Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-30

bst4vrsar AZ ora1srvtt1n JUST 15fH, Is5T, ~
HON. A. 0. ?. NICHOLSON.


in the contest of 1852 He appeared now In the e1-
eroise Of one Of the fundamental rights Of Ame
riean citizen-the right Of meeting his fellow eit
zens in primary assemblies, and Of communing free
" with themon political subjects. He vas no can
didRte for their SURFACES, but volunteer IN The
cause Of Democracy-the capacity in which he had
enlisted in nearly all the great political contests
that had occurred for the last twenty years.
The last five years. said Mr. N, have been fruitful
in great political events. The old Wing party had
expired, and on its ruins two other parties had
sprung up to contest the ascendeucy Of the Democ
racy. Although these TWO new parties had worked
under separate organizations, and professed diffe
rent principles they have cordially co-operaed anG
harmonized in their opposition to Democratic men
and measures.
In view of the deep interest which the South had
in the issue on which the late Presidential contest
turned il was matter of surprise and regret that
one Of these parties, whose strength was mainly in
! the Southern States was found earnestly and
lousy cooperating with Abolitionism, in the
mon object Of overthrOWing the Democratic party.
That issue involved the naked question Of the con-
sttutonal equality Of the several States and Of the
citizens Of the several States in the common terri
! tory Of the confederacy Congress had restored
the Southern States aud their citizens 10 the fun
ioyment Of those rights in the territories which had
! been withheld for than thirty years From
the action of Congress in repeating the Missouri re-
striction. the Black Republican party, which had
| succeeded by the help Of know nothingisp, in OBJ
| tanning the asceudency in most Of the Northern
States, and in the House Of Representatives in Con-
gFess made direct appeal TO the popular Judgment
aud presented its Presidential candidate Tins dis
tinct issue. The object sought TO be obtained
was so palpaby sectional, that Black Bcpublicanism
| expected no direct aid from the Southern people
Knowing that the strength Of population was IN
the Hou-slaye holding States, was boldly proposed
/ 10 array the North against the South, and bY the
mere force Of numbers, TO wrcst from tho Southern
people their equal rights in the Territories. The
| Democratic party accepted the issue-assembled in
| national cOnyeutiOn-was represented there by eve
ryCOngressiOnal district in every State Of the Union
| snd selected its candidate upon the distinct is
sue that the constitution had guaranteed TO every
State perfect equality Of the territories, The IS
sue thus made up was undisguised scctOHalism on
one side against UnqueStlonabe natl0nallsm on the
other-it was emphatically contest for the mastery
between disuniOn and union. Nothing could be more
natural, said Mr. \ in such a contest than thatth
people of the South should be found animated by
one feeling, heart aud one purpose. Their very
existence a component portion Of the cOntederd-
cy was ignored by the Black Republicans their con
stutional rights openly denied; their coustl-
tutional equality in the Union was secuted and rid
culed The union of the South, under such circUm-
stances became an object Of paramount interest
and duty. But the third party, existing chiefly IN
the South, yielded to its iuyeterae hostility 20 De-
mocracy, and arrayed itself under the know moth
ing or American banner. Its success was never in
/ the range Of probability and never, except IN
struggle in the House Of Representatives withinthe
range OF possibility. The House Of Representatives
on which the election would devOlve, in the event Of
a failure by the people to elect, decidedly Black
Republican No intelligent could he ignorant
of the utter hopelessness of the chances Of Nh Fill
llIorv al ,aG .ie.iJ.a- s...,su. -, Uuy usU,. %
his candidacy would be the defeat Of a popular
choice and the consequent election of a President
by the House Of Representatives. The hopes Of the
| Democracy were upon united southern vOte-they
knew that WI b ULIOn in the South, they could rely
| on Northern States enough TO secure their triumph
The hopes of the Black Republicans were, first, on
union Of the NOrth-aud If that failed, second,
division Of the South, which would give them the
chance ofmaking their sTeugt in the House avail
able. The supporters Of Mr.. Fillmore had no other
hope than that Of defeating by DIVISION the pOpu-
lar choice and ultimately, in the general scramble
| in the House, Of seeing their candidate elected
Whilst that struggle was going on, and when doubt
and uncertainty hung over the result, 1t was pain
| ful spectacle to all national men to the South
split up and involved in angry discussions. Fortu-
nately for the preservation Of the UniOn the sup
| porters of Mr.. Fillmore proved too weak to divide
the South sufficiently to defeat q popular election.
