be has responded 70 the summons IN
the spirit ofa patriot. He can pOlas 70 bis sdmia-
IstraiiOn and cay ''thsrs Is ny pledge 10 my eoua-