Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-21

POLITICAL 4dVenturers.
The history Of an governments is, in part, his
tory of good and bad men. No government, how
ever bad has failed to produce occasion lily, just
and virtuous ruler. And no government however
gOOd-hOWever pure and patriotic it's peOple-has
failed produce its bad men its political mounte-
banks daring adventurers, intriguing and gambling
for place aud prefernent with the same dishonest
cunning and unserupulOusness that gamesters
play for money. No where is there, probably,
larger number Of this class Of politicians than in
the United States. They existed in the days OF the
revolution when ARNOLD abandoned its cause end
Joined the enemy with the hope Of more rapid pre-
ferment They existed in the days Of BURR, when
the Federsists sought palsy the win Of the PEG
pie, and advance their private schemes. By sle
waiting him over Mr.. JEFFRsoE 10 the Presidency
They existed in 1924 when, by corrupt bargain,
the popular voice was disregarded aad ADAMS elect
ed over Gen. JAoKsOE to the Presidency. They eK>
listed in 1910 when by all their appliances Of false>
hood, fraud, and deception, they misled the people
into elevating their school Of rieksters into power
Amidst all the changes and reverses in parties, this
class Of political hucksers have kept their place
upon the theatre Of action, and viii continue to DO
90 as long as there are Offices to FIJI, and unserupu-
lous men who want to fill them,
This class Of men are not welded to any parties
ular party. Many Of them have belonged to all
parties in their time, and manifest an aversion to
the continuance of any party long; while others,
attaching more Importance to q seeming consistency,
continue to class themselves under a particular
party name, but disregarding its principles, adopt
that fseile manner Of shifting their positions to
every breeze, and suitng themselves to every new
emergency.
The Democratic party at every period Of its hiss
tory has given shelter to 8 number of these politiS
cal adventurers; and those within the party have
always been Of greater trouble to it than those
without By their arts and antiques they are
constantly producing strife and disafeotiOn, and
not unfrequently for their selfish purposes they
hsv enlisted honest but unWary Democrats from their
own ranks into the ranks Of the enemy. Mr. JEFFER-
son bad to encounter such protesting Democrats
during his administrstion-Gen. jackson had to
crush them beneath his feet, and the present sd>
ministratioR has had an unusual share. At two
periods in the history Of Tennessee they made a
bold sbowing-at the organization of the WHITE
party In 1885, and the advent Of Know NOthingism
in 1855. Each time these adveuturers stepped forth
from our ranks and declared themselves the "bet-
ter Democrrts," inviting all others follow them.
1t is 70 fault of the Democratic parry that such
men have encountered it or msy continue to encum-
Der it. 1t is as natural as batthere are ares in wheat
or hypocrites in the church All that we do is
to be ever on our guard, and judge mans democ-
raoy by the unWsveriDg consistency with which he
advocates and advances Democratic doctrines, and
not by the earnes.ness with which be processes to
be of that party.
MI l. IL Ill IL,
another exit from our ranks as they did in $780, in
l84S, snd again in 1866 We already hear the
Cuckoo note sounding through such papers as the
Memphis Bulstia and from such retired statesmen
as Dixon and FOoTE. The grand organization of
the adveDturers has commenced From the New
York Tribune through the Louisville journal down,
the notes of preparation may be heard. Now is the
time for enlistment in the patriot srmy-now is the
time to take stock. Here is chance to retrieve
lost Poid ,al fortunes and hope to make fortunes
never lOst-to raise old political crafts that have
been stranded upon the beach for years, and 10
make commanders Of men whose past fOllies were
supposed to have ruined them forever. To sll ad-
Venturers-to all place hunters-to all who look
upon principle as a myth, and who want new par
ty for the chances it will briDg-there is promise
in the present movements such promise as was
furnished by the dawn of the new party in 1856.
1t becomes every true Democrat to be Watchful
It is in times Of spatby that the enemy take advan
tsge Of us. Be sure they are not inactive. They
have their plans and their intrigues. They will not
hesitate to enter our camp and bride, with offers Of
preferment, such as can be corrupted. OF such as
can be corrupted " them il is well the party should
be purged but let US be upon our guard 10 time that
none may be iDnOoently led off With the bad. Let
the Democrat who seems Indifferent to harmony
whose words Of bitterness directed against his
own party friends rather than the oppOsitiOn-WhO
is ever sympathizing with party traitors and looking
to some new leader to rise up and control the
try be watched. All such belong to that school Of
adventurers who hold true allegiance to anything
but self Such men, when understood in time,
effect but little harm; but, observed with unsus-
pecting eye, often do much mischief Let the hon
est man be true to himself and true to principle,
judging men in politics, in morals by their
works, and the government will continue TO prosper
under Democratic rule in the future in the past.
Know NOTHIEG VICToBT BALTMoRE-Why
don't our Know Nothing contemporaries gorify over
their triumph in the Mayors election st Baltimore