Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-06-28
From The Cincinnati Contmercidl-Rep'1bIicdH
The Crfftenden ReceptiOn-itsS ignifi-
eaneQ.

One of the events of the last week was the
public reception, in this city, with some cir
cumstances of ceremony, of The Hon. JOHN J.
| CRITTENDEN, a Senator of the United States
| from Kentucky, the occasion being that of his
return home from Washington after the close
| of the late session OF Congress. A description
| of the performances, with sketches of the re-
marks addressed to and made by Mr.. Critten-
den have already appeared in the columns of
the Commercial; but there is always some
thing in movements of this kind which mere
facts and figures fail to supply. The speeches
may be prepared beforehand. the programme
perfectly conned, and executed to the letter,
bit the spirit-that which gives life and char
acter to the act-cannOt be bespOken in adj
vance, nor made up to order in the report of
the proceedings. What was the spirit and
sentiment of the transaction to which we refer
is proper subject of inquiry.
Mr. Crittenden is a gentleman of ability and
character, whose general integrity and long
public services entitle him to the regard of
his fellow-citzcns--a feeling that it is proper
to exhibit at all suitable times and places
Such being the case, it is evident that public
reception by the people of Cincinnati could
not but be grateful to him. under any circum
stances. and be calculated to give him a
favorable impression of their intelligence and
courtesy. But it is not to be denied that
there was intended TO be significance in the
demonstrations alluded to beyond that of
mere ordinary courtesy. They to whom Mr..
Crttcnden was especially indebted for their
occurrence doubtless designed that the doings
of that day should have both retrospective
and "a prospective bearing-looking back to
political events that have transpired, and for
ward to some that, it is hoped, may hereafter |
arrive. These designs have reference, in all |
probability, TO the project so much mooted in |
some circles Of "A peoples party, with a view |
to the coming Presidential canvass, and, per- |
haps, of placing Mr.. Crittenden at the head |
of the same as its candidate for the Office of |
President of the United States. Indeed, we |
have no doubt that such were the views of
those who were active in initiating and carry |
ing forward the ceremonies of the reception,
and by whom Mr.. Crttenden, while he was in
the city, was surrounded.
This places before us a question as to
the significance of the demonstration of
last-frSt in respect to the populari
ty of the plan for the peoples party; anu
secondly of the feeling in favor OF Mr. Crit
tenden as its candidate for the Presidency.
1t was evidently expected on the part of the
movers in the matter that there would be a
pretty extensive manifestation of enthusiasm
among our fellow citizens, irrespective of
previous party lines and division. In this
they were disappointed. The peoples party,
as it appeared on that occasion, consisted of
little more than the old Know Nothing guard
who had been left on duty at the camp fires
previous to the last Presidential election
while the elements of the main body deserted
in different directions.-There seemed to be, |
On the part of the people at large, feeling of
doubt or distrust that argued badly for the
beginning of the new organization. Either
The service or the terms or the officers detail
ed to beat up for recruits, did not please the
masses The Illuminating materials did not /
appear at the time set down in the pro-
and there an air about the
whole performance which said, palmer than
words could say it, that it would not do so.
rhe right thing had not been bit upon and
he present was all artifice and flummery.
The treatment which Mr. CRITTENDEN per-
,onally received was as respectful as he
Gould desire but if he is possessed of the
political sagacity for which he has the credit,
ne must have seen that his visit to this city
vas not the thing which to make him
President or 20 give him any material
impetus in that direction. He must have
been conscious that, either with or without
his obsolete Wing doctrines and with all the
advantage of his recent attempt to distinguish
himself as the COMPROMISED of veXed question
n Congress. he did hot stand before the
people of this city as the ''man of the times"
There was no warmth in their manner toward
lim-uo reality in the occasional spasmodic
lttempts at enthusiasm with which he was
greeted. The whole affair was cold, vapid
md lifeless, and he could not but have ielt
hat in his quasi position of candidate, he
TODD where his real manhood was seen at a