Southern shield., 1856-10-25
From the Nashville Patriot. Scraps from the Record.

is the candidate of 8 party which threat ems to overthrow the government, be- cause portion of the people are oppos- ed to the extension of slavery. James Buchanan is the candidate of the Dem ocratic party, which $ in truth the Southern sectional perty, clamoring for the extension of southern in8titu- tions, and by every possible means harassing the public mind with the az itatioE of the qaestiaa.
 To read this record one would he tempted to ask in wonderment, by what trick of political legerdemain had this Northern man who had consistent ly and unwaveringly opposed the ex tension of slavery, and thrown one of the most important votes of his life, on the ground that it would "limit'' and not ''enlarge the area of slavery" been transmogrifed into suitable candidate to represent party, which would not hesitate to destroy the gov ernment unless measures can be for ced which this candidate has always opposed.
 This is evidence of the deep prohi- gacy of the democratic party, and calls for stern rebuke at the hands of every man who is not bound hand and foot to the service of his party. Honest patriots who would zealously guard this government against abuses, which if permitted will impair it, and weaken the confidence of the people, not only in the rulers for the time being, but in the system itself, should look seri ously into this matter. If the elective franchise, the instrument by which a great and free people, have ordained that they will quadrenially pass upon the conduct of those whom they have entrusted with the public service, shall be converted into a cheat and fraud, indeed has degcneracY made fearful progress in our midst. If dishonesty and deception are to be the means by which a government boasting to lead the van of enlightment, and all that pertains to the elevation of the race, is to choose its rulers, and regulate its policy, the time cannot be far distant when the honesty and intelligence of the people will discover the rottenness, , and be ready to reject the system as incompetent to the ends of good gov crnment.
 A party which obtains power by fraud and dishonesty, will be likely to practice upon them to maintain it, We see this exemplifed to-day. In 1852, the democratic party, after hav- ing opposed the compromise measures of 1850, and denounced them as un- just and unequal, and a convention of distinguished members of that party had assembled in this city, to devise measures to dissolve the Union, un- less they were so modified as to relieve them of the injustice which was attrib- uted to them, met in convention in Baltimore, and adopted a series of re- solves, among which was one pledging the party to a faithful maintenance of the compromise, and declaring 1t to be fnality upon the questions to which it referred. This action was wilful and deliberate deception.
 But upon this resolution, they nom- mated a candidate, and advocated his election upon the ground that he was truer friend of the compromise than his opponent, and that his success would be guaranty of peace and quiet from slavery agitation. This impression was palmed on the public who were yearning for a perpetuation of the blissful condition which that ad- iustment had established, and Franklin Pierce was elected, d,-borne into au- thority upon the breath of a stupen- dous falsehood. No better evidence can be desired that such was its char acter, than that in twelve months after his inauguration his party had ruth lessly re-opened a question which they had declared was finally disposed of: and which declaration had been the ladder by which they climbed into power. Here was another act of deep ly criminal dishonesty.
 To prolong this power, fraud and trickery must be again called into re- quisition. An actis passed establish ing governments for two territories, which the enterprise of the white man were retaining from the Indian and the wilderness, and in the settlement of the most delicate question connec- ted with the formation of these terri torial governments, the principle oi non-intervention was professedly ap. piled to it. But to serve their turn another measure was ingrafted in tht act which has stirred the fountains O the great deep, and set on foot com motion which threatens most fatal con sequences. To repair the mischief t the party organization which this las step has wrought, they have substitu ted an odious and revolting doctrin of squatter sovereignty, for that 0 intervention, which properly un