Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-02
LETTER PROM WASHINGTON.
N..alas1as. Nay q. ass

on yesterday by many democrats who feel a ccnsis-
tent solcitude for The faithful advocacy and pera
psnt perpetuatoa Of democratic principles in Ten
nessee. Like some lofty grenadier at the post Of
honor the UHIos AID AMEnIcAN has been reliable
and commencing tribune q the peoples right in
many well contested political encounter and has
challenged the attention of the country whilst it has
won its respect By tbs unusual vigOr, fairness and
ability with which ii has sustained democratic prin
oiples in the administration Of State and national
politics
Recent events in the gulf stream have filed the
public minde with apprehension and alarm at the
temerity Of the British cruisers in those waters,
and has revived no little feeling in regard to the
=" Right of search"--a doctrine which affects the
very liberty Of our eOuntrymen on the highways Of
commerce throughout the entire world-a doctrine
that has been chung too with perthseity By British
statesmen from the period of cur National Inde-
pendence down to The last gun that was fred in the
war Of 1872 then re asserted but aferWads reluct-
antly suspended, and then as now, stontly opposed
BY Ous statesmen and our people Having found
quetus for forty six yesrs preoipitOus revival of
this odious AID insufferabls doctrine has been
srrang upon the commerce Of our people without
note Of preparation, and At time, too, when the
country is just beginning 70 from The almost
hopeless disquietude that preceded the settlement
Of the Kansas imBrcglo an6 the husl pacifcation
which the passage of the Conference Bill must e1-
tend to both Of the great sections of our country.
Some seven or eight of our Merchant ships, pursu-
ing the peaceful paths of legitimate trade, have
been fred into, stopped, boarded and insucd with
out any color Of right or warrant of law-without
a palating circumstance in either case 10 mitigate
the insolvence or mollify the ourages towards
them These outrages, recently repeated, and al
most al our own DOORS without a word Of explana-
ton have aroused the war-sprit Characteristic Of
our eountrymen in tunes of peril, and unearthed
many of the old national feuds and animOsities that
have existed between the two countries in times gone
BY, and which a long period Of peace had replaced
with better state of things All the avenues ofpub
Hcnformationt that coneenre here in the federal met
ropolie indicate high state Of infamed public SEN
timent throughout the sea-board Cities towns, and
States in reference to this matter and if reour-
renee of these outrages should happen within the
next fortnight, nothing but q remonstrance Of pow
der and lead would satisfy the degradation Of our
insulted nationality, and make John Bull feel that
his sinvincibi ity'' the wateTy element was still
contested By the boys who followed the flag under
which PERRY and HULL, and BAINDRIDGE aud Som
Frs fought. Already several naval officers Of dis
tnotion have rendered their swords to the Secretary
of the Navy for this service and have been accepted
large naval armament has also been ordered TO
proceed forthwith to the Gulf for purposes of pro-
lection, and the old Premier in the Cireumloeuhon
Ofice'-General Cass-himself the traditional and
hereditary enemy Of Great Britain thavibg been
taken prisoner by the British during the war Of
1872, you may Well-imagine feels slight dispO-
stion to crown the autumn Of his public life by the
practical enforcement of doctrine, that he has al
ways loved, and that has employed in its meshes
the best diplomatic talent that modern times have
produced, without any final or satisfactory adjust
ment of the question whatever.
A rich, rare, and racy passage-at-arms took place
on Monday last in the House of Representatives
between Messrs HENRY WINTER DAVIS and HUMPH
RET MARSHALL on one side and Hon. HENRY C. BUR-
NETT, of Kentucky, per contra, in which the beau
ties and curiosites of Know NOthingsm illustrat
ed in Baltimore, Washington and Louisville, were
set forth. Mr.. BURNETT made an unusually bold
and vigorous speech, completely dcmolishing the
baseless fabric raised by the Hons. HENRK WBTER
and HUmPHREY MARSHALL, leaving Know Nothing
ism as distinct living actual political organize
ton, where It now is and ever will be-nOthing in
truth but mute pantOmine of deep political turpi-
tude and distress, upon whose canvass in prominent
relief sit the Hon. WINTER and the Hon. HUMPHREY,
like too ohatterjng and rival uudertakers grin
ming at each other, aud looking as wOeful as the
people of Athens over the frail ggis Of their fallen
Minerva.
The approach of the end of this session Of The
present Congress admonishss members that there is
much to be done and little time to do it inso that
the remaining amount of Congressional legislation
will be done ureal Jehu style" fast and furious,
covering up much money without the achievement of
much good.
Our,relations with Great Britain, Spain and Mexi-
co, being Of a very dei.ate and doubtful character
as alluded to present. induce the belief that the
Administration is moving cautiously towards war
policy in reference 10 one Of them at least and if
repetition of these hostile aggressions should be
made upon any more of our shipping, nothing ought
or will avert free flag from having free fight"
BENZ. n. CLEMENS, Esq, of Tennessee, the new
Chief Clerk of the Post Office Department, has en-
tered upon the discharge of his duties with grace
full suavity that will insure his personal popularity
as well as usefulness in the place. P.