Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-08-12
Reaections for o,d-Line Whigs.

| Union, the balance Of power between the prevail
ing parties, the OLD LINZ Wales are called upon
to choose among these candidates, each avowiDg
principles and advocating measures, differing more
or less widely from those held and maintained by
themselves Doubtless the question-to whom
sbaT we yield our suppor,?-hss addressed itself
with solemn pertinence to the minds Of the sincere
ly patriotic whiys Of the country. They have re-
| volved il with that tremulous anxiety which the
present fearful aid alarming aspect of our political
affairs must necessarily beget in the mind of the
true conservative, conscientious lover Of his coun
try. In great measure disorganized; acknowledge
irg no erra: and pre-emineDtly powerful leader;
their organs generally taking sides with one or
another of the other parties, the difficulties of
concerted and united action is rendered more diff
6cult, and the members of the once noble, power.
ful, always gallant, conservative and reliable wing
party are forced to take their choice of what they
may consider evils. At every thought, however,
of the distracted condition Of their beloved untry
at every view of the clouds that loom threatningly
up towards the zenith OF our political skies, and at
every CLEAN of the lightnings that Turk in those
|
and bringing with it high sense Of duty and re-
sponsibility. Whom shall We supports-into whose
hands commit country for tranquility and safe
ty in this day of danger, Of commotion and strife?
For their support the wings are being courted and
fattered, invited and caressed with every measure
of cordially and every expression of friendship.
1t remains to be seen how this unmany cajoery
| oh has
always been devotion to principle, rather than to
temporal e1pediencies.
It is unnecessary to trace the history of the agi
tatiops which now convulse the country and sscer-
tain from what fountains this stream of dscord has
derived its maddened, torrent-like impetus. 1t
would afford the heart of the patriot no refresh
ment to read the pages of that history. Only at
times would he be glsddened as the Titan form of
some proud statesman, such as the Republic now
weeps TO have buried, rose in his power and
majesty, proposing peace-bearing compromises, and
restoring the land to harmony. 1t ia enough, at
the present tme say that at the close of the adj
ministration of Mr.. Fillmore, the country was en-
joying domestic repOse, aud an individual aud
national prosperity seldom, if ever, e1ampled in
its history. During that administration, the differ
ences between the two sections having been pre-,
ciptated upon this by the last preceding adminis-
tration, had reach pitch more fearful and full
Of peril than ever before II is immaterial to this
argument what part Mr.. Fillmore bore in effecting
the paci6cation of the year 1850 His successor
assumed the Presidency under every auspice that
was favorable. He bore with him to the seat of
Government the most solemn pledges Of himself
and bis party, that the peace which then happily
existed should be continued, that the veIed ques-
ton of slavery had been finally settled But in less
than a twelve-month, at the very first session Of
Congress after his Inauguration, with his entire ap
probation, the whole subject again re opened,
the turmoil again excited old wounds were torn
afresh and new ones inflicted, until we behold the
present state Of things In this the administration
has mad the full endorsement of its party from the
begnning;and that party still processes to hold it up
as a model of the one which they desire shall fol-
low. They, indeed, are now seeking to make the
measure which induced this violent commotion,
test of party loyalty; indeed, in every shape and
form which party responsibility can be made aps
parent the democratic party has assumed it, in this
behalf. Does this statement of facts conform TO
the views and wishes of intelligent patriotic, con-
sstent wings?
But we now have another candidate and new
platform. The pledges are of similar import with
those Of the outgoing president. They are &C
cepted 'tor the canvass" and i'll doubtless, be ob.
served with like fidelity. The experience Of the
past is proclaimed earnest for the future =
from such future the devOut patriot instinctvely
prays for deiveranee. The platform goes further,
aud with the most profound solemnity, inaugurates
the reckless and ncongruous notions of progress"
which have been floating through the brains Of Wis.,
ionary dreamers, for some years past. 1t is now a
test of party loyalty, to sympathse with every eff
tort to extend the area OF rtedOm, and to be in
favor of interference, with any quarrel between any
Of the nations Of the two hemispheres. The
wild and unbridled lus OF conquest and of power
is now Swallowed forth part of the democratic
creed. The restless, urquiet dangerous tendencies
of such avowals by party claiming to be national,
presents new feature in the history Of parties II
is reviviug the errantry of the dark ages in the
aims of government, and sending nations out in
quest OF chivalric adventure aud gratuitous wars.
How far these ideas of discreet, and 1ign6ed No..
tional policy may coincide with the paincples OF
the Old Wing party, let Wings themselves deter
mine. In addition to this, the Cincinnati Conveu.
ton, deliberately reiterated every single great prin.
ciple OF political economy which il has been the
constant and unyarying policy OF the Wing party
to oppose. The measures upon which the eIis-
tence of the Wings, as party, has always de,
pended, and uron which all the conflicts Of the
past have been wsged, are denounced as warmly,
as unspsrngly as ever-a discriminating tariff, in
ternal improvements, the distribution Of the pro
ceeds Of the public lands, &C., each receive their
condemnation. Appearing to have extreme salts
faction in this, so good opportunity TO appease
their thirst for vengeance upon she teneis of the
Wing party, the Convention evokes the shade Of
the National Bank, and saws, with their trenchant
warblade, through and through its unressting
names. Yet WHiGs are addressed in all the terms
Of Cancellation, and even Of endearment are asked
to forget every remembrance of the past (; to put
to put away from them every memorial of rincip,
and humbly lick the hand that has smitten them
every hour Of every day for a quarter of a century.
Are Wings, dogs, that they should do this thing
He who thus yields his conservatism, bis cherished
ideas Of policy gives up every principle upon
which he has ever acted, and which distinguished
him az Wing, can DO longer claim TO be one ofthe
Old lane. By assuming il be utters what it is
impossible, in the nature OF things can be true;
while be perpetFates SANDER upon the name and
character and memory of that once powerful, loyal
and gallant party.
But as If sill more effectuAlly to deepen and