Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-04


brought upon US by the acquisition of new ter
fiEOry, for the government OF which 1t was
necessary to provide territorial administration.
But it is for you to say whether the present
agitation, which listracts the country anil
threatens us with civil war, has not been reck-
lessly and wsntonly produced by the adoption
of a measure to aid in personal advancement
rather than in any public good. (Oheers.)
Sir, you have been pleased to say that hsve
the union of these States at heart, This, sir,
is most true, for if there be one object dearer to
me than any other, it is the unity, prospect
ty, and glory of this great Republic; and
confess frankly, sir, that fear it is in danger.
| / say nothing of any particular section, much
less of the several candidates before the peo
pie. presume they are all honorable men.
But, sir, what do we see9 An exasperated
feeling between the North and the South, on
the most exciting of all topics, resulting in
bloodshed and organized military array.
Bat this is not all, sir. We see political
party presenting candidates for the PresideD.-
cy and Vice Presidency, selected for the first
time from the free States alone, with the
! avowed purpose of electing these candidates by
SURFACES of one part of the Union only, to rule
over the whole United States Can it be pos
sible that those who are engaged in such a
measure can have seriously reflected upon the
consequences which was must inevitably fol-
low, in case of success? (Cheers) Can they
have the madness, or the folly to believe that
our Southern brethren wOnld submit to
be governed by such a Chief Magistrate
(Cheers.) Would he be required to follow
the same rule prescribed by those who elected
him, in making his appointments If a man
I living South of Mason and DixOn's line be not
worthy to be President or Vice President,
would it be proper to select one from the
same quarter, as one of his Cabinet Council,
or to represent the nation in a foreign country
Or, indeed, to collect the revenue, or admin
lister the laws of the United States2 1t not,
what new rule is the President to adopt in Sc
Letting men for Office, that the people them
selves discard in selecting him2
These are serious but practical questions,
and in order to appreciate them fully, 1t is only
necessary to tur the tables upon ourselves,
Suppose that The South, having majority of
the Electoral votes, should declare that they
would only have Shareholders for President and
Vice President; and should elect such by their
exclusive sutfrages to rule over us at the North.
DO you think we would submit to ii No,
not tor moment. (Applause) And do you
believe that your Southern brethren are less
sensitive on this subject than You are or less
jealous of their rights? Tremendous cheer
iDg) If you do, let me tell you that you are
mistaken. And, therefore, you see that if this
sectional party succeeds, it leads inevitably to
to the destruction of this beautiful fabric
reared by our forefathers, cemented by their
blood, and beqleathed to US as priceless in
| heritance.
l tell You, my friends, that | speak warmly
| on this subject, for | feel that we are in dan
ger. ! AIN determined to make clean breast
Of | will was DIS Of ha
! ces, whatever they may be; and l tell you
that we are treading upon the brink of vol
cano, that is liable at any moment TO burst
forth and overwhelm the nation. might, By
sott 1OOrds, hold out deIusiUe hopes, and thereby
eoia 0Otes But can neUer consent to be one
thing TO the North and another TO the South.
! I should despiSe myselfy / could be guilty of
such eUdSiOn. tremendous applause.) For my
conscience aoOWid still ask, toiM tho dramatic
poet
Ia there not some secret curse
Some hidden thunder red with immortal wrath
To blast the wretch who owes his greatness
To his country's ruin ?" ICheers.
In the language Of the Iqmented Immortal Clay
~ had rather be right than Presidsut" (En-
thusiastc and prolonged cheers)
1t seems to Inc impossible that those en-
gagged in this, can have contemplated the
! awful consequences of success. Ii it breaks a
sunder the bonds of our Union, and spreads
! anarchy and civil war through the land, what
is ii less than moral treason Law and com
mon sense hold! man responsible tor the
natural consequences of his act, and must not
those whose acts tend to the destruction of
the government, be equally held responsible 2
(Applause) And let me also add, that when
this Union is dissolved, it will not be divided
into two Republics or two Monarchies, but
broken into fragments, and at war with each
other
But, fellow~citizens, l have perhaps said al
that was necessary on this subject, and turn
with pleasure to be less important, bat more
agreeable topic (Cheers,) 1t has been my
fortune during my travels in Europe, to wit
ness once or twice the reception of Royalty,
in sll the pomp and splendor Of military array,
where the music was given to order, and the
cheers at word of command. But for myself,
prize the honest spontaneous throb of atfec
ton with which you have welcomed me back
to my native State above all the pageants
which royalty can display. (Cheers) There
! fore, with heart overlooking with grateful
, emotion, | return you Thousand thanks, and
bid you adeu. prolonged applause)
For the Nashville Patriot