Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-10-03
The Organ of Tennessee Democracy Will
not DisaVOw DisuniOnism.

doth he there!
The Organ of Tennessee Democracy Will
not DisavOw DisuniOnism.
We prOpounded plain question to the
Union and American a few days ago, and
asked plain and honest answer. What
purportS to be its reply in yesterdays paper
is a dishonest and shutting evasion of the
issue-an arraignment of our motive in
asking it-and charge against our integ.
rity as Southern men totally baselesS, and
which it cannot adduce scintilla of evil
dence to establish.
We read through its article hoping in
each succeeding sentence to find positive
yeG or nag, but, instead, we found careful
avoidance of the real point, and Substitu-
ton of various minor and fictitious ones
tissue of Sophisms unworthy of candid
and manly journalists, and but little short
of criminal, when treating a subject so
grave and momentous as the perpetuity of
the Union.
The charge implied in the quotations
from the Louisville Journal, the Nashville
Banner, John Bell and Kenneth Rayner,
as against US are utterly untrue. We have
never written line which can be tortured
into the construction which it places upon
the extracts from these sources. 1t has
file of our paper since the date of its first is
sue, and we defy it to produce one line cut
of which it can extract a sentiment in op-
opsition to Southern institutions, or to the
rights of Southern men under the Constitu-
ton. The fraction of a sentence from the
Louisville Journal, that from the Banner,
and the mutilated paragraph from the late
speech of Senator Bell are fragrant and
outrageous perVerSions, involving great in
justice to them.
These men, however, are amply able to
secure their regulations from such assaults.
1t is our purpose now to rescue ours from
these injurious imputationS, which are at
tempted to be cast upon it. The motive of
this charge against us of lack of loyalty to
the South, is too evident to be mentioned.
The editors of the Union and american
requiring two days to frame reply to our
question, never intended to meet it fairly.
The personal issue upon our fealty to the
South is a disngenuOus dodge, but it shall
not serve its turn. They shall not escape
the fearful responsibility which their trai-
torouS partizanS and co-workerS throughout
the Southern States are assuming by such
utterances as have lately fallen from them,
and which we fear is the sentiment of
majority Of its party, both the leaders and
the led.
The UEion and American will not deny
that its friends in this and other portions
of the South have openly advocated dis
solution of the Union in the event of Ere
monts election, or at least such action by
the South as would inevitably lead to dis
solution. We have heard it from those
hlS II al iIOSlIlOi anu dubHOiltgi duu buOSc III
humber stations. 1t dare not deny that
there have been those of its party in this
section who for years have desired disso-
luton of the Union, and have been anxious
to cooperate in efccting it. It's senior
editor sat in Two conventions with these
men, and affixed his signature to their pro-
ceedings. At that date however only the
leaders were infected with the loathsome
leproSy-itS limits were circumscribed-a
quarantine of patriotism hemmed it in.
But these barriers have given away, and
now, under the influence of these men, the
poison is propagated through the whole
party. Disunion is the daily theme, il is
heard in the counting-room, at the work
shop, on the street, in the public conveyance,
by the Gre-side, ia the press, and on the
hustings A sentiment which in this State
ten years ago would have thrilled with
horror, is now passed from mouth to mouth
as Hippantly aud glibly as jest upon the
ncheSI ldotiou. AuC DShlONidhN paA " VI
the South has endured the monster among
the leaders, until they learned first to pity
and sympathize, and are now ready to en-
brace it. We Jcliere from tie reports rphicl
re1cb as of The moremeHts Of The Democracy
of this Stale that a great portion Of Il IS To-
day prepared for a policy, in the eueHt Of
Fremont election Ichioh tci lead to rsroiAtiOn
and anarchy. and acc hold ESs leaders resPOn-
sibt for Il.
Let us inquire what has produced this
state of things Is II as the Union and
American charges, the course Of such papers
as the Pairiof? Or is it the reckless triaing
Of the Democratic party with delicate ques-
tions of sectional character, for the pro-
motion Of party success and for the spoils
Of Office, and failing 10 succeed in their
scheme, In mad aud reasonless rage, being