Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-01-24
Democratic Nationality illustrated by
its Candidate for speaker

Democratic Nationality illustrated by
its Candidate for speaker
The Wilmot Proviso was the offspring of
a Democrat, who believed with BrOwnsOn
that the tendency Of Democratic principles
was to universal freedom, and that they
would in the end free every slave in the
South. But, it (the Proviso) became ex-
cessively unpopular with Southern Demo
Gratis, who not only most violently denoun-
ced it, but also condemned Northern Wings
who recognized its constitutionality, as
heretics deserving political determination.
On the other hand it was excessively pop
ular with the Northern democracy shortly
after its introduction into Congress, and
the party in all, or nearly ALL Of the free
States, either through the State Legisla-
lures or State Conventions adopted it as
principle correct in theory, and worthy Of
being enforced in the practical operation
of the Government
The opinion expressed by Mr.. Clay in
1850, that the Mexican laws in force in
the territory acquired from Mexico by the
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo made that
territory free. brought upon the head of
that reVered wing chief, the most bitter
and viEdictive denunciations of Southern
democrats who sat themselves ND as the
peculiar expounders of the true faith, and
defenders Of the rights of the Shareholder
They protested to regard the doctrine as
an abomination not to be tolerated for a
moment Northern democrats in many in
stances conceded with Mr. Clay; but even
that did not exempt him from a repetition
of the foundations
In 1S48, the doctrine that the people of
a territory through the legislature of the
territory had the power to abolish slavery
and to drive it out Of the territory, was
every where regarded in the South, by the
elite of the Democratic Party, as utterly IN
defensible; because its tendency was to de-
prive the Shareholder of his rights guaran-
tied by the Constitution. Mr.. Cass in his
celebrated Nicholson letter put forth this
doctrine as the wings charged at the time,
but the democracy denied that this was the
correct Interpretation of his letter, and
fought against it to the end But so jeal-
Gus were the Southern people of their
rights, Mr. CasS was beaten by their aid
his adherence to this doctrine being the
chief cause Of his defeat so far as the South
contributed to it,
All of these doctrines have been regard
ed as unsafe and unsound By the Southern
democracy. A few years ago, no man en-
tertaining them could have received their
support-most assuredly would not have
been regarded by them as other than a sec
tional politician, not TO be placed in posi-
tons from which he might, in endeavoring
TO carry out his abominable doctrines, strike
down Southern interests. But, alas for the
consistency and honesty of party leaders
at this moment we find Southern democrats
uniting with Northern democrats in support
Of one Of those Northern democrats who
gave in his adherence TO the above repud-
ated doctrines, as a candidate for Speaker
and commencing him TO the country as a
sound national man. To what base uses
party brings those who would escape the
brand Of disloyalty !
The country had overlooked the eviden-
ees Of Mr.. Richardson's unsouudness until
they we're disclosed as a consequences Of the
in.errogatories propounded TO him on the
18th inst, by Gen. Zollicotfer; and il was
hoped that after the exposition made on
that occasion, democrats, if they bad really
any desire TO exhibit their nationality would