Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-11-20


depends upon State laws alone, which can
not be repealed or modified by the Federal
Government and for which laws that Govern
ment is not responsible. We therefore pro-
pose no interference by Congress with slavery
within the limits of any State"
The ends and objects of the policy propos-
| ed by the originators of the movement are
| expressed in the following resolution
''Resolred. That it is the duty of the Fede-
raj Government to relieve itself from all re-
sponsbilities for the existence or continuance
| of slavery wherever that government posses
ses constitutional authority to legislate on
that subject. and is thus responsible for its ex-
istence.''
That is tn say. the party did not propose to
interfere with slavery in the States. but sim
ply to prohibit its Introduction into the ter
| ritories-not. in terms. denying the power of
the people Of the territories, when they be-
come States to establish ii if il should seem to
them desirable. The notions of Mr.. Seward
who was not a member of that BODY. but was
acting with marty which was opposed to its
doctrines and inimical TO it, candidates-ex-
hibt very decided progress since the year
1913: and If they represent the real senti-
ments of any considerable portion of the
northern States, pretty effectnally negative
the suggestion of Senator Hammond that
''the tide Of Abolition fanaticism has begun to
ebb." He would, it is true, ''leave it to the
several States to abolish slavery in their own
way, and at their own peasure;n bnt as ''the
fathers knew that the two systems could not
endure within the Union. and expected that
within short period slavery would disappear
fer ever" so he knows that the two systems
cannot endure within the Union. and expects
that within a short period, slavery will dis
appear forever; and moreover expects that
while the several States are left Ito abolish
slavery in their own way, and at their own
pIeasure''-as it is not impossible to amend
the Constitution--such means will he brought
to bear upon them as will be certain to point
out the way and expedite the pleasure"
This is the sentiment of the speech; and it is
sectional sentiment. 1t proposes to employ
the national government TO work changes in
the economical condition of certain of the
States: and. if the government has, at present
no power for that purpose. to go one step
further back, and give it the power by an
amendment of the Constitution.
We are conviced that, in this matter, Mr..
Seward has not read Alright the character of
the people of the Northern States of the
| Union. He has judged Of it as party poll
tician, and as party politicians ever Judge, and
not as a statesman or a philosopher. Indeed.
| in its true sense. it is a matter of doubt whe-
| Their he recognizes the existence of such
| thing AS fixed character in mankind. That
most potent of all political elements, the NOR
al constitution of the people does not enter
| into his account. He is not aware that the
people have an aggregate as well as an indi
| vidnal standard of right, and that, as tested
! by that standard, they will never be guilty of
wrong. There is always point beyond
which they cannot be led by sophistry. nor
driven by circumstances. The people of the
| Northern States are not abOlitiOnists, and they
cannot lie made abolitionists. The impede
ment is in their character, and it is insupera-
Ia i'm mi n highest
fanaticism. and the hottest sectional antago-
nsm. the abolitinnis. has been the exception
The mistake of Mr.. Seward doubtless began
with the adoption OF the idea that the recent
anti-administratiOn successes in several of the
Northern States were acts Of popular accept
ance of the doctrines of the Rpublican plat
form. He never committed a greater error.
The doctrines Of the Republican platform
have never constituted the real issue before
the people at any election. AT the last pres
idential canvass they gave any thing but
strength to the party, and yet they were kept
out Of sight by practical issue which eclps-
ed the dogmatic one. Since that time they
have been seldom recognized as political ell
ement for, any purpose. The recent antl-ad-
mnistratiOn victories had nothing to do with
them. They did not speak-the sentiments of
the people Of the North when they were an
nounced they have not done 50 at any time
since. and there is no probability that they
will do so in the future. And if the. time
shall ever arrive when mt the election of a
President, an issue is fairly made up upon
them, we do not entertain the slightest doubt
that they will be sgnally and concusiVely
condemned by the North as well as by the
South.
1t was the duty of Mr.. SEWARD, had he de-
sired TO place himself right before the people
as a candidate for the Presidency, to have
fairly reviewed the whole ground presented
by the political condition of the country, and
from a consideration of all the facts-the
civil character of The people, the known pow
ers of the several grades of government. and
the relation of each to the domestic concerns
of the citizens of the States-to have deduced
a doctrine at once consistent with truth and
applicable TO the circumstances. This-if he
is by nature Presidential mamie could
have afforded TO do. His real greatness, if he
has any, is in hmself-not in the party to
which he may be attached. His claims to the
Presidency, if they exist, are personal, not
the product of organization He had his
choice, to appear standing on his own ground,
or as the parasite of platform; and h. chose
the latter. Where he has put himself, there
we have the right to look upon him as estab-
lished. With this speech as an anteccdeDt,
his election TO the Presidency, il he is elect
ed. will result from some enormous crime.
weakness or folly of the opposite party or its
candidate, and not from any strength OF his
own. lie ,cH not be safe man for any party 10
nomiaate; for tie time as past ,ohen doctrines such
az he enunc,ates are to tiad paying demand any
tchere IN The american UHion.
The comments of the Commercial are sug-
gestive. but we have no room to dwell upon
them to-day. The reader will learn from
them that Mr.. SEWARD has made blunder;
one from which he cannot recover, if we
place reliance in the general tone of the
Black Republican presses, but few of which
even palIiate or excuse his intense section
alism.