Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-09-01

tell Iuet tDe great ana leaf1eo mel the utkef
side of the Atlantic do not admit thas our system
can be maintained They look upon rs as adven-
turers not unlike the Romans when they overrun
GalIia and oversprsad the beautiful country North
and West Of the Alps. They say that we are yet
but pioneers expelling the Indian and monopoizing
the fruits Of Hilderness-thas our forms OF gov
eminent are but the necessities OF the enterprise
which lays the foundation of individual wealth in
new world; and that when our conquests ere fn.
ished and our society shall require governmental
secure to life and property the proper safety-we
shall see that republicanism must be abandone1,
and that the stronger principle OF Monarchy viii
take its place. We have fattered ourselves that
we have done enough to satisfy the world that our
system ought no longer to be spoken OF as an ex>
pertinent; bet we shall have deceived ourselves if
the resolutions Of the Nashville Convention to
be understood the expression of the views any
considerable body Of the people. We shall not only
have deceived ourselves-we shall have verified the
prediction of the Monarchist and the Absolutist.
Gentlemen, there some words whose bare ut
terance have q mysterious power without the aid Of
logical application. In the sphere of religion we
recognize this fact in many OF the expressions Of the
Savior of mankind. But in politics, too, an inAu-
ence almost divine, belongs to the simple words of
some men whose lives have been hallowed by great
sacrifices in the cause of liberty. They are like
lamps that we hang up in our halls. whose flames
occupy but points in space. Put them out and all
is darkness Light them, and all that is around US
/ is seen and understood land We move without the
feas OF stumbling upon the obstacles in our way IL
was light like this which flashed from Gen. Jack
son, when he eaid ''our Federal Union-it must be
! preserved" Shall we follow this light or shall we
extingush IL, and take up that which offered by
the Nashville Convention, when they declare that
the htates OF this Union have right at their pleas
ure, TO resume their original sovereignty-in other
words, that this union be dissolved by any dom
inant party which may happen to exist at given
moment IN single State Do you not concur with
mo- that the latter Is the light of darkness in which,
II we attempt To move, this beautiful fabric OF gov
ernmen provided by our fathers will fall to pieces.
Your patriotism and intelligence alike. revolt at the
folly which wond tell you that Gen. Jaekson's Is a
ialsa light. The truth Of the sentiment which he
uttered carried thrill of JOY into every patriotic
heart In America It's power was felt throughout
the civilized world, and made the despots Of Europe
feel that the principle Of popular government had
not been impaired by any division which had yet
arisen amongst us, relative to the construction Of
the constitution. .a..-. -s4ets
Mr.. President and Gentlemen I have read TO you
various passages from the book which hold IL my
hand Il Is q book containing all the messages Of
Gen. Jackson to Congress, which he presented to
me. believe that every one Of these messages
were copied, by me, and many Of them we're written
aud written before the, fually received the form
You are aware that was his Secretary during the
entire term Of his Presidency, as had been many
years before his election. IL Is evident therefore,
that there is no person living, who had better OPP
pOrtuntIes to understand his character and the
motives and views which controlled his conduct,
than had. l rake this aluson, because my mind
nvOluntariy recurs to the circumstances under
which Gen. Jackson gave the toast which have so
, long dwelt upon, "Our Federal Union-it must be
! preserved 1t was at tne when notification
! and secession were generally looked upon rather,
1 as things OF the Imagination than realities-as
metaphys cal subeties, destined to be disposed Of
| as they were in the famous debate on the Foote
resolution, in the Senate of the United States, than
! ground on which to place State in actual hos
( tility to the Union 1t therefore natural that
! those who felt as did, anxious for the honor aud
character of the South, should desire to moderate
the force of the blow which that toast gave before
| hand to such men as Calhoun, Hayne aud Hamilton
/ But Gen. Jackson, then, as on many subsequent
occasions, permitted no such solicitude to weaken
| the power which his position as Chief Magistrate,
called upon him to exert in putting down doctrine
that he believed incompatible With the preservation
| of the Constitution. He warned as father would
/ his sons the two last of these gentlemen-he wept
| as a himself over the necessity which compelled
him to deal severely with his father land; for are
| aware that he was born in South Carolina i have
| seen him weep gentlemen, like child when he
| penned the notes out of which were composed his
proclamation and the message which succeeded it..
| recommending the force bill. No man on the pot-
cal arena, were dearer to him than Messrs. Hayne
| and Hamilton. The last gentleman is still living,
and if he ever sees these remarks he will bear wits
ness to the truth OF what assert, that while Gen.
jackson warned him affectionately, he told him
secession was treason, if it were not successful
/ revolution. .-e
! / DESIRE Mr.. President, to fix your attention up
/ on the features in the character of Gen. jackson,
which qualified him for such prompt action as par
triot and statesman; and Tor this purpose viii state
\ fact connected with the circumstances which at
tended the movement for the anne xatiOn of Texas.
! Shortly after the letters of Metsrs. Clay and Van
Buren,, stating their views that subject, reached
/ the Hermitage, you are that the National
Conventions to assemble, which were TO nomi-
nate their respective candidates for the Presidency
OF course Gen. Jackson's numerous friends for and
against the anne xaton OF Texas were DESTROYS that
his views should correspond with theirs. II he
spoke atall he must be found adverse to that por4
ton Of his friends who thought the annexation Of
| Texas ought not to be made test question: and
this unfortunately was my case. Ny friends how
| ever, oyerruled my objections, and consented to
! 90 as delegate to the Baltimore Convention -
| Whilst however, undecided as to what should be
! done, called to see and take leave of the General
before starting and took the occasion to express my
belief that Mr.. Van Buren, would be defeated if We
! insisted on the annexation Of Texas, party
measure; and i also suggested the dangers which
could grow out of this measure, should We have a
war with Mexico and our northern brethren have a
chance OF retaiating upon US, by the exclusion Of
slavery from the territory which would be probably
| acquired i-...
The General replied with warmth and earnestness
"my son, make not the mistake, If you wish TO be
public mau, of ever permitting any personal con
sideraton to prevent your direct march to the point
which the public good demands. You express
fear that Mr.. Van Baren will be defeated, If the
annexation Of Texas is insisted on. want Mr. Var
Bur elected, but for no personal reasons. If be
is against Texas give up my friend and go for my
country. Az Tor the fears you express IN regard 70
the effect Of annexation on the subject OF slavery
they not just. They at least should not prevent
the performance Of duty. If at any moment we
are deferred from the adoption of a measure, not
because the measure is wrong bat because Others
at future day may be less mindful Of their duty
than they ought to be, what should become Of the
country. Let US do our duty to-day, Tomorrow
will take care of itself Let US hope that those who
are on the stage will do right" 'a.le
Mr. President, an acquaintance Just before rose
to address this assembly, read me an extract from
Mr.. CLAWS speech, in which he declares in substance
that If Wing and Democrat were candidates foI
the Presidency, and the election depended on hi;
vote, ne Noulu give ehat 'oso s&ainrt tuS "his "
be thought him tinctured with the spirit OF aboi'
ton. II this be true, I asked myself il the Ole
Hero OF the Hermitage could be alive, and could
hear that noble sentiment, whether be would, moi
forget all past differences Of opinion, and extend
to him the hand OF fellowship and JOY. believe
on my soul that be would That sentiment and
the controlling agency which Mr. Clay has exerted
IN passing the late measures, which are the Occa
sion of our assembIage, and which were intended tC
disarm the secesionis. and aboitonist OF the ability
TO destroy the Union. could not but have command
ed the applause OF the patriot, who under similar
circumstances said, Our Federal Union Lii mus