Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-04-24
THE MANGUvREs OF THE OPPOSITION.

Die any hOfh "a special pLeh4tnR 70 Ule
patriotic masses in Tennessee, that the deliberate
Ostrasism Of all their aspirants for Congress, who
sustained the Kansas Nebraska BILL and the sleva-
ton to the front ranks Of all those Of their party
who opposed this WISE just and lfs-giving measure
was the result Of mere chance. Condolences some
times occur which, though unaeeOuntable, except
upon the hypothesis that they were brought about
without design yet in the case under consideration
the impeing motive is too plainly apparent to ad-
nit Of sny such solution. The antecedents of that
party are Of such character, and the position Of
its favored candidate for the Presidency last year.
upon the merits and dement's Of this bill, are 50
well understood, that none can doubt the true mean
ing and intent of this evidently precOBcerted move
ment in Tennessee.
In the face Of this undeniable truth how does the
Patriot expect to establish the absurd proposition
that the Know Nothing party in Tennessee are so
unanimously favorable to that measure, thatit can
not be brought into the issues of the approaching
canvass? Let US recur again to the facts. The
Know Nothing Representatives in Congress who vo-
ted for or sustained that bill, were Messrs. ZoLLI
ooFFER, READY and RIVERS all told What has
been their fatei READY was summoned to surren-
der the trust conhded to him, and make room for
another aspirant to his station. convention Of his
peers was to sit upon his case and all things were
prepared for his condemnation and decapitatiOn
Too adroit to be caught in such snare, he evinced
a decided preference to being beaten by the demo-
crazy rather than to be thus summariy disposed Of
and in spite Of the denunciaton of his party leaders,
is candidate upon his individual responsibility.
What was his offence against that party' He voted
~. and Of he
humblest apology he could make, could appease
their resentment.
Gen. RIVERS from the Memphis district in the
last Congress defended the measure, and added the
weight Of his influence to that of those who had pre-
yiously given it their support. He a gentleman
Of great personal popularity in his district and was
serving his first term in Congress. But what was
the result! In the language of correspondent Of
the Patriot "the pressure upon the gallant RIVERS
caused him to decline. " He had committed the IN
pardonable offence, and his deolensiOn of another
canvass, was hailed by his party leaders in that dis
trct as one step more towards establishing the unity
of the party upon this subject.
Gen. ZoLLIcoFFER, more confident of his strength,
defed his anti-Kansas adversaries, and presented
himself before convention of his party for re-
in his calculation that other and eminent services
would outweigh the single derlection complained Of,
especially his party had in the beginning applau-
ded and approved his course. He had beena recOg-
missed leader of their party not only in the State but
in the Union. He had acquired more reputation in
Congress as party leader than any member Of the
same party in that body But it was all Of no avail
He too had committed an offence not to be forgiven
or to be forgotten in their gratitude for other
vices What was that offence? He had voted for
and sustained by his speech the Ksnsas-Nebraska
bill
Let US cast our eyes now upon the other side Of
the picture. The Know Nothing members Of Con-
gress who opposed this measure by their votes and
influence we're Messrs. BELL, ETHERDGE, CULLoN,
and TAYLOR. How do they now stand in reference
to the party? JOHN BELL, the great favOrite Of the
Black Republicans, is the acknowledged head and
leader of that party and if it is successful in secu
ring majority in the next Legislature, will be re-
elected Senator without dissent from any quarter.
CULIoM, by the combined support Of the Black Re-
pubHcans and Know Nothings after his defeat be-
fore the people, was made Clerk Of the House Of
Representatives. TAYLOR is the candidate Of the
Know Nothing party in the First District, and ETHE-
EIDGB is again pressed for reelection, and no voice
from that party is raised in opposition to either
For what great merit have these men been so IA
yored by their Party' What have they done which
entities them uncontested right to the highest
positions that party offer? Why is it that the
voices Of ZoUICoFFER and RIVERS are no more to
be heard in the halls Of Congress- while BELL, TAY
IoR and ETEERDGE, the aiders and abeters of Black
RepubHcanism, are to be invested with the honCrs
and emoluments of high position in the grand cOun-
ellis Of the nation2 The answer is obvious. It
starts unbdden to the lips Of all who are familiar
with their antecedents and the present position of
parties They opposed with all the strength of their
influence and intellects, the Kansas-Nebraska law.
If the Patriot speaks truly when it declares that
the Know Nothing party in Tennessee agree with
the Democratic party in the support Of this bill,
can only say that they have strange method Of
hibiting the force Of their attachment.
In any aspect in which it may be viewed, there
must be a m0tiue for their conduct in reference to
the men of their party connected with this measure
and whether it be opposition to the bill ITSELF
simply an effort to conclate the Black Republicans
Of the North, with view to anticipated union of
their forces against the National Democracy, it is
equally entitled to the gravest consideration and
condemnation Of the conservative masses of the
people of Tennessee. Such concession for such
purpose may comport with the views Of the party
leaders in the wild hunt after office" but have
an abiding faith that it will be repulsed it should
be, by the people.