Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-11-02
A Voice from the Maury Democracy.

correspondent of the Columbia Demo
cratic Herald over the signature of ''An Old
Democrat" and whom that paper character
ICES as one of thirty years standing, takes
bold ground against the propositions recon-
mended by the Johnson Nicholson caucus.
1t will be seen from the subjoined extract
that he cannot divest himself of the idea that
this caucus has attempted small experiment
at dictation. This. of course, is vehemently
denied by all the democratic papers that fall
into line at the word of command. But when
the people come to consider its origin, its ma
terial. its action, and above all the time and
manner of its convocation, there will be little
difficulty in experimenting its tue designs.
There had been no primary meetings held by
the people; no direct expression of opinion
on the part of the masses of the people on
those questions embraced by the action of
| the caucus; and there can be very little doubt
but that it was intended to forestall demo-
cratic public opinion, in order that a concur
rent sentiment might be moulded by it and
sent up through the primary meetings to the
State Convention. And this will lie the re-
suit, in all human probability. can old De-
mocrat" says: MY opinion is that MAORI
ty of the democratic party think with me,
and that your party, instead of being the re-
gular democracy, are more properly to be
styled the hard money party" We think it
probable, if left to their free and unbiased
judgments, majority of the rejecting de-
mocrats would think with "An Old Demo
crat;'' but under the despotism of party
and the lash of party leaders, we think
The will fall in a minority. But we trust
that that minority of independent dem
ocrats will be sufficient, united with a
conservative opposition, to prevent the ''hard
money party from ENGRAVING their radical
aud mischievous measures upon the policy of
the State. But to the extract, which we COM
mend to our democratic friends:
81. is well remembered that in the canvass
between ex-Gov. Jones and Polk. Jones
on every stump charged Polk with being
hard money man, and that Polk always
denied it. 1t is true the Democratic
party were opposed to the Bank of the
United States, and most highly esteem
President Tyler for his final veto of the mon
strous charter introduced and passed by Mr..
Clay in Wing Congress. But this has moth
ing to do with the present question. Virginia
has been and is the soundest Democratic
State in the Union. She opposed the United
States Bank, but has always had a sufficient
number of sound banks to carry on her com
merce. Every Democratic State in the Union
has full supply of sound banks, and you
hear of no proposition TO destroy them, ex-
cept by a newly organized party in Tennessee,
claiming to be the Democratic party. 1t is
true that few men of high position. 1.-TWO of
them being Senator's in Congress- did meet
in caucus at Nashville and dictate to the De-
mocracy new doctrine which l honestly be-
lieve a majority will repudiate. Messrs. john
son. Nicholson and a few Others are not the
Democratic party and have no right to dict
ate to it. You say:
1T is due to the truth of history TO state
that while the Democratic party adopted the
hard money doctrine as one of its best prin-
ciples, in regard to the Federal Government,
il was not adopted as test of test of party
orthodoxy in regard TO the currency of the
State Government
Notwithstanding this plain admission, you
directly say:
we set down the Democratic party as OPP
posed to the re-charter and their opponents
az It's advocates
This is n bold position you take in behalf
OF the hard money party. and | conceive ii To
to read out Of the Democratic party ali who
are opposed 10 your principles upon ques-
ton Of State policy. Ny opinion is that
majority of the Democratic party think with
me- and that your party. instead of being the
regular Democracy. are more properly to he
styled the hard money party. The Caucus which
met at Nashville aud dictated to the people
were not the representative OF the people
of the Democratic parly-they were not sent
there by the people, bat ass.mbl,d of their
own accord, as private individuals. giving Sc
cret notice 10 such they wished 10 assemble.
| have reliable Information that n considerable
number Of those who did attend opposed the
hard money movement IL was prnpos, 4 at
the meeting Ia turn out OF the Democratic
party all who refused TO obey the dicia,ion,
which was violently opposed and Withdrawn.
| have this inforisatioR from one who was
prescott. The spla which IL may r. bs said has
takrn place. has then undoubtedly been pro-
duced by the hard money party. Whatever
mischief may grow out Of il they are respon-