Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-14

PRENTICE, Of the Journal, and GREEIEY, Of the
Tribune, have been for some time past tinering and
cobbling on the worn out platforms Of the Know
nothing and Black Republican parties in hopes Of
getting up something that the 'haEmOniOus OppOsi-
ton" may stand upon in the next Presidential cleo
ton il Wil Of oouse, be rotten and riekety con-
oern notwithstanding the skin and experience Of the
two political journeymen who are engaged in ar
ranging it. Their material is so unsound that they
cannot be expected 70 make q frst>rate job Of it.
We present GREELEE's plans entire. On either
plan the rights Of the South are to be traded Of by
the KnoW-nothings, in one case for 3 Prssidentia
and in the other for EicesPresidential nomination
Let us state, on cur part, Whatwe think the Re-
puboans would generally be willing 60 concede for
the, sskeo Of harnonizing and securing q triumph 70
the Opposition.
We propose that the Republicans, as the larger
section Of the Opposition, be permitted to name one
Of their number for President, to be sustained BY
the entire Opposition. while the American National
Wings propose the Vice President. The ticket thus
formed shall be supported by the eutire Opposition,
each party and each State making its own platform
and none being committed to any but bis own doc
trines propositions and the United Opposition to
be designated Republican 4" American, 4" g Une
ion, Peoples party, or whatever else its mem
bers in any locality may choose.
We suggest the first because il is the basis on
which the late bene6oent triumph in PENNSYLVANIA
was achieved. There the Opposition vas heartily
combined on negative platform and a union tick
ct, headed BY John NJ. Read who was VIGOROUSLY
Republican pure and simple, and avery earnest one.
The Tariff question was powerful elementin the
canvass but nobody pretended that Mr. Read was
personally better Protectionist than his opponent,
Judge Porter. In the North and West the Opposi-
ton tickets we're generally designated Republican;
in the South and East, they were known as ssPeo-
Pies; but the name was Of no consequence. SuS
fee it that the State was carried throughout, by
msjorities ranging from Twenty to Forty Thousand.
The next Presidential election may be carried as
sWeepingly and in the same manner Why notf
But suppose this fair and conoiliatory proposition
prove unacceptable, We suggest another, which
would be heartily acceptable to us, and which, IL
satisfactory to the other wing Of the Opposition we
would heartily urge upon the acceptance Of the Re-
publican psrty-namely;
Let the other wing Of the Opposition name the
President, conceding the Vice President to the Re-
pubicans, with this single condition, agreed to on
all hands and proclaimed TO the public, that the
AdministraoH thus formed shall do al n SIS popsr 10
eeHns Slavery Uthia the limits Of The srstag Slave
States.
Is this asking too much Consider that we pro-
pose party Shbboleth, no profession Of faith We
do not require the President to do anything which
he deems unconstitutional but simply 70 exert what
ever power be may have in the premises to prevent
the extension Of slavery. We know, and ell know,
that President clothed with the power Of appoint
ing all the Governors, Judges, Marshals, Land Of
hoers &c. &c. in the Territories can easily make or
keep them free if he will in spite of all the Senates,
Supreme Court and bred Scott decisions that may
be srrayed against him. We ask for warfare
upon any States their rights-no assent TO q Re-
publican creed but simply the exercise Of whatever
power the President may have to keep the Terrific
ries-as Jefferson proposed and Washington approx
ed-saered to Free Labor evermOre.
Is there then, sincere desire on the part of the
Americans and old line Wings for g union and con
sequent triumph Of the Opposition? Their response
to the above suggestions will 60 far to determine
the question.
What do our KnOw-nOthing contemporaries say to
this proposition: Will they consent 10 these hu-
initiating conditions viii they purchase the Presi
dency at such price this? viii they become
the executioners of Black Republican hatred against
the institution of Slavery? We fear there are many
who will. We know there are some who would &C
oept any terms by which the Democracy may be de-
fsated and We have every reason to believe that
at least CT the Known thing leaders is intriguing
for the nomination Of the Abolonists and win sell
his party and his constituents to secure it.