Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-04-07

TUESDAY NEXT, THE l4rH OF April. The
delegates from the several counties should
prepare Immediately to attend. There is
no time to be lost.
The 'OH pilot" of the Union and Amer
ican, admits that he, with a great portion
of the Southern people, was willing, prior
to 1850 and during the excitement of that
year, to abide by the Missouri Compromise
line. But when this offer was rejected by
the North, it was nothing but right that
we of the South should throw ourselves
back upon our constitutional rights. This
is plausible enough; and if his course in op-
position to that line, had been based upon
these conservative grounds, it might well
be pleaded against charge of inconsistent
cy. But this was not the case. At one
time holding it as fair and equitable line
of demarcation between the conflicting in
terests, prejudices and peculiar institutions
of two sections ofthe country;-at another
denouncing it upon grounds the most radi-
cal, as being unjust, unconstitutional, and
onerous to one section-once claiming it to
be an amicable and peace-bearing compro-
mise, again spurning it as an outrageous
and intelerable wrong, which had its incep-
ton in spirit of aggression on the part of
the North, and of which the South was
duped or betrayed into an acceptance.
These positions, we are inclined to believe,
are totally irreconcilable. We have no
disposition whatever, to disturb the phiIo-
sophie equanimity of the "Old pilot" by re-
ferring to these things. These issues have
passed, and the Missouri Compromise has
been declared unconstitutional by the high
est and, perhaps, the ablest judicial tribu-
nal in the government. We do not consid-
er the question itself as matter of any vi
tality, since this decision; nor do we con-
slider the positions heretofore occupied by
public men or political writer's, of any ma
terial consequence provided they are will
ling to abide the decision) ercept so far as
it indicates the consistency and patriotism
ofthe motives by which they were actuated.
1.-THE "OId pilot" can mingle philosophy"
with his Self-felctations upon this subject.
we do not object. We only desire to ap-
prise those who mould their opinions and
shape their political conduct according to
that model, that they may very soon be re-
quired to look to some new land mark,
and to trim their sails to fresh breeze. in
their career upon the political seas.
We are here enabled to show, also, how
unreasonable is the opposition of the Union
and american to the Hon. JOHN BELL.
When the subject of the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, by the Kansas Nebras-
ka Bill, was before the Senate Mr.. BELL
chose to adhere to the opinions which he
had previously entertained, in common with
"grcat portion of the Southern people; :"
and opposed the repeal as the violation of a
compact, and eminently calculated to stir
up and inhame the passions of one section
against the other. For this simple adhe-
renee to previously entertained opinion,
and one which was concurred in by our
neighbor, he is most perseveringly de-
nounced as "traitor to the South "-an
ally of the abolitionists-as an intriguer
for the Presidency, and as an able and &C.
complished schemer, who is more to be
feared by the people than any other man
in the State. If the old pilot is sincere,
why not accord sincerity to Mr.. BELL-h
one is honest, why not the other? These
questions, it is immaterial for the Union
and american to answer-they are submit
ted, with all respect, to the rejecting and
fair-minded democracy themselves. 1t il
for them to consider whether they are ar
rayed against their Senator with their Owl
consent; and whether they are holding
opinions dictated by party press, or such
as are endorsed by their unprejudiced judg
ments and an enlightened patriotism.