Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-05-21
THE PRESENT AND THE PAST OF KNOW
NOTHIEGISM

Twelve months ago the opposition in Tennessee
proclaimed the death and burial Of all old issues
and old parties, ana the advent Of a new party up
on ruins and eorruptions Of those which preceded
it. To-day they declare that the only issue before
the people is the old and exploded question Of land
distribution and have adopted as their title IN the
ensuing campaign, the name once worn by the party
whose overthrow they protested to have comprised
Twelve months ago, they opposed with all the biz
tsrness and raucor Of sectional agitatiOns, the glO
rious PRINCIPLES of the Kansas bill They pro
nounced IT the "Pandoras box" brimful Of dire
oalamities, which had brought the country to the
verge Of dissolution To-day their leaders declare
that upon this subject there is entire unanimity in
the opinions Of the Psople Of Tennessee. Twelve
months ago they declared that the great living
issues was and mus continue to be the Religious
and the Foreign Suffrage questions Rampant
Americanism which denied to Foreign born citizens
their constitutional privileges and spurious PrOtes-
tantism which proposed to withhold political rights,
from particular branch of the Christian church,
constituted the burtben of their passionate appeals
in behalf Of their cause. To-day these questions
are repudiated, and with vrtuous indignation they
charge the Democratic party with endeavoring to
revive exploded and settled questions, if they but
refer to their former attitude upon those subjects
Twelve months ago they bound themselves together
by solemn oaths, and secret signs, and grips and
passwords. To-day, when they put forth candi-
date they proclaim one Of his first and ehietest
recommendations that abe HeUsr sac SaR.'
Protesting to have no sympathy with the Black
Republican party they adopt as their favorite lead
ers in Tennessee, those politicians whose leanings
are in the direction Of Aboitionism, and who are
the petted favorites Of the New York Tribune Pro-
Tossing to abhor the alien suffrage features of the
Washington and Kansas bill, they supported for the
Presidency the man who in his official capacity as
President, approved the law which sanctioned it
They support their Senator, JOHN BELL, who pro
claimed that it would be suicidal in the Southern
people to withhold this privilege FROM foreign emf
grants into our territories Processing to aeqUi-
esee in the decision of the people the great Kan
sas question they yet uphold the faithful expo
nents of their principles, the who in Congress
united with Black Republieanism in opposing it,
and Justify the Hon. JOHN BELL in his refusal to
conform to his solemn promise to resign his seat in
the Senate whenever it wss reasonably certain
the people Of Tennessee were in favor of the Kansas
bill against which he voted. Processing to believe
LuaL the DeuOCEal4G party ollSSoNlS1 Al
by the overpowsring appeal to their prejudiees
against Abotionism, and that the result Of the
Presidential election decided nothing as against
their peculiar doctrines they yet refuse to 60 into
the Gubernatorial contest upon all OF any one Of
these questions, and with persistent inconsistency,
pronounced them by-gOne and settled issues such
tumble of incoherent contradictions was certainly
never before exhibited in Tennessee by any political
party, faction or society. They seem to be IN a
condition Of utter beWilderment, and know not
where or when to strike. They have no unity Of
belief or action upon any great question. Their
leaders seem to believe that their chief object and
purpose should be to oppose every thing which is
sustained by the National Democracy, and as far as
they can accomplish the purpose, to harmonise with
all its enemies of all shades of opinion, to accom-
plish the overthrow Of that party.
What result except overwhelming defeat can they
anticipate thus appearing before the people OF Ten
nessee. We will not be charged with misstating OF
ezaggerating this picture of Know Nothing incOn'
sistencies. The attitude occupied by their leaders
in the Iate Presidential contest is fresh in the mem
cries Of the people-their present position as e1
pounded by their organs is now before them, anC
we doubt not that the result will prove more glO
rious, signal aad triumphant victory for the Ma
tional Democracy, thoG any which they have eve
before achieved.