Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-12-17

BeS- According to promise, we give an |
abstract of the Presidents Message, on
the FIRST page, and from it pretty correct
idea Of the whole may be formed The
reader will learn from the document the
fact, that the Administration can boast of
nothing it has done at home, except the
bloodless termination of-the Mormon war,
and that our foreign relations are in a 4
very unsatisfactory condition. Two years
have been wasted in apportioning prem
iums to partizans, and squabbling about
Kansas, whilst nothing has been done to
advance the general prosperity of the
country, and as little done to promote its
commercial interests with foreign nations
But as we do not propose to dissect the
document, we shall notice one instance of
its Inconsistency and then dismiss it, at
least for the present The President re-
commends the purchase of Cuba, and
insists that, however desirable its posses
sion, it must be acquired honestly In
this, we heartily concur with him; but
what does he recommend in reference to
Mexico 2 That we take military posses
sion of Sonora and chihuahua. Why
should we act honorably towards Spain
and like pirates towards Mexico? Is it
because the latter is weaker and more
friendless than the former2 They say we
have claims against Mexico, and the step
proposed is for security. But we have
claims against Spain too, and, if we are
not mistaken, those claims have been
treated with contempt so this can not
be the reason of the distinction. If we
look to the past, however, the true reason
may appear. The acquisition of Texas
or rather the cutlery for it--retrieved the
tottering fortunes of the locofoco party
when, under other circumstances, its de-
feat was certain. Its condition is more
dilapidated now than then, and as a des-
perate effort to retrieve ITSELF is it not
probable that the acquisition of two other
Mexican provinces will be the rallying cry
of the next canvass? We may be mis-
taken, but there must be reason for the
policy of the President, and we can find
none so plausible as the one given. The
future, however, will settle the question.
ray We believe the Chronicle was the
first to recommend Convention of the
opposition on the 22nd Of February, to
nominate a candidate for Governor. Tn
making that recommendation, we were
Influenced by the conviction that the more
time our candidate could devote to the
canvass the better, and such would still be
our conviction under ordinary circum.
stances. But "the present aspect OF
American politics" has changed our
opinion, and if it be not too late, VIC
should be pleased to have the meeting Of
the Convention deferred until after the 4tt
of March. The positions of parties are
far from being defined, and so rapid are
the changes that occur, in the absence Of
sound principles, that it is impossible tc
foresee upon what issues the approaching
canvass will be made and not knowing
what they may be, any preparations, il
advance, must to some extent, be guess
work. The present condition of the de
mocratic party is a desperate one, and al
the present session of Congress will b.
devoted almost exclusively to the manu-
facture of political capital, and the or
ganization of the manifold elements tina
make up democracy, may It not be the
part of wisdom to await the developementi
that must be made, before steps are taker
for the contest? The signs are indcativ,
of strange events; the public mind is il
state of vaccilation, and party tyranny
is evidently arousing it to serious renec
ton upon existing evils and their remedy
And if this be so, it were better to avail
the favorable results that must follow sucl
reflection than to check it by taking sucl
steps as may call for the immediate appl
cation of the party lash, or arouse in
Vcterato party prcjudices, Since the Hi
nois election, democracy is in a state o
fermentation, and the success of Douglass
is bound to exert no little influence upon
the State elsstions in the South. Tha
influence is already being felt; but as tim,
alone can show its extent aud direction
we feel that the opposition have nothn.
to loose, and perhaps, much to gain b,
waiting, quietly, till the democrats SHOW
their hands.
reS~ The January number of Cooley
Lady's Book opens the now year brilliant
~. II 49,, L.. A. =. - IL - 4.