Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-05-12


leaders, bya mistaken and ruinous course
of policy, as well as the constant practice of
studied and stupendous duplicicy have
sacrificed the rights and interests of the
South 10 the territories. We cannot be
mistaken when we assert, that the entire
rank and file 81 the Democracy of the
South, as well as the whole of the Ameri-
can party, are sound upon the question of
Southern rights in the territories, and that
nothing is necessary to make them see and
vote alike upon this subject, but to bring
them to a just sense of the true issues, and
to inspire them with true nationality of
feeling, as contradistinguished from that
narrow and iliberal sectionality which is
so recklesSly advocated in the name of
State rights. The true issues of slavery as
an abstract question, have been baniShed
from the States and the national Congress,
as such, and they who strive to revive and
perpetuate the agitation, incur most fear
full responsibility. 1t is idle, more than
idle, it is mark of political insanity to say
that the North and South, do not hopeless
ly disagree upon the abstract question of
slaVery-that the North believes one way
and that the South believes another, will
not bear discussion. But that there is
wholesome feeling Of nationality in both
sections, which is alike opposed to the
fanatics of the one and the ire-eaters of
the other, we should be most reluctant to
diSbelieve. To develop this feeling every
where, and to oppose and repress its oppo-
site, TO discard and crush out the factious
doctrines which seek to destroy it, these
are the paramount duties of the patriots of
all parties. Let all these most exciting
and interSectional disputes be adjudicated
and settled by the popular will, permanent
ly acting and properly expressed, in the
territories themselves, and then let the
States submit to and abide by the result.
Acting upon this elevated, just and truly
democratic platform, and holding it as in
violable from any and every quarter, if
strife then ensue we shall be panoplied in
the indestructible armor of truth and JUS
tice, and the shame and crime of fraternal
dscord will rest upon other heads and
souls than ours. If in such case our glori-
Gus Union is to be dissolved, and the proud
est of earthly governments broken and dis
membered, history will award the great
guilt and infamy of the act to whom it is
due. Entertaining these sentiments, we
are not to be seduced into needless
wrangle with our democratic adversaries
upon these subjects, during the ensueing
State canvass. However we may be ira
duced for our disregard of all efforts which
will undoubtedly be made to force us from
this determination, we shall hold ourselves
above a quarrel so despicable. We have
made our position distinctly known, and it
may answer for US.
In this connection we deem it proper to
refer to another of the tricks, with which
the democracy will, in all probability, seek
to gull popular credulity, and prejudice the
cause of Americanism. That is the charge,
that at the North Americansm is synony-
nous with Aboitionism, and that every eff
fort in the South, to break down the demo-
crazy, is but strengthening the arm of black
republicanism, raised for the selfsame pur.
pose This is but another and more spe-
cious form of the fiat charge of freesoilism
itself 1t has the merit of being in perfect
keeping with the weakness of their other
sophisms and does not, therefore, mar the
harmony Of democratic humbuggery. We
have already shown that the principles and
aims of the American party were to thwart
and overthrow sectionalsm, and therefore
at direct war with black-republcanism
If the American party are successful at the
South, it would be the most fatal of all
blows to that party, because it would in
augurate healthy nationality. But on
the contrary, we have seen that the policy
of democratic leaders has been to strength
en- the freesoil sentiment in the territories,
by the adoption alien suffrage and squatter
sovereignty; and still further to unite all
parties of the North MS against the South,
by 6rSt sectionalizing the South Section
alism is as bad atone place as another; and
while the black republican party is based
upon geographical lines and arrogates to
itself nationality, with the very same show
of reason, the democracy of the South is
counseling the adoption Of the same basis,
and likewise arrogating to itself nationali-
ty The truth is, the American party is
the embodiment and exponent of the con-
servatism of the country, and whether it
is weak or powerful. it is entitled TO the
support, and as we fondly hope and believe,
win ultimately receive the support, of the
national conservatives Of oil parties. North
aud South The freesoil party and the de-
mocratic party respectively represent the
radcalism and extremism which are work
ing out dissolution as surely as it is fact
in physics that effect follows cause. Ifthe
American party is weak, it is the more la
and so far from being cause for
It's abandonment, il should challenge the
ardent and vigorous and answering sup
port Of all Who cherish the Union, who
love the great interests ofliberty and right
government more than temporary expedients