Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-04-03
''The times are changing and with them
we are changing 's-The cold Pilot |"
of the Union & American.

constant and consistent devotion to what
ne conceives to be correct principles, he
justly acquires the confidence of his party
friends, and always commands the respect
of those who hold adverse opinions. This
is true, however jealous and animated may
be his discussions, or however severe he
may be-if courteous-in his criticisms
upon the policy and conduct Of his adver-
saries. He then becomes 'pilot" indeed,
upon whom his friends may confidently rely in
any hour of doubt and darkness which may
befall the party. But when, on the con'
trary, his course is marked by indecisien,
contradiction and change, he is justly char
geable with being very weak, or with be-
ing time-server, either of which would
render him unworthy of such confidence
and trust. The Nashville Union d Anuerioan
has labored long and arduously for the for
mer position before the people of Tennes-
see, aud with its party, it has met with
very great success;-it is emphatically the
laundering Jupiter" of the Tennessee de-
mocracy. 1t has but to raise the tune and
all the lesser lights of the party join in
with the sonorous precision of fs, sol, la;
while the 'unterrifed' masses keep time, and
arouse the echoes from hillside and noun
tain, from valley and riverside, all over the
State, with the con Spirito intonations Of the
chorus. To this we, of course, have no
personal objections; if the party are bound
to be led, we are willing that they should
be led by the Union d American. We had
as soon see it directing the orchestra as
anybody else. 1t understands its part, and
plays it we'll To be consistent it takes
issue with the highest functionaries of its
party. In giving forth its opposition to
to the Presidents position on the Pacific
Railroad it says, with great show of indie
pendence and candor We can not fash
/" ION our opinions to suit the uncertain hunOr
" Of the tiDIes, but on this question shall adj
" here to the old landmarks as laid dOl0n and
" successfully maintained by all our former
i" democratic Presidents"
The Union d american is unquestiona-
bly, sincere in these very worthy aud cred-
table observations; but it is unfortunate
that the antecedentS of that paper do not
Justify this remark The Nashville Union
of IS49, conducted by one of the present
editors of its successor, the Union dr Amer
lean took decided ground in favor of the
construction of Railroad to the Pacific,
and fairly held that Congress had the pow
er to survey the route, and to build the
Road The democracy of that day held that
Congress possessed the power to construct
works of great national character, the
benefits to be derived from which were not
of local or sectional character; and there
was no serious opposition, in or out of Con-
gress, to this view of the powers of the
general government, under the constitution,
in this particular instance. "1Ae old land
marks" of the Union d Amsrioan, in this
case, are all against its present position
We have no doubt it will be able to explain
the incoHgruity. to the entire satisfaction of
its party, but we confess to some curiosity
to see the thing done.
A few days subsequently to the remarks
on the Pacific Railroad and the uncertain
humors Of the times" in reviewing the de-
cision in the Dred Scott case, the proudly,
rigidly consistent Union g. american, used
the following very modest and excusable
self-felicitations:
80 the Democratic party, who for twenty
years have resisted the enactment of WiInot
Proyisos and other prohibitary laws-who
took the advance 10 the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, and the enactment of the
principles of non-intervention in the Nebraska
Kansas Act, aud who stood alone during the
late contest 10 their support of the legality,
propriety and policy of this course, the deci-
sion on which we have been commenting, is
as grateful as it is triumphant We feel just
like an old pilot, seho, after disputiag and
for days NTH less skiLfuL persons,
iohethsr his Usssek Das upon the proper course,
suddenly 6ehoLds the presence Of s9Hse t0eH kaOpn
and familiar beacon that Osryiss che souHdaess
Of sjadgmeat.p
We remove all appearance of egotism
that may attach to the italics by saying
they are our own. 1t seems also that the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise is be-
coming TO be considered, by the more re-
cent democracy, as an "old landmark" But
in lS49, the Daily UHion, controlled alone
by one Of the present editors Of the Union
q Americsa, could not be oat-done in its
attachment to the Missouri Compromise.
IL had been applied in the annexation of
Texas, and in modified form to the or
ganization of Oregon territory; two meas.
ures universally admitted as democratic,
the former rising to the dignity aud reeeiv-
ing the applause Of great achievement.
In fact, with bat few exceptions, tie en-
tire democracy Of the country up to 1854.
we're as ardeatiy aud deyotedly attached
TO that Compromise as any other party
could be. Ia speech made BY JOIN BELL,
We believe, in Marfreesboro in ls49, he
took position against the repeal or any
interference with the Missouri Compromise.
The UniOa was loud in its professions Of
appreciation at the stand then taken by
Mr.. BEn.; although. it disagreed with that
gentleman in most things. il was happy to
find a concurrence Of sentiment on this
grave question. But now be who then SO
cordially agreed with Mr.. Bn1, can find