For that happy result We largely indebted to
portion Of our old line Wing opponents, who re
fused 20 follow their ancient anti-GemOcratc feeling
rather than the dictates Of sound national COusdera
tions. Besides the escaping from the perils which
| imminently threatened the peace and harmony Of
our country the triumph Of the Democracy, in the
election of Mr.. Buc anan, established the great fact
that to union of the South is essential the per-
! manenGV Of the Federal Union. That the fact was
not less important now than in the late contest, and
he was anxious to impress 1t upon the minds Of the
| Southern people.
Mr.. n said it was of vital Importance that we
should not relapse into feeling Of false security
under the delusiOn that the election of Mr. Buchau-
had finally settled the slavery issue, and had IN
| sured permanent repose. He observed that IN the
late address and platform Of our opponents they had
put forth the idea that the sectional question was
, / settled and Thp further agitation much be
deprecated. This cry Of peace peace.. emauated
! from the wrong quarter Those who now oppose
further agitation made great pTeteusiOns to conser
vatism in the late exciting contest. They then
thought to ul the South into a fatal security, by
ignoring the very issue on which the fate oftheUnion
was suspended. They had contributed nothing
to the result which had secured TO the South Its pre-
sent vantage ground Our constitutional rights are
! now recognized and established, not only by the
judgment of the people, but by the judgment Of he
Supreme Court OF the United States. The Demo-
cratic party has been triUmphanty sustained in its
positions at the baOt-bOX, and by the highest court
of the country. For the first time, in more than
thirty years the true relations between the States
and the Federal Government have been recognized.
We have a President on whose wisdom, experience,
patriotic devotion the constitutional rights of the
South confidently repOse. lie has called
| around him a Cabinet Of ClunseUOrs, whose sound,
national regulations furnish TIRE fullest assurance
that the Administration viii be conducted with sLili
stitutiOn. The inaugural address Of the President
has been received with singular unauimity Of an
proval by all national men. Our opponents them
selves have failed TO find in that address any senti
ment to condemn. In it Mr.. Buchanan avows his
hearty concurrence in the judgment pronounced by
the people and by the Supreme Court, on the great
issue involved in the late contest Ii was TO be ex
pected that this declaration would incur the hostili-
ty and opposition Of the Black Republicans, but if
any thing could be expected to comm aud their ac-
quesence it the adjudication OF the Supreme
Court. Instead Of aCquiesence that adjudication has
met with the most violent and fanatica resistance
and deuu1Ciation Throughout The whole North the
organs and leaders of Black Repubeauism are
waging war upon the Administration, and upon the
| Supreme Court If the agitation is less noisy and
camOrOus, 1t is not less intense and persistent than
| It was during the late contest At period has
! Abohionism shown itself lOore determined to con-
tinue iCs aggressons the South than this Elo.
| At no period have national men at the North had
| such a decided advantage in the conflict as they
| have now. Besides having the weight OF the pOpu-
| lar judgment of the country and Of a strong, able
! and resolute Democratic administration, they have
the high judicial authority of the Federal court
| which to rely. The late indications cheering
to the progress of national sentiments in the
| contests in the Northern States The effects of dis
| cusson now are favorable TO natOnasm and iniUri-
J Gus to sectiOnasm. How unfortunate that just at
! such a time any portion of the Southern people
should be willing create disseuison and division