Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-28

WEDNESDAY,, OCTOBER Is, 1857.


" nave lODg SiHCc CSdoCN ~
look upon it as in the least degree doubtful,
That its institutions in respect to slavery, /
will be just such as an infamed, fanatical,
and triumphant majority may choose to !
make them. At one time we might have
had some grounds to hope differently; but
since we have seen the line of policy Of the
national democracy" distinctly marked,
we have had no further doubts upon the
subject. The result will have been brought
about by course equally disastrous to the
South, and Violative of just and conserva-
tive principle. Any thing we may now
say cannot possibly change the result; but
it may not be amiss, to recur briefly to the
different steps taken to bring about the
final result. We can do so at this time
| with more confidence, because in the alb
sence of high political excitement, the facts
will be more justly considered and a better
judgment formed of them.
Although Mr.. Pierce was singuIarly I'M
fortunate in the appointment of territorial
Governors, these opponents of freesoilism,
from Reeder to Geary left the Territory
in confusion and disgrace. And although
the extreme sentiments which met and op-
posed each other at the polls led to blood
shed and the temporary ebulltions of the
| fearful spirit of a savage mob, the near ex-
piration of Mr.. Pierce'S term, and the fair
promises of Mr.. Buchanan's friends, had
the happy effect of quieting the turbulence,
and of composing the conflicting elements
into comparative tranquility. The lawful
legislature of the Territory, had met under
these circumstances, and had, with COM
mendable moderation, provided for the
| election Of delegates to a convention to
form State constitution. In prescribing
the qualifications of voters in that election.
the Legislature had in measure strangled
the halflatent doctrines of squatter sove-
reignty and alien suffrage, couched in the
organic law of the Territory, by requiring
the vOters to be citizens Of tie United States,
and Of the Tertiary three months mert pre-
eeding The election, and this fact was to be as
certained by an actual registry of the
voters. This at once excluded all the
foreign vote, as well as that hybrid, but
more fashionable vote based upon decla-
ration of intention of, at some future time,
casting off allegiance to foreign govern
ments. 1t also gave show of leaving the
government in the hands of the permanent
citizens of the Territory. Under this ar
rangement there was some reason held out
to the country to suppose that what should
be done, would be done on something like
sound principle. We, and the South, and
indeed, the whole country, might, upon
principle, have desired still longer resi-
dence than that required; but, under all
the difficult circumstances of the case, we
acquiesced, and expressed ourselves salts
fed
Now commences the deeper and holder
gamO of shameless dupicity, to abandon
principle, entrap the South, and turn the
Territory over irrevocably to the freesol
ers and abolitionists. This game was 50
skillfully and, so far, successfully played
that the country is not yet fully aware Of
its true character. The first of the series
of man9uVres, was the running Mr. Buch
anan as friend of slavery in the South
and the friend OF freedom in the North
and Kansas was the groundwork of the
argument. We were persuaded here at the
South that the election of Buchanan would
do more to secure Kansas to the South
than any thing eIse-while at the Nortl
his banners were emblazoned with "Bucl
and Breck, and Free Kansas" This fraud
stupendous as it was, was successful, Jan
nus was triumphant, and so was borne t
the Capitol. Fortune favored, and scarce
ly had the President retired from the East
portico when the last Of the Pierce Cover
nOrs was seen flying from the Territory
with the hot speed Of the murderer, with
curses for his retreating farewell, and hiss
es for his reception. His place was quick
ly filed by Pennsylvania born Southern
New Yorker-whose specuIations would
not admit of his instant departure. The
interim was filled by his man Friday, the
Secretary. Mr.. Stanton went to the Ter
ritory, and issued a prospectus of the work
proposed by Gov Walker. While profes
sing the highest regard for the laws, by
declaring that every resident inhabitaut o.
the Territory should be allowed to vote
that the constitutional convention should
be chosen in the manner prescribed, but
that the result Of its labors should be sub
mitted to the people, not to the electors O
the delegates merely, but to ererv actual set
Ter at the time of the submission in tn,
language of Mr.. Buchanan's inaugural
''sv.yy resident inhabitaRt" Gov Wake
followed, and went even beyond the pros
pectus. On his first arrival in the Terrific
~ he met the most active, the most violen
and the most INSCRIPTIONS of all the abe
lltion leaders. with protestations Of hear,
felt pleasure, aud drank a champaign
pledge Of amity aud good feeling with him
He few to the stronghOlds of the abol
tionists-made them speech, aud befor
he had been fortnight in the Territory
pledged himself and the President tina