Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-06-14
LETTER FROM COL. NELSON.

LETTER FROM COL. NELSON.
One Of the most lucid and powerful political ex-
positions we have read for many day is contained
in a recent letter from Col T. A. r. NELSON, pub
lished in the Knoxville Wing. Col n, as will be
recollected, was appointed one Of the American
Electors for the State at large by the American
Convention which met in this place in February
last. short time previously to the meeting of
that body, Col. Nelson having received a letter
from a friend in this place enquiring whether he
would accept the nomination Of Elector in the event
Il should be made, wrote letter in reply, stating
very fully various of private and profession
al character which would probably put it out of his
power to make the canvass and that in his judg-
ment, it would be most proper that some one should
be nominated who would undoubtedly accept. He
also addressed letter to q member of the State
Senate from East Tennessee, then here, informing
him that he could not accept the nomination
There being a very strong desire, however, on the
part of the Convention, that he should engage in
the canvass they nominated him; and he, being
disposed, if possible, to comply with the wishes of
the Convention, diligently and earnestly set about
arranging his business so to be able to canvass
the whole State. He finds, however, Notwithstanding
his most strenuous efforts to do So that he cannot
so arrange his business as to be at liberty to
make the canvass. His circuit as a lawyer, COM
prises six Of the counties in the first Circuit, and
includes the Supreme and Federal Courts at Knox
vile. Chancery Courts are held semiannually in
each of the six counties. The Courts in his Circuit
will continue without interruption until the fourth
Monday in July. The Supreme Court convenes at
Knoxville, on the second Monday in September
and the Courts which Col. Nelson regularly attends
and in which be has business, will continue, without
intermission, from that time until the first Monday
in December. Thus, without greatly negecting
the business of his clients, it would be impossible
for him to canvass the State.
Under these circumstances he has felt himself IN
der imperative obligations to decline the appoint
ment. While the existence ofthe causes which put
it out Of Col Nelson's power to make the canvass
will be deeply regretted by his American friends
throughout the State, they will not fail justly to APP
precate the efforts, though unsuccessful, which he
has earnestly made to those causes, at least
with their wishes.
Having, in the opening of his letter, stated the
reasons which constrain him to decline the nomina-
ton of elector Col Nelson avails himself of the
casion to explain his action in the American Nation
al Council, at Philadelphia, in February last to ex
press his sentiments in regard TO the present atti-
tude of parties, and, in most mastery manner to
review 'the past history" of the Democratic party,
which past history, he truly remarks, proves that
it is more unsound, and less TO be relied upon,
party, than any other in the Union"
COL. NELSON'S OPINIONS CONCERNING THE AMERICAN
PLATFORM.
The February platform of the American party,
while il omts those tru5ms in the June platform,
which should be placed in the hands of every Amer
lean citizen substantially retains the one great doc.
trine upon which that party was organized-devo-
ton to the American Union. All the other princi-
pies announced in it, ancillary to this patriotic
pnrpose-Restricton upon foreign immigration,
an amendment of the Naturalization laws, a cessa-
ton of slavery agitation, and determination to
withhold political power from Roman Catholics ac-
knowledging the temporal supremacy Of the Pope,
are the means which, in the estimation OF the Amer
can partv will most successfully effect the'noble aim
of its organization. These principles are announced
with sufficient dstinctnes, in the new platform; and
the most conclusive evidence that il is sound upon
the slavery question, is furnished by the fact that
the Abolition and Free-sol delegates withdrew from
the Council and Convention, and that Black Repub-
licans everywhere are opposed to the doctrines pro-
mulgated by the American party at Philadelphia and
refuse TO support its nominees. The sixth, seventh,
and eighth sections clearly incucate the doctrine OF
non.inervention, by Congress with the question OF
slavery both in the States and Territories, and are
fully as strong the kansas-Nebraska Act, which
is conceded, on all hands, TO embody this principle
for which the South has always contended. In
condemning the ''re-opening of sectional agitation
bv the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise, there
can be no question that the Council uttered the
timent of every patriot in the Union. The Wing
and Democratic parties were alike pledged in 1852,
10 adhere to the Compromise of lS50-the first in
their platform having declared it to be "a final set
Element in principle and substance, and the latter,
in one of the resolutions OF what was styled their
platform, having declared that they would abide
by and adhere TO the faithful execution Of the acts
known as the compromise measures" Had there
been a faithful and general adherence TO these
pledges, the Abolitionsts, or Black Republicans, as
party would have sunk into their original obscuritY
In an evil hour, Judge Douglas, Northern Demo
crat introduced his massachusetts bill, ana
though patriotic members Of both parties IN the
South, were divided in opinion as to the propuety
II.
law was enacted by Congress- Southern men are
perfectly us6able in insisting that the statute shall
remain inviolate Still, rs a measure OF policy, it
iseoually clear that the law as 10 Kansas and Ne
braska has produced an unparalleled excitement in
the North which resulted in the election OF Black
Republican Speaker in the House, aud again seri-
ously menaces the integrity Of the Union. For all
the consequences which have resulted, or may re-
suit from the agitation of the slavery question since
the Compromise Of 1850, the Democratic party is
chiefly responsible as that party bad majority in
Congress ard could have prevented any departure
from the principle agreed upon by both parties In
1852 The slavery question is and always has been,
since the formation of the Constitution, the most
dangerous issue that can be presented to test the
strength and vitality of the American Union In
the new PLATFORM while the agitation of this ques-
ton is deprecated the position that Congress has
no power 10 interfere with it. in any form, is clearly
and unequivocally assumed.
While the American party repudates all agitation
North or South, and leaves the subject where II
properly belongs, to the people Of the States and
Territories, and while Democratic presses and lead
ers arrogantly claim be the fearless and only re
able champions OF Southern interests and affect to
ridicule the pretended tameness Of the American
PLATFORM brief review of the past history of that
party will prove that il is more unsound and less TO
be relied upon, as party, than any other in the
Union.
COL SELsoS ON The PAST HISTORY or TIE DEMO-
CRATIC PARTY.
Atho' Il Is cheerfully conceded that the masses Of
the people, who compose the different parties, are
equally honorable intelligent and patriotic, it cannot
be successfully controverted that Democratic leaders
have brought US TO the very verge OF a dissolution
OF the Union. Why is it that the people Of Ten.
nessee have defeated them in every Presidential
election oT the last twenty years. Abandoning, as
party, the cherished doctrines upon which Gen.
jackson was elevated TO power, they run Mr.. Van
Buren,, In 1885, and $40, as "a Northern man teih
Southern prtAcplss," and altho' Ia charged, In
both Of those contests, that his votes, member