Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-11-28
who Shall be our next President J
ard. Douglas or Belt


TINES, Of recent date The association Ct namea
in the caption Of the letter is highly significant as
well as the political character Of the paper in which
it appears. The Times was an ardent freesoil'
FRnEHoxT paper in 1856, and has been, since that
time, consistently supporting the Black Republican
party. Its editor, BESRY J. RAYMOND, has always
been an admirer and advocate Of Mr.. SEWARD He
In connection with HORAoE GREFLEY and other
aboltionists addressed letter TO Mr. BELL, shortly
after the adjournment Of Congress in June last,
commenting his course on the slavery question: IN
the Senate testifying the most enthusiastic admir-
alton for the man. and inviting him to partake Of
public dinner in the city Of New York. Since the
triumph Of MIR. DOUGLAS in Illinois, the Times has
manifested very decided preference for the election
Of that gentleman to the Presidency in 1860
These facts indicate pretty clearly the policy Of
the Black Republican party in the next campaign
The ultimate designs and objects Of that orga0za-
ton we're revealed in Senator SEwARD's speech at
Rochester. Their present purpose, however, is to
obtain q triumph over the National Demo racy,
which is the only obstacle to the accomplishment
Of their plans, being, as Mr.. SEWARD, said the
srest bulWsrk Of Southern rights. If then they
can achieve a triumph over the Democracy, with
q
oops5snt that their aims viii be speedily attained
in the prostrstion Of the South and The supremacy
Of abolitionism. The only questions they ask in
the selection Of a candidate, are, twill he succeed
and will he be subservient to our wishesT" As
between SEWARD, DOUGLAS and BELL it is only
ausstion of availability Eitherof them would yield
nm the rights and interests Of the South and crush
the power that protects them. Under either leader,
thew would feel certain Of their prey in case Of VIC
tory for s Of them have disregarded their eonsti-
tutionsl obligations to the South, in obedience to
the dictates of their ambition. Hence we find this
Kentucky freesoil correspondent Of the Times dis
eussing the rival claims Of these three aspirants
for the Presidency leaving his preference to be de-
termined by their respective prospects Of success
The writer disposes of Mr.. BUCHANAN in the fol-
loving summary manner which is no doubt entirely
satisfactory to himself and his abolition allies:
AS for President Buchanan should he survive his
troubles ard notifications till 1862, he viii stand
no chance at all. As many sagacious observers pre-
dicted tive years ago. he has, by doggedly following
the crooked pathway, and sectional policy Of has pre-
seessor utterly and foFeDsT OstcGst and prestige IN the
North with his own party, and is down, hopelessly
down. in his own great State Of Pennsylvania, be-
fore he is half through his term Of Office
The objection to Mr.. BUCHANAN is, thst like his
predecessor, Mr.. PIERCE, he has conceded to the
South her constitutional rights and thus 'ost cast
and prestige at the North" This is the real ground
of opposition to the administration and the South
ern men who join the abOhiOnists in their hyena
howl against the President and his party are strv
ing like the dogs Of ACTION to hunt down their
protector and tear him to pieces while those who
should be the objects of their vengeance cheer them
on to the chase.
The writer whose communication now claims our
attention is one Of those reereaut Southern men, (f
indeed his claim to citizenship in Kentucky be not
mere pretenoe.l He certainly manifests degree
of subserviency to abolitionism which we should
believe impossible in resident of the South, but
for the notable examples around US.
He proceeds to discuss the position aud prospects
of Mr. DOUGLAS, in the following language address
ed to the editor Of the Times:
While agree with you that, according to the
present signs of the times Senator Douglrs in 1860,
will the choice of the great majority Of the Demo-
Gratis and many others, without regard TO party, IN
all sections Of the land yet, as You remark, the
whole face of things may change within two years.
and the triumphant champion Of Popular Sever
eighty in Kansas may, 10 The height OF his ealon,
SNAKE fool Of himself some ether subject, and
thus ruin his present chances.
Indeed 1t looks now as if the main contest in 1860
will be between the Sewardites aud the Douglasires
and will terminate in the success Of the latter. II
Douglas and his colleagues, h0wsUer shall relrace Heir
ss before that time back d0UH, and succumb 20 the
arbitrary ,c Of Southern extremists, they like the
BuehaRisrs 0W and eDer Hereafter all then be HOChere
% the North and Ia that the Serqydites u7tess
c0sTacts9 By the Conservatives, rH be likely TO raAt
TightiHt Porer
The writer seems pretty well satisfied with Mr..
DOUGLAS at present, but fears he may make a fool
of himself" in the course Of the next two years
-a'succumb to the arbitrary will Of Southern eztrem
ists," and so forth. In view Of that contingency
the Times correspondent next considers the claims
Of Senator SEWARD:
I should not apprehend from the actual Admins
traton of Mr. Seward all the wrongs and intention
al injustice to tie South and It's institutions"
which to many seem p0rtended by The tone and
drift Of his great speeches in the Senate and before
the people William II. Seward, after all, as Presi-
dent of the United States, might manifest good
deal more discretion and conservatism in his eOmpO
sition than many in this section give him credit for
-especiallv So if not condemned and spurned by
the South before fair hearing and just trial of his
actual administrative plans and policy However
theoretical and unpraCticable may be some Of tue
Senator's doctrines on Slavery, and however mis-
chievOus their tendency, his action in Congress
hitherto, as, for instance, the Kansas question
last session, has generally indicated, on every sub
1ect considerable REGARD lOr the uel2luu5 Ol
Just and wise ezpsdisHey and practical legislation
But the danger as IN the event Of his election, though
strictly Constitutional tEattks South uaadDisedly might
be led Jg as dsmagogues to oppose and resist ereH his
iHstallHent and might proCoks and as 1t mere, compel
him. spite Of has better Judgment and real wisdes, TO
acts Of retaliation lrhicb 5C0UH nationally trTGtoH
aLly erqsDerde the South sail further" and tend TO
bring about that deplcrable and terrible catas-
trophe, the dissolution Of the Union.
Il will be observed that the only objection urged
against Mr. SEWARD is that Southern 9smagogues
might lead the South unadgissdg to oppose and
resist his installment. This, thinks the writer,
might drive the patriotic but sensitive Senator
into extremes He therefore reluctantly dismisses
Mr.. SEWARD in spite of his regard for 'fhe demands
Of just and a0ss ezpsdsncy and practical lgisla'oh
and takes up Mr.. BELL Having stated that if Mr.
DOUGLAS continues his present course he might be
elected "org any Soutlron PIT up By the torlOrn
Buccaneers" the writer continues:
But Mr.. Douglas shall act otherwise, we shall
look for a different result
Then, with, for instance. such A comprehensive,
circumspeot, and patriotic statesman a. John Bell in
the field, even against both Seward and Douglas the
election would anyhow 60 the House if nj decid-
ed in his favor at the pos and there the great and
wise Tennesseean, and American as well. would be
the most likely to come out at las, Triumphant AT
least many very many Of the People would earnestly
aud confidently hope 90.