Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-07-11

AbsurditIes of a Partisan hard pressed.
The explanation given by Gen. HARRIS of
his Swamp Land votes, exhibits very simple
and easy mode of solving constitutional ques-
tons. The people all over the State are al
ready familiar with the weather-guage argu-
ment. 1t has been peculiar to Gen. HARRIS,
because nobody else had been placed in the
same awkward position before the people; and
he has all the glory of originating and sustain
ing that new and brilliant specimen of logic.
But the Union and An1erican seems determ-
med to yield the palm to no man in absurdi-
ties of argument. In its issue of the 9th inst,
it comes out with triumphant vindicatiOn of
the democratic party on the partial land dona-
ton policy, by solemn affirmation that, ex-
cept in two cases, ga majority Of the Demo-
cratic members haze goted against them" and
that all the democratic members from Tonnes
see, have voted against them, except Mr..
Stanton. If the first statement be true, it
puts majority of the party in the position of
voting on both sides of the question. In two
cases, at least they voted, both the constitu-
tionality and expediency of that species OF leg
islatOn, and then by voting against it in other
instances, they deliberately overturned pre-
cedent which they themselves had set. The
Union and american thus decides the consti-
nationality and expedency, according to the
shifting humors of majority of the democrat
ic members of Congress. Not only so; but
by the number of times that majority may
vote, one way or the other If they happen
to vote twice one way and half dozen times
the other way, the latter votes must necessa-
rily be right The voice of the minority counts
nothing of course. Hence the democratic par
ty DO not favor these land grants. The Union
and american certainly exercises much tnge-
nuity in making itself ridiculous.
We have been always told by democratic
speakers and presses, that their party was one
of principle; and the union and harmony of
the party on the score of principle, constituted
It's chief power and glory. If this were true,
how does it happen that the men of tina party
are constantly differing about principle2 They
are divided on almost every single question Of
governmental policy. On the subject of the
rightful disposition of the public lands the
construction of Railway to the Pacific;
Alien Suffrage; squatter sovereignty; the
tariff; and even on the subject of internal i'm
provements by the General Government, there
are radical and irI econcilable differences of
opinion. And yet, while these facts are Dal-
pable and undenabe, that party is held up
as united, national party! 1t has as many
shades and colors of sentiment as there were
in Joseph's coat, or Laban's cattle, and thl
blind partisan insists that it is all of one mag
nifcent solid color! In the article to which
we refer, the admission is made of one of these
most glazing differences; and the fact is stated
as sort of vindication of the party. Since
our neighbor has shown that his party is divi-
ded on the land question, we should be obliged
to him, if he would show US which side is
right
The Union and american, having been
''turned down" upon the issues in the can
vass in this State, is turning its attention
to the canvass in Massachusetts,. It has a
good deal to say about Banks who has been
nominated for Governor in that State by the
Fremont Americans and black republicans.
The Fillmore Americans and other National
men there will see that Banks shall be laid low
if possible. They intend to give him the best
fight ''Of the season." and if they don't whip,
it may be because the Buchanan Walker poll
cy in Kansas has made black republicanism
more popular. Before our contemporary
leaves Massachusetts, politics will it inform its
readers what tpracticahle' difference there is
between Mr. Banks black republicanism which
seeks to prevent the extension Of slavery, and
the Buchanan-Walker policy which seeks to
make Kansas non-slaveholding State9 Both
appear to rational men as aiming at a similar
object.
~ One of the most absurd incidents con-
Dected with the uncertain humor of the
times, " is the attempt of Gen. Harris and
democratic presses to introduce HENRY CLAY
as a witness against the constitutiOnality of
distributing the proceeds of the public lands
amongst the States. There is scarcely boy
of ten years ofage in the country who does not
know that Mr.. Clay was the father of the dis
tribution Dolicy aud the attemDt to use him