Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-14
rf4sfoenlfaf ganvass.
From he ". Z. Tribune, Dec. sth.

Il
Can there be substantial union of the
Opposition to the Sham Democracy in the
Presidential canvass of 1860? This is a
question which we. have not raised, but
finding it under discussion. we propose to do
our part toward calculating it.
The facts to be primarily considered are as
follows:
I. There was in 1856 majority of the
American People opposed to the self-styled
National Democracy.
III. That party is less popular and weaker
now than it was in 1856.
I'LL 1t has been in the ascendant quite
| long enough. and in every sense deserved to
be, and ought to be. turned out.
~. This can easily be done. if its oppo-
| nents can generally and heartily unite.
But is such union practicable? and on
what basis can it he effected?
The Louisville Journal thinks il can and
may and proposes by way of bases the follow
| ing:
/. That the Republicans shall discard their
| Distinguishing name;
II. That they shall abandon their peculiar
':idea;" and
ILL., That they shall notpresent or urge any
Republican for the Presidency.
On these conditions. the Journal thinks
union may be eff cted, which will sweep the
country, accomplishing all manner of political
| good.
Considering that the Republicans though
! stigmatized as sectional" polled over Four
| Hundred Thousand more popular votes in
! 1856 than the National" Americans and old
| line Wings