Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-07-03
NewLipbt from am old T.acher.

In his letter on the public lands, Gov. JONES
takes decided position against the equitable
disposition of the public lands. Having ones
been an ardent supporter of the principle and
! proposition of distribution, he feels it ihcum.
bent upon him to justify his present position
| In doing this be gives expression to the follow
| ing:
. "I have never had any scruples about the power
| of Congress to distribute the proceeds of those
| lands amongst the States, but many, very many
! able and patriotic gentlemen have differed with me
| on this subject majority of the American peO-
| pie have differed with me and continue to differ
with me- and it only remains for me, patriot
recognizing the right of the majority to rule, to
quiesce i1s tie decision thus often and definitely
made"
According to this doctrine, whatever meas
urs of public policy or party may have ma
jOrity in its favor, must be supported by all the
rest. If one party is in the ascendency to-day,
the whole country must fall into its support.
If the black republicans should attain the as
cendent tomorrow, then "as patriots" we must
all become black republicans. There is but
little doubt that majority of the whole Peo-
pie of this country, reckoning foreigners, are
opposed to slavery as ar abstract question; if
this is 80, the logic of the redoubtable ex-Gov-
ernor would have US all oppose slavery. To
whatever the doctrine may be applied the eff
feet is the same. 1t would have prevented
him from canvassing this State for Governor,
when he was first elected to that position. 1t
would have driven him into the support of
Mr.. Polk instead of Mr.. CLAY in 1914, of CAss
against TAYLOR in 184S. From Jackson's
second election as President to 1910, he would
have acted with the democracy. He could
have supported, JACKSON and CLAY and Polk
and all without violence to his principles
under this new light doctrine of his. 1t wipes
out all parties and differences, and makes all
men of one opinion by turns and nothing long.
1t bellies nearly every act of Gov. JONES polti-
cal life, for he has generally been in the minor
ity.
But the principle is not good one; it takes
from a man all independence of thought and
action. If a majority happen, for the moment,
to be against his principles and convictions,
he must discard them and not only acquiesce
in, but must act with the majority, or forfeit
his title to patriotism. You seek to soOthe the
conscience by makingG murderOuS assault upon
the BRAIN" The people of every name and
party would scout and scOrn such a rule of
actoh-by it the majority could enact any
species of tyranny, and patriots" would have
to submit-by it the American Plantations,
which have grown up into this noble and mag
nifcent Republic OF ours, could never have
been freed from British rule, and the thirty
one stars of this gorgeous constellation would
have to-day revolved within the sweep and
orbit of her Majesty's apron string "This
J proposition, to our mind, is so monstrous and
absurd as to leave US in doubt as to whether
any, sane we'll informed mind, can seriously
entertain it for one moment"
Gov. JONES has done some very good things,
| in his life, and he has done great many very
ridiculous ones. Among the latter, we think
his last letter, and the doctrine to which we
have adverted, stands pre-emineGt. 1t is in
deed difficult for us to see how any but half
way crazy man could seriously utter such SEN
timents. The democracy are entirely well
come to all the good such letters may do them.