Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-19
The Union and American Of the 18th inst.


gross public attention. Mr.. Pryor will be re-
membered as the former editor of the Memphis
EaqIe and Enquirer, a journal which, whilst I'M
der his control. was one of the ablest and
most loyal of the Southern American press.
In the stirring campaign of 1856, Mr.. FILL
MORE had no more ardent and uncompromis-
ing supporter, and the recollection of his ser
vices in that trying time, has since been to
us most pleasant, it gave us so much satifac-
tion to work side by side with him. Wehave
read his letter to the Union and American with
mingled feelings of pleasure and pain-plea-
sure, that the South still finds in him trusty
friend and black republcanism au implacable
foe; and pain, that he feels it to be his duty
now to cooperate with the sham democracy.
Amongst the reasons which have led him to
change his relations to that party are the
following
"The old issues that made me a Wing and
an American are no longer before the country;
they have been adjudicated by the august tri-
bunal of the People, some cases adversely
to my way of thinking, in others favorably.
The only great question now up for solution.
is ISlaHh South enjoy her rights under The con-
stitaaion or shall she tanely submit 10 gradual and
eomDlote Oh sfranchaseuenf! ~ The National Demo
cracy-everfaitifu on the Slavery question.
though sometimes too much given to mere
gag tation''-say she SHALL enjoy her rights, and
alphabetically declare that she ought not to
submit to the dishonor of yielding her consti-
tutional guarantees. This is a proud. lofty
a chivalrous position; and challenges the re-
spect of all just men and the warm admiration
of every LOYAL and true-hearted son of the
South This it is that keeps that party band
ed together, after the old issues are out OF
the way: and this it is / think, that should
cause the South to march up as unit to the
support of that party in defence OF the Con-
stitution and the Union. | care not what may
have been the sins of the Democracy in times
past. admit they have been great but not
objectionable. All political parties. every
where, have been more or less corrupt; and If
the National Democracy as now organized,
shall continue to occupy their present ground
with reference to the only important questions
at issue. am willing to do everything can
to strengthen their wands and make them
powerful to uphold the honor of the country
and protect the just, constitutional rights OF
my section"
We do not agree with our friend that the
"only great question now up for solution, is,
Shall the South enjoy her rights under the
Constitution, or shall she tamely submit to
gradual and complete disfranchsement;' =
nor do we agree. if this were the case, that
the so-called National Democracy" are to be
relied upon to secure to the South the enjoy
ment of her just rights. 1t has been the OBJ
ject of the democratic party to draw attention
from all other questions of public policy by
the agitation of the slavery question. and to
establish the belief that the South must de-
pend upon it, for protection and defence; and
it has, in great degree, succeeded. And so
long as it can thus succeed the country need
not expect a pause in the perilous controver-
sizes which are degenerating parties into mere
sectional factions, unmndfUl OF the true in
terests and happiness of all sections. Having
been, for years past, kept in power, by using
the slavery question as a weapon of offense,
to cut down all who would not blindly ac-
kuOwIeuBe IcaIJy ~ IIs auInUIIty iIss .AIs.aN
the government an instrument of tyranny to
prescribe and punish portion of the people
whose claims to patriotism, integrity, and
worth, are inferior to none in the land. Wings,
Americans and Democrats, who dared to re-
sist its sway, have been alike made the re-
cipients of its enmity, in every form in which
it could be manifested. Whilst using the
government to punish and prescribe its OPP
ponents, it has also corruptly used the same
means to strengthen and consolidate its power
running up the national expenses to an
enormous amount. and dispensing fat jobs and
contracts out of the corruption fund thus OBJ
tanned, as sops to it's retainers. There is not
m fai f.st So
inaccessible, that its subtle influence has not
there been felt. 1t has swept over the whole
country as pestilence, blighting and destroy
ing manly independence, and the feelings of
Justice, moderation, and forbearance, which
should, of all others, characterize the social
and political intercourse of American free
men, 1t deliberately introduced the question
of slavery into the councils Of the nation in
such 81 ape as to make it sting, with view
10 its own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; and whilst aim
ing with one voice to get and retain the con-
fiience of the South has, with another voice.
of an opposite character, sought to keep the
North Mt its side. 1t has been pro-slavery
or anti-slavery-black or white-as the ne
cessities of the occasion required. The Kan
sas-Nebraska BILL in their possession, instead
of being q flight and landmark" to all low
ers of the constitution, is an oracle as doubt
full as that of Delphos--in the South, guar
rantee of Southern rights; and in tie North,
q measure of freedom, under whose operations
the door for the admission of additional slave
States into the Union is forever closed! Its
teachings have given to the negro-worship-
pers such leaders, as BIRNEY, VAN buren,,
HALE and Fremont; and sown in Missouri
seeds which promise to germinate, and grow,
and Weld fruit, in the dedication OF that
Southern State to Abolitionism. In 1856,
our friend would have agreed with us in this
bill of indictment. Since that period democ-
racy has done nothing to retrieve itself. 1t
is no better now than II was then. 1t has the
same dark record. unatoned. It does not
even seek to purity ITSELF Joined to It's idols
it will not be separated from them. 1t is still
weaving, spider-like, webs to ensnare the
unwary, and puts forth its powers Of enchant-
mant to cheat aud deceive the South. Even
upon the issue of the admission Of Kansas, IL
has been true to its double-faccd. forked
tongue policy. Through its leader and expo
nent, Mr.. BUCHANAN. it sent its willing instru-
ments, WALKER and STANTON. 10 Kansas, to
mould the institutions of the new Stale and
make them anti-slavery. Detected in this,
exposed and denounced. by the Americans
and portion of the democracy Of the South,
ii deserted it's servile tools, and whilst urging
the admission Of the State, proclaimed the
dogma that its Inhabitants, had the right, in
defiance Of the provisions of the constitu-
ton. to alter or abolish Il when and how they