Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-04-17

suduehiy reversed. Instead OF Degtunlng
with politicians and selfinterested parti-
zans, and depending for development and
sustenance, upon the gradual formation Of
public sentiment, it commenced with the
people, aud, disdaining the authority of par
ty dynasty, looked to the honest and pa
triotic of all parties for support. 1t dis
played upon its banners the notices, dear
to every American heart, that the people
of these States should, and of right ought
to, govern themselves, and opposition to
union Of Church and State. These were
its distinctive characteristics, adhesion Of
these its tests. To compass these ends, and
have these principles effective in the ad.
ministration of our government, its policy
was to work quietly, peaceably-secretly,
if you please. 1t was sought to discard
pre-existing party attachments; to throw
off the shackles of tyranical party rule;
to develope, and in some degree, renew
and build up purely American and fra
ternal sentiment, throughout the country,
and thus create an all-pervading spirit of
harmony and concord in all parts of the
Union. Whenever and wherever these
principles and aims were propounded, they
met with unqualified approval Thepeople
rose up every where, North and South,
East and West. with unanimity not sur
passed by the revolutionary action of the
mother colonies, in support Of these holy
and patriotic purposes. The feeling per-
vaded all classes, all ranks, all parties alike.
Elections were held, peacefully and silent
"; success was universal Party leaders
and party presses were taken aback, and
stood aghast at the unusual, the magnif-
cent spectacle.
A great party was in power, a party
whose greatness and strength consisted in
the servility of its followers to the dicta-
ton of its leaders. Its ranks were invaded,
and its legions responded to the roll-call of
native Americans Then, but not till then,
the leaders sounded the alarm, and called
upon the deluded thousands to return.
The case was desperate one, the hope
was forlorn, and desperate effort was to
be made and forlorn hope to be led, to
secure the salvation of the party. The
democratic press teemed with the most ex.
agerated and bitter denunciations of Amer
icaniSm-we will not reiterate the cata-
logue of abusive epithets. The Supreme
Executive power of the government was
brought into active requisition; its emisa-
ries and spies passed through those Offices
which were the subject of executive patron
age, the deserters marked, reported and
speedily decapitated Some of the best
and staunchest members of the party, who
we're always active and always consistent,
were turned out Of place, on the single
ground of concurring in the maxim that
this people should govern themselves, to
make room for the obedent tools of the
party. Speakers sprung up at the country
towns, at the cross roads, along the way
sides, repeating the echoes of their leaders,
through all the degrees of sound, from the
squeaking "penny-whistle" to the braying
trumpet. The aid of the pulpit was in.
voked; the high priests of Gods blessed re-
ligion were asked to hold up in the face of
heaven, and to the execration ofmen, the foul
attempt to stiAe the freedom of conscience.
A strain ofeuology towards the foreign pop
ulation, its honesty, its integrity, its patriot
ism, foated upon every breeze. The Wings,
even, who had been vituperated and spit
upon, who had borne every epithet Of poll
teal opprobrium, were importuned.t to join
their ancient and implacable foes in the
speedy and effectual overthrow of this new
and monstrous heresy. Every art and
every device, of entreaty; of cajolery, of
ridicule, of intimidation were brought to
bear in the efforts to "erSsh out" this new
and dangerous Ito the democratic party
outburst of justly popular sentiment, and
intense" American feeling.
These things were followed by their de-
sired effects. Hundreds and thousands of
democrats, obedient to the call of their old
leaders, rushed out,of the new order" as
a thing to be loathed and despised. The
very men, who, anterior to the partizan
call, had been most active in the inculca-
tor and extension of the doctrines of Amer
icanism, who were most pleased and ex-
pressed the highest qualification in being
able to assert aud advocate its doctrines,
reunited with the democracy, and became
the Ioudest, the most jealous. the most in
of its opponents. They openly
proclaimed their Standardization, and their
by denouncing their own deli
berately formed opinions. Many Of them
were excusable dupes, many of them COW
ardly time-servers. Another effect produc-
ed by this reckless and wholly illogical
course Of the democracy, was to create and
pamper an illfounded notion among the
foreign population, alien and naturalized,
that they were somewhat better than ma
tives in general, and infinitely better than
those who desired to restrict the ofiice-holl-
ing 10 the country to natives Of the couu-
try. This superiority they impudently
claimed, aud attempted to maintain to the
knife, is Louisville. Baltimore, New Or
leans---and hence the riots, aud house-burn-
ings. that ensued. Upon these occurrences
tha ab,se Of the Americans by the demo-