Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-05-20
- 80 So.


Our adversaries in Tennessee occupy most hu-
initiating position in reference to the questions to
be discussed during the ensuing canvass. In the
Presidential election they promulgated their Pecu-
liar doctrines With a yehemence, and in some in-
stances 8 bOlduess, which contrasts strangely with
their present attitude An VIII remember that upon
that occasion the name Whig' was utterly repu-
dated bitter warfare upon an obnoxious reli-
gious denomination denunoiation Of citizens
Of foreign birth-opposition to the Kansas-Ne
braska law-together with the secret machinery
Of oaths, signs, grips and passwords, constituted
the entire political stock Of the party These were
the issues which they rendered to the democratic
party; these were the issues discussed and passed
upon by the people. Now how stands the case ?
Their party leaders who thus threw down the gaunt-
let and stouy declared their fixed determination to
stand fall by these measures then and in all fu-
ture time now disclaim these as the principles Of
their party and insist that all have been obliterated
by the magnitude Of new questions which are Of
such vital Importance to the people Of Tennessee,
that all others shall be ignored.
If Know Nothingism was right in the Presiden-
tiaI campaign, it is as yirtuous and as potent for
good now as it was then. If the Eansas-Nebraska
bill was monsrosity shen, it is equally Pando-
ra's box" now. IF in November last it would
have been right to exclude from the territories the
Constitution Of Tennessee, It is equally improper
to-day to allow to citizens the untrammeled right
under the constitution to establish There.
The Black Republican party still maintains its
defiant and relentless attitude Of hostility against
the Southern States upon this vital issue. The
leaders Of that party anxiously looking forward
to the success of Know Nothing efforts to divide the
South, in order that she may become an easy prey
to their more compact columns ;-and is this time
when patriots in the South should suffer themselves
to be oajOed into the belief that the great question
which convulsed the nation few months ago, is no
longer an issue?
But the Know Nothing leaders ten us that the
true mode Of conquering the implaeable luminosity
Of the Black Republicans is to divide amongst our
selves. They say thag-u1iOn here will produce re-
ciprocal consolidation against us at the NORTH
That no resistance and an appeal to their generos-
iy, is the proper means Of softening the hearts of
our adversaries.
Such is not the true policy Of freemen when their
rights assailed The dearest privilege conferred
by the constitution upon the citizen is involved in
the issue. South united as one man in defence Of
her rights, may always secure sufficient aid on the
part Of notwithstanding people of the North to
maintain equality. Our forefathers in the
great struggle for our Independence, by union for
the right, secured liberties against the mighty
power Of Old England. Right, is the most powerful
weapon that can be placed in the hands Of man.
and no evil can ever flow from union Of the peo-
pie in one compact mass in defence of the great
principle Of equality, which is the cornerstone of
the constitution.
We say then, that the issues now before the peo-
pie have undergone no change. The fortunes of
Know Nothingism in Tennessee may have changed,
but if the principles were right last year. they can
not be unworthy Of adoption now. Let US have nc
lodging but let US have a fair settlement of the
questions brought before the people in the Presi-
Dental campaign. It viii be remembered that our
adversaries accounted for their overwhelming defeat
in that contest by insisting that the people voted
then under an apprehension Of the success Of Black
RepubIcanism, and that the distinctive princi-
pies Of Know Nothingism were not passed upon at
all If they are sincere in this, now is the time
for them to come forward and present their cause
fairly before the people. No eztraneous influences
can be made to operate against them. The Demo
cratic party wiling and ready, and anxious, to
meet their adversaries, face to face upon a one or
al Of the doctrines Of their party. By manly
and honest defence of their principles, if there be
any virtue in them, the people viii discover, ap-
prove, and endorse them. We invite the issue and
defy them to the encounter.