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

after supper has been named as the time. We
doubt not there will be an immense audience
out.
The Decadence of Political Morality.
The democracy Of the present day have
wandered far away from what was once
proclaimed true democracy Nearly all of
the old landmarks have been oblterated
and, in few years, scarcely vestige of
them viii remain. But recently it was re-
garded as a violation of the principles and
policy Of the democratic party, for office-hol-
ders under the general government to
make themselves busy in party conventions
and in elections. 1t was thought that such
things necessarily tended to corrupt the
public mind, and to render conventions and
elections nothing more than disgraceful
scramble for spoils. THOMAS JEFFERSON,
the founder of the democratic party, enun-
ciated the true doctrine, and in his day it
was adhered to and practiced. But his
party has sadly degenerated. Ofice-hold-
erS are now the most active leaders in all
political intrigues, schemes, conventions and
elections. The reflection that they may be
regarded as mercenaries fighting for pay no
longer restraints them within the bounds of
propriety. The administration of President
PIERCE has signalized itself by permitting,
if not directly prompting, its paid legions,
not only to interfere in elections and to
prescribe portion of the American peo-
pie, but also to secure from the National
Convention the denomination of their chief.
Thus encouraged, they took part in To-
cal conventions and primary meetings, held
for the purpose of securing representation
in the Cincinnati Convention, and it is I'M
derstood that large proportion of that
body, now in session, are postmaSters, mar
shals, district attorneys, and other govern
ment officers The completely of the Pres
ident in producing this disgusting state of
partisan morality, is again exhibited in a
recent act of his, which, viewed in the prop
er aspect, indicates too plainly the depth of
degradation to which the democr attic lead
ers are driving the politics of the nation.
One of the chief supporters of Mr.. Pierce,
in the Baltimore Convention, was V. D.
Paris, of Maine; for his services he was, af-
ter the Inauguration, rewarded with the
special agency of the Post-ofice Depart
ment for New England. He was recently in
Washington on his way to Cincinnati, as
delegate The Washington correspondent
of the n. Y. Herald says he called on the
Postmaster General and the President, and,
in a conversation respecting the Conven-
ton, stated to them candidly that his vote
would be given to Mr. Buchanan. Soon
after his return to his hotel he received the
following characteristic note:-
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
May 26, 1856.
SRI am directed by the Postmaster Gen
eral to inform you that your services as official
agent of this department are no longer requir-
ed, and that you will deliver into the hands of
the Postmaster at Portland, Maine, the mail
keys, papers relating to depreciation cases, and
all other papers appertaining to your office
now IN your possession.
/ am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
HORATI0 KING,
First Asst Postmaster General.
Hon. V. D. PARIS.
Fifteen years ago such an occurrence as
this would have caused sensation all over
the country. The President and his hire
ling would both have been adjudged guilty,
and punished. But so callous has the
popular conscience become, under the con-
slant repetition Of such offences, they ex-
cite but momentary sensation of disgust
1t is unpleasant to know that this is true.
1t augurs anything but future good.
But, this is not the only evidence of the
decadence of political morality. The gen.
eral condition of the politics of the coun-
try is full of proofs of the fact The spirit
of discord, fanaticism, and violence, which
nnimates our sectional controversies; the alb
sence Of respect for the constitutional rights
of the South; the want of reverence for
the precepts and wisdom of the fathers of
the republic, who did not deem it dishon-
orable or degrading in themselves to make
individual aud sectional sacrifices for the
good of their posterity, of republican in
situations, of liberty throughout the world;
are all evidences which cannot be diSre-
garded. The times are, indeed, sadly out
of joint" and we fear nothing can restore
them to their former good and healthful
proportions but some direful calamity.
Public Meeting in New York.
A public meeting, composed of citizens
of all shades of politics, called for the pur-
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