Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-06
PUBLIC ACTS.


We have on hand q few copies Of the Public Acts
Of the last Legislature, ven bound, which we will
send to gentlemen wishing 70 procure copies free Of
postage, on receipt Of One Dollar.
rs- Now that the exciting Kansas question is
At least for the present, disposed Of it ven becomes
the people to make q reckoning and see who it is
that has sndesvOrsd to make it source Of osassess
agitation and who is they are mainly indebted 70
for removing it as far as it has been from the halls
Of national legislation.
The Missouri Compromise hne-ths original ss-
tablishment of which was great wrong upon the
Constitutional rights Of the sOuth-was yielded for
the sake Of harmony and peace. 1t failed to answer
It's purpose. The North disregarded it year sfter
its passage, and raised the question Of prohibiting
slavery in the territories upon every occasion thai
presented itself afterwards. The result was that
the Compromise measures Of 1850 had 70 be passed
in disregard Of the legislation ofI820 The Kansas
Nebraska bill, upon motion made by Senator DIX
on, Of Kentucky, repealed in express terms the un
constitutional doctrine sought to be established by
the Missouri Compromise, and aimed 70 tx in It's
stead the true constitutional doctrine Of popular
soYeregnty-the right Of the territories to deter
mine the question Of slavery and all other domestic
institutions for themselves, and in their own way
and thus remove the question entirely from Congress
to an arena where it WOuld be local and consequent
" harmless 20 our great federal system.
The frieDds Of tins policy triumphed throughout
the country. But the opposition were unwilling to
abide the decision the people. What could net be
accomplished by fair means they were determined
to accomplish by foul means regular sensa-
lion was gotten up all over the North. Politicians
gave way and fanstical, GOd-abandOned clergy
were enrolled in their place. The churches we're
thrown open to their purposes and preparations for
a regular crusade were commenced. Capitalists
we're enlisted and Bmigrsnt Aid Societies were got
ten up sending of to the territory Of Kansas all the
escaped convicts and dirty solutions Of their towns
ana Cities with sharps rifles in their hands and the
blessings Of all their Reverend THEODORE PARKEEs
on their heads Thus was planned and determined
the overthrow of the great doctrine Of Congressional
non-intervention and popular sovereignty-the SOW
ereignty Of the people-and from that day to this,
with an energy and zeal worthy OF the best OF
causes they have kept up their crusade in Kansas
and out Of Kansas regardless Of right, regardless Of
peace regardless of the general welfare reckless Of
law, they have usurped authority, they have at
tempted revolution, they have OverthrOWn thebaOt-
box, ntmidated public officers, destroyed property
and murdered innocent and lsW-sbiding citizens.
They have sought to smbarrass all legislation, by
every means in their power, that looked to sd-
justmsnt Of these difficulties. They commenced in
the Territory by refusing to elect members to the
State Legislature, on the ground that it was Dor
der RufhaR Legislature
They refused to be registered under the fair and
honest Law passed for that purpose.
They refused to vote for delegates to the COnsti-
tutional Convention.
ton.
They refused, in Congress, to accept the State
with that Constitution
They refused Conference with the Senate.
They refused to come to q vote in the House.
But the national element in Congress at last tri-
umphed over them and has settled this question az
far as it can be settled for the present. So much
forthis part Of our subject There is lesson to be
lesrnd from it.
Cooperating with these Northern fanaGos-en.
couraging their hopes, Strengthening their energies
and upholding their hsnds-has been q small body
Of men from the South, reckless of the honor and
interests Of their constituents, seeking to form
coalition with any and all elements, however heterO
genious that stood in opposition to the only national
party, the Democracy Loving place and power
better than their oountry-loving the titles and
trappings Of Office than a sPOuess reputation
they have staked everything in this banditti war
fare sgainst the Democratic party. As far back as
1855. an Abolition Senator from Massachusetts, Mr..
WILSON, speaking Of the prospects of his party,
said:
1--WE shall have glorious allies in the South. We
shall have men like Cassius NJ. Clay. We shall
have generous, brave, gallant men rise up in the
South, who will, in their own time, in their own
way, for the interest Of the master and bOndmsn,
lay the foundation of policy Of emancipation that
shall give freedom TO three and half millions Of
men in America"
As far back as $50, the New York Tribune con-
graduated its friends that the Hon. JOHN BELL
would not leave the Senate, reported, and said:
He is as robust and hale to-day when he
bearded and conquered the old liOn-AndroW Jack
son-in his den; and IS resoute and ready to do
service as when single handed, he 6raUey encountered
fhs lrhoLs South upon the Nebraska bA and carried
TERROR info their ranks So The wisdom and expert
euce of a man SO eminent and pure are Of Ordin-
airy value 81 this time, when the country Is convused
with the war OF faction, and the spirit Of sub
iugation is abroad threatening to overshadoW new
land Of promise"
This was but the beginning o: the programme. By
slow degrees it has moved on, until disatfecting
portion Of the Northern Democracy, the New YOrk
Tribune is enabled to announce that Messrs. Gait
TEEDEE and BELL are in the dead, and the Louis.
vile Journal is made to congratulate its friends that
thew have, =" in the stand, taken the MONTGOMERY
CRITrENDEN bill by the anti -LecOmptOn section Of
Congress- s uadOubtsd germ Of great national party
We have no fear of their success, but it is simply
becsuse we have confidence sufficient in the intelH
gence of the people to believe they will discern the
character and motives Of these men, mock their du-
plicity and protect the government. Whenever the
people reach the point that they are Indifferent to,
or can be imposed upon, by SO glazing and stupen
duous fraud, so striking in its formation and held
together for such unworthy purposes, the high
character and standing Of institutions will have
passed away, and soon the entire fabric itself will
tumble into ruins. But we have fears. The
government has always had its bad men. 1t had
them in the revolution and will continue to have
them but the people have never Jailed to recognise
and disarm them in time. The people themselves
must become corrupted ere such plans and Pur-
poses can succeed.
naa- Our neighbor Of the BagHer recently copied
into his paper and article from the Richmond Wing
headed 81 RECONSTRUCTION OF PARTIES, and arguing
the necessity Of such course. As the article is
accompanied with no comment or qualification,
we infer hat it, also, favors that policy. Are