Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-07-13

1T we needed anything to confirm the gen
orally conceded fact, that HATToN is making
mince-meat of Gen. HARRIS in debate, it would
be found in his new trick of arraying the efsts
secrecy, osths, &c, which had been alleged
against US and exploded, to avoid direct con-
test on the issues. Our correspondent at
Kingsport, writes us that at that place the
General made ''neao speech;" that he aban-
doned the argument as to the consttutionality
of the laud question, and launched out into
that unknown and unexplored region, which
be says is only lighted by dark-lanterns, and
where the common language of the country
is made up of oaths and passwords, and where
the salutations are mods, gestures and grips. At
the outset of the canvass Gen. HARRIS had too
much self-respect to enter into that species of
demagoguery. He persistently held himself
above it, until every other art, and expedient
had failed. He plainly saw that he must IN.
evitably go down, unless he had some other
buoy, than those which had been bobbing about
in the surges of HATToN's resistless logic On
all the legitimate issues of the canvass Hat
TON has ridden him with whip and spur, put
ting the rowels to him at every jump. As
politician, he is Infatuated, goaded to pitch
of desperation, and, as politician, is hardly
responsible for bis acts. The friendly sugges-
ton of this last dodge, was, doubtless, very
grateful one, and was adopted as the only hope
of safety. This, however, will not avail him.
If there were really anything in that insane
cry, the fact that it had been passed over du-
ring more than half the canvass, and the mo-
tive which induced its use at this late day, are
sufficient to rob it of all inf uence over the
public mind. HArToN will, of course, not
permit him to escape the issues by any such
poorly concocted artifce. On the other hand,
he will only tighten the reins, and prOlong the
stretches before giving him breathing spell.
He is at his utmost speed, and Bob HATToN is
not the man to let him up on the home stretch.
One word as to the merits of this artfce.
Whatever of secrecy may have heretofore at
tached in the organization of the present
American party at it's inception, has long since
disappeared. Whatever objections to which
IL may have been liable on this account,
now worthless. The June Convention of 1856,
removed all secrecy that then, or had before
attached to the organization And even be-
fore that time according to the statements of
the democratic press there was not particle
of secrecy. For, while they were splitting
their throats with the cry of secrecy, &c, they
were publishing what they CALLED the ritual,
containing all the secrets alleged against them.
One of two things is true, either the 'know
nothings" had no secrets, or the exposures of
them were false; and they may take either
side of the question, as we do not care a fig
about it.
But so far as the canvass is concerned, it
has not and cannot be pretented that any Sc
cret organization or party had any hand in
nominating Col. HATToN. 1t is fact as well
known, almost, as that HATToN is a candidate,
that the Union and american had its reporter
in the convention which nominated him, and
was as well acquainted with its proceedings as
we were. We are only induced to refer
to these facts, to remind the people how
baseless is the subterfuge, by which an intelli-
gent public is sought to be deluded and guled
into the support of Gen. HARRIS. 1t is an
imaginary question, sprung for well known
purpose; and as such we cannot consent to be
led into further notice of it.