Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-18
RECOMMENDATION of Parties.

threshold OF the enterprise, and must be prac-
tically answered before any substantial pro-
gress can be made. 1t belongs to the projec-
tors of the enterprise to answer them, and
hence it is not our business. In certain
sense we most heartily favor a reconstruction.
We are very well satisfied that there is no par
ty at present in existence that combines sufi-
cient strength with sufficient honesty TO adj
minister the government rightly; and the gov
eminent is sadly in need of party to supply
this great, cardinal deficiency. Thus the
scaerefore is answered, ard the ,chel may be by
the simple monosyllable, nor. Next, hoac
Upon this, we are just about TO have news
paper food of very profound speculation and
very wise suggestion-all intensely theoreti-
cal, and brilliant in the abstract. Theories
and distractions, the stuff we have the very
least occasion for, we are about to be cursed
with the very most Of The subject is yet in
yet nebulous condition-while it is some
thing denser, perhaps, than mere atmosphere.
still it is in no sort endowed with solidity.
1t may be, then, an incipient star, which is yet
to blaze, Prnaus marina1s, in our political sky;
or it may be the dim outlines of a magnifi-
cent air-castle, not made with hands, momen-
tarily in the heavens. Very good There is
no doubt an army of Micawbers ready to 60
into extacies, over anything that may turn up
who can regard with equal complacence
and indulgence the genial harum- scarum of
the dashing Copperfields, and the cold villain
les of the intriguing Keeps of politics.
Rafora taL stool, in tha noun concarr,
must ask an inspection of the charter, and be
furnished with preliminary survey of the
route, together with plan of operations. A
number of our contemporaries have spoken out
in favor of reconstruction. Their Informal
ton, doubtless, justifes them. But while
they warmly urge the movement, they are
quite parsimonious in the details of the pro-
gramme With view to elicit something
more tangible, than we have yet received, we
beg leave to PROFOUND, generally, few inter
rOgatories. First, then, We desire to know
whether the proposed Reconstruction" i'm
plies an abandonment of all the principles
heretofore held by those to whom the PROPOSE
ton is made? Is it meant to throw all
the elements in the country now opposed
to the democracy, into chaos, and out
of this mass, without form and void"
to evoke light and harmony and system?
What is to be the platform, the cardinal
doctrines of the new organization? Who are
to be its leaders, and who its followers? What
are to be its elements of strength? Under
what sign shall it conquer? What shall be its
Immediate aims, and what its duration? Is it
to be party of principles or a party of ex-
pedients? What its supreme motives, individ-
ual ACKNOWLEDGMENT and public plunderg Or
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the Republic, and the
highest good of all? Is it to be national or
sectional? If national who are to make the
sacrifices? What is to be done with the slave
ry question and The constitution, not in
profession and theory, but in practice
1t is not impossible. perhaps, for such an
swers to be made to these questions, as should
challenge the good opinion, nay, ravish the
approval of the whole country. But who is
so willing as to consent in advance? who so
hungry as to sell his birthright, himself, his
principles, and, perhaps, his country for what
may turn out to be miserably lean and un-
satisfactory mess of pottage? In truth,
whence does this proposition emanate? Who
suggests this panhelenium of fragmentary
parties? this new concrete? this splendid ALA
pod? Let US have light; let us know the
ground on which we are invited to stand and
who are to be our copartners.
We yet cling to the American party, be-
cause it is what we have claimed il to be, it is
elevated, it is patriotic, it is national. 1t is
small, it is weak; but it is none the less pure
for that. 1t has been misrepresented and
traduced from the day of its birth; but it is
none the less true to the country 1t is a nu-
cleus around which the honest and incor-
ruptible masses of the country can rally and
form for the redemption and the glory OF the
country. 1t has never been debauch he'd; or
contaminated by the hot lusts of fanaticism,
either North or South. 1t may not be per-
feet, yet it is perfectible. 1t made fatal er-
TOR in the outset in not being more compre-
hensive in its tenets. Its policy was right as
far as it went, but it did not go far enough. A
party that seeks control OF the government
should have sufficient scope TO embrace all
the interests of the government. 1t should
have home policy co-extensive~ith home az
fairs, and it should have n foreign policy for
all the exigencies of international affairs. An
honest and economical administration of pub
lie affairs, devoted attachment to the Union,
u check upon the importation of the hordes of
paupers, criminals and adventures from for
eign countries, greater guards for the purity
of the ballot-box, were its leading objects
each plaimine, tba .r an I;
was deficient in other great essentials. without
which it has been hampered and crippled,
beat down and overcome. Let this party be
q reconstructed, let all its old adherents learn
anew their attachment to it; and thus re-
formed, let il inaugurate further extended
policy, broad enough to embrace all the in
terests, domestic and foreign, of a great and
growing nation; crushing out fanaticism,
North and South; bringing back fraternity
and concord on the basis of the CONSTITUTION
AS IT Is, AND EQUAL RIGHTS AMONG
ALL THE STATES; cleansing out the Augean
stable into which the government has been
converted by the licentious rule of sham de-
mocracy; and taking possession Of the Capt.
toll with something OF the decency and hon.
esty, which characterized, and still hallows
in the nations heart the memory of the Fa-
theirs of the Republic. Such would be but
proper and natural growth of the American
party; but the development, which was neg
lected in the beginning.
For this sort of reconstruction" we are
ready. II 1t is this our friends propose--very
well. We shall furnish horse and plume
for the thickest Of the fight that may eusue.
Bat we cannot consent to go blindfolded into
a game of political chuck-luck with black