The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-05-07
POLITICS IN TENNESSEE--STATE
OF PARTIES.


Successive bunders, several years ago,
planted the seeds of decay in the bosom OF
the Wing Party. Prominent, and first among
these (says the Memphis BuletiD,) was the
nomination of Gen. Taylor. 1t was the
first time in its history that il had acted, in
the selection of its candidate for the Presi-
dency, upon The undisguised democratic
principle of availability" irrespective OF
qualifications of Craftsmanship. The second
great blunder-greater even than the first
was the nomination of Gen. Scott; for it was
still more emphatic reputation of that en-
lightened Conservatism which had been its
distinguishing characteristic still more
salient adoption Of the opposite policy of
expediency on account of which it had
waged war upon the democratic party. The
third and last, and most fatal blunder Of all,
was acknowledgement, or the substitution
of what was afterwards called the "American
Party" for the Wing Party; for it was the
introduction of an element of discord and
observance between persons of the same
political sentiments, difficulty if not imposs-
BILE of after eradication.
While the Wing Party was thus stumbling
towards the pit in which it was finally en-
gulphed, in the bosom of its great rival. the
Democratic Party, there was growing and
spreading n cancerous liberation, not the less
fatal to its vitality because deeper-seated and
obscure. A man representing the Radicalism
of European, rather than of American Democ-
racy, forced himself TO the front rank of the
party, and extorted from it the recognition
of his leadership. Bold, earnest, energetic,
with mind solid and compact as diamond,
and q moral courage that despscs censure,
he imposed upon the party the burthen Of
maintaining or excusing sundry of his pecu-
liar ideas-ultraisms previously unknown to
its platforms or its creeds. A theory of de-
mocracy-crnde md uDphilOsophic it is true,
and derived rather from deep and earnest
claSs-sympathy, rather than from the teach
ings OF the later apostles of the democratic
fath-was virtually and in effect engrafted
upon the party. To all intelligent observers
it was manifest that the advent of this indi-
vidual into the arena of politics, and his tri
umphant success in the propagandsm of his
special and peculiar notions, marked the be-
ginning of period of transition and change
in it, from the ideas, the notions, the
measures, and the policy, which had charac-
terised its organization under the regime of
Jackson and Polk 1t was mo, ement of
"progross" in sentiment, quite rs distinct
and salient as was that in general measures,
when the enlargement of the area of free
dom" was made one of the doctrines of the
party.
The election of Andrew Johnson to the
Senate of the United States, against and in
despite of the wishes of the old conservative
portion of the democratic party-and the
choice Of Mr.. Nicholson as his colleague,
VIGOROUSLY mainly in pursuance of his dicta-
ton and infuence-.frea The starting point
of the two "diverging lines" into which the
party is divided. The division into "hards"
and "softs" in the Legislature, on the subject
of Banks and the general financial policy of
the State, traced still more distinctly those
lines of divergence; and we hazard nothing
in saying that, however much it may be
CLOSED over, however skillfully the breach
may be temporarily closed and the wound
healed over, that the dissolution of the party,
under its existing organization, is m event of
inevitable occurrence in the vista of the fu-
ture.
The "hard" democrats--or to speak more
the radical democracy of the John
son schoo!-have the prestige of being in
possession. They have the Governors Office,
md tho two seats in the Senate to back them,
and leader at once daring, resolute and in
exorable. On the other hand the "softs," or
conservative old.tme democrats of the Jack
sonian school, are backed by all the advocates
OF a sound md rational system of safe bank
ing, opposed to the radcalsm of n hard-mon-
ey humbug, and are in possession of the
Bank of Tennessee, the creative and fiscal
agent of the State. On the "record," we
must think they stand at very great advantage
over their adversaries; for not only has their
course in Legislation been consistent and
conservative, bu: they have it in their power
to prove concusively before the people, that
their opponents are the innovators upon the
party creed, and therefore the authors of the
schism which may grow out of the attempted
usurpstion.
From all this it will be seen that the poll
tics of this State are somewhat in chaotic
state. acknowledgement is defunct and scat
tered. Pure old-fashioned whigism has been
put by it in minority, and is without any
distinct organization. Democracy is dissol-
wing into its original elements, simply from
the withdrawal ofal opposition to it. Every
thing betokens that when next Political Par
ties in Tennessee shall be fully and complete
ly inaugurated, they will be, under possibly
different forms, the "old issues" of Radical
ism and Conservatism. To this complexion
il is coming at last-slowly, it may be, but
surely as the action of chemical afiinities.