Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-09
TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1857.
The American. mOvement-The Past
The Future.

ful effort that has ever been made in this
country by one party struggling against
another was put forth by the democracy,
TO crush out and extingush this movement.
The singularity consists in the fact, that
while hundreds and thousands Of democrats.
honest and patriotic it may be, were, as a
matter Of conscience and principle, in favor
of the movement, yet were by the iron
handed compulsion of their party leaders,
and by the restraints Of party discipline
and party dictation, forced contrary to
their principles, to act with and vote for
that party which had raised the outcry
against AmercaniSm. 1t is but sad
commentary upon the liberty of thought
and freedom Of action which is so much
boosted of in this country. And when it
is remembered that almost the entire means,
by which this nefarious end was accomplish
ed, were nothing more nor less, than emp
ty denunciation, without reason or arsu-
ment, and most vigorously tyranical sys-
tenn of whippingin and brow-beating, we
are utterly astoniShed that it ever proved,
even temporarily successful. During the
last presidential campaign, new elements
were introduced into the political warfare
of the day, and between black republican
ism and democracy, the prospects of pure
and sound ,AmericaniSm seemed gloomy in
deed. The system of espionage which was
increasingly practiced at the South, and
the insane cry Of no salvation for the coun-
try, but in democracy, coupled with unre-
hitting denunciaton, did its work. In the
North the excitement ran so high, upon
the slavery question, that very many well
meaning, conservative men were lured from
their prOpriety, some voting with the demo-
cracy to defeat Fremont, aud some for
Fremont to defeat Buchanan. But not
withStanding this extraordinary state of
things, nearly one fourth of the entire vote
of the country, stood firm and mistaken,
upon the platform of the constitution, and
proved a nationality of feeling and pur-
pose, which will stand among the noblest
examples of moral heroiSm and steadfast
attachment to principle. In November
last, nearly, nine hUudred housand of the
native sons of the soil, Solemnly recorded
their determination to stand by the consti.
tuition and the Union, and should it, so far
as it should lie in their power, from extrem-
ism, radicalism, sectionalsm and fanaticsm,
from whatever quarter they might come,
or whatever DISCUSSES they might assume
There they were then; and they stand side by
side to day, in the same unhinchug column,
as firm and undismayed, as were the mea-
gre legions Of LeOnidas, at the pass Of
Thermopyle. And though they believed
inevitable defeat awaited them on every
battlefield, as long as the Republic shall
last, we believe and trust, that they will
continue to stand together, unf;nchingly
and unfalteringly.
But we have every reason to believe
! that such defeat does not await them. The
clouds may still lower and the storm pour
out its torrents, but like our exempIars of
the revolution, engaged in a like cause
struggling against foreign power, and for
a glorious union, our hardships, prepare us
the better to encounter future dangers, and
disaster brings no disgrace. And as to
them, too, we trust, brighter day will
come to us, and with it victory They
have deputed men to counsel together :
these Deputies have met on national ground,
on the soil of Kentucky, yet in sight of
that of Indiana they have compared
notes and hey hare resolved TO stand b.
their guns. They have got rid of mischief
makers, false friends and traitorous spies ;
and they appeal again to the intelligence,
patriotism and sober conservatism of the
people. to come to their standard. They
have yielded nothing they occupy the
same ground they have ever occupied; they
are united the North and the South with
them are obsolete, so far as these terms i'm
ply sectional hostility and the constitu-
ton and the laws, are their watchword and
battle-cry. They have proclaimed that
"the Federal Union must be preserved ;
"the reserved rights of the State must be
respected the decisions of the Supreme
Court must be enforced the union of
"church ahd state, must be prevented; the
fright of conscience must be guaranteed ;
American interests must be promoted ;
IAN Aperican nationality must be cher
| "ished; sectional agitation must be termi-
mated foreign paupers and criminals
must be excluded; the naturalization laws
must be amended; squatter sovereignty
"and alien suffrage must be repudiated
land Americans must rule America. y
What true hearted American patriot, un.
Influenced by the stern requirements OF
party, is there, who will find objections to
this exposition of the aims aud principles
of the American party! The Republican
party of the North are falling to pieces by
reason of the recurrence Of the sober sec
ond thought of its followers. and the NAL.
Geasance Of its leaders-the democracy of
the South are rapidly drifting into the
channel Of a blind aud irrational sectional
ism; aud the American party, true TO the
laws, true to the interests of the coufede-
rated Union, aud to the States respective.