Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-03
The Duty of the wings.

~ an issue between Democracy and Republican.
ism" They would persuade US that Mr.. Fillmore
will receive so small support that every vote CIV
en- to him will either be hroaOn GsOdy, or else will
indirectly contribute to the election of Mr. Fremont
Is this proper view of the case? 1t seems to me
that the question for every one to decide is, not
OLose chances for election are best but which of the
candidates now before the people represents the
principles that he should best like to prevail in
the administration Of the Government 1t is eva
dent that the great question before the people
is, Hon car zoe put an end to the dangerous agitation
of the subject of slavery? This agitation threatens
to destroy the Government. No subject can be
touched upon in Congress, no public meeting can
any where be held, but slavery is made the promi-
nent subject of discussion We even find it invad-
ing the legislative assemblies of our churches, and
tending there, as in politics. to produce dsunon and
destruction.
Shall these things continue? This is the great
question that presents itself to the earnest cOnsidF
Grafton of every lover ofhis country. This appeals
to every Conservative 10 the land, and calls upon
him to exert his whole influence to check this fell
spirit and bring back people, ifpOssibe, to bar
monv and brotherly love. How can this be done?
To accomplish this what candidate must We sustain9
In this latitude of course, "Repubicanism" is OUT
of the question. But even in the North it seems to
me that no lover of his country should sustain any
party whose very existence depends upon slavery
agitation "Repubicanism" presents no other issue.
Deprive it of this and the party must sink. Hence,
put an end to slavery agitation aud Republicans
ism" disappears; sustain "Repubcanism" and agi-
tatOn must aud will continue. Such being the al
formative, it seems to me that no Conservative o.
any party, and especially no Wing, either North
South, can hesitate to his duty. He cannot sus-
tain the Republican" nominee.
But, say the Democrats vote for Mr.. Buchanan
and thus put an end to agitation" But can Mr..
Buchanan be sustained for any such reasons! Will
his elevation to the Presidency accomplish any such
end? His friends, it is true, say so but where is
the proof of any such position? We need not refer
to his antecedents, for he himself repudiates them;
and well he might, for they are too contradictory
to avail much in proof Of any thing except most
lamentable want of frmness and consistency. In
his speech to the keystone Club he Gays: 'NOw,
since l am the representative of the great Demo-
cratic party, am no longer simply James Buch-
anan, but must square my conduct by the platform
upon which have been placed platform which
he so heartily approves that he is not willing to
change it in the slightest degree; he twill neither
add one plank to 1t, nor take one from it" The
plain English of all whchs, that whatever opinions,
he may heretofore have entertained he now renOun.
ces them all and adopts and means (if elected) to
carry out to the fullest extent every principle and
doctrine of the Cincinnati platform. He must be
sincere in this pledge otherwise he makes pledge
which he means never to fulfil We are thus
forced to believe that he really is sincere, and in~
tends TO carry out the platform upon which he has
thus soemnly placed himself.
Can, then, Wing, cap any Conservative support
a who s pledged to that platform? 1t seems to
that there has never been presented to the Anne
rican people platform so pregnant with evil so
dangerous to the honor and welfare of our country
Il is the essence of filiJustersm looking evidently
To th.aa nf NOR N Of
Mexico determined at all hazards assert and main
tain the Monroe doctrine the assertion OF which
must inevitably involve US continually in war. Is
the country ready to sustain any such policy? Can
the Wings hazard the peace and prosperity of the
country upon any such issue? II not how can we
sustain either directly indirectly the party thst
advocates such doctrines? And, especially, how can
we support Mr.. Buchanan, whose celebrated OS'
tend mGnifesto has committed him to extent ev en-
transcending the limits Of the Cincinnati PLATFORM
In that manifesto he does not hesitate to say that
we must have Cuba at all risks. He advises our
Government to offer to purchase it; and, if Spain
should refuse to sell, then take IL BY FORCE SIch
is Mr. Buchanan's position.
Can he be trusted with the administration OF our
foreign affairs? IL is vain for his friends to speak of
his conservatism; here his words, delihera.
tely expressed and no apology or explanation OF
his friends can wipe them out.
Can he be trusted with any greater safety on the
slavery question: His Gntecedents see his Lancaster
resolutions, speeches in Congress &C. show him to
be Freesoiler. AS such he was evidently support,
ed by North In the Cincinnati Convention. Refer
ence TO the record will show that during many bal
lots he received VOtes from the S1th, save those
of Virginia and Louisiana. The South preferred
Mr. Pierce or Mr.. Douglas. But as Mr.. Buchanan
has repudiated his own antecedents, we perhaps
Ough; to do so too; and shall only inquire what is
his present position that question! In his letter o.
acceptance he fully endorses the Cincinnati platform,
which heartily approves the entire conduct OF the
Democratic party as represented by Mr. Pierce
Thus Mr. Buchanan assumes the responsibilities of
the action of the Democratic party during the last
three years. Let US consider this a few moments.
In March, 1853, Mr.. Fillmore retired from the
Government, and left the country IN the enjoyment
OF the most profound quiet; nowhere was there the
sound OF discord; allwas peace and harmony. Men
of ell parties acknowledged and applsuded the firm
ness and ability Of Mr. Fillmore, which had accom-
plished 30 happy result; all parties pledged them
selves to sustain it, and Mr.. Pierce was eleced by
the influence of the following resolution adopted in
the Democratic platform Of 1852:
"Resolued, That the Democratic party will resist
'al attempts at renewing, in Congress or out Oft
'the agitation Of the slavery question: under phdt-
''evsT shape or color the attempt may be made.
Such was their language in 1852? Could il be
strogenT! Could party be more fully pledg ed?
And was not this pledge repeated over and over
again on the stump, in Congress, aud even in the
Presidents hraltgHTaP But what was thar action!
They were hardly in power before they proposed
and Effected the repeal OF the Missouri Compromise,
and created a storm OF agitation greater than has
ever before swept over tins country
| do not stop here TO inquire whether the Mis-.
souri, Compromise was constitutional or not nor
whether the rights OF any section demanded its
peal Ii is sufficient 10 know that il hal been in
quiet peaceful operation for than thirty years.
and that the democrats deliberately and solemnly
pledged themselves 10 sustain it, and TO put down
all agitation Of the question, from whatever quarter
il might come Under such pledges they we're
bound 10 maintain il under all circumstances. Why
did tney not do iu What advantage has been
gained that is at all commensurate with the injury
that has been inflicted upon the country So far
its only fruits have been discord contention, yea
evea eivi 'oa-. How Sppalling the IDEA, much less
the realty Of civil warl-a strife brought by the
insane ulIraism Of the South and the faHatcism Of
the North; the one as dangerous TO our peace and
happiness a. the other; the just necessary 20
be quieted as the oIher for both alike entail moth
ing but distraction and discord.
Here again ask, how can this disastrous eondis
tion be remediedl Certainly not by retaining in
power the party which has brought il upon Us.
Certainly NOT by retaining In power party that has
violated is every pledge On the subject, however
sosntnly made; which has sacrificed every thing 10
party ends and party triumph; which has forced up
on us a storm Of agitation OF which no man can
see tie result Has not all this been done BY The
dsFno4rafie narfvs And doex MOI Mr. Hucha1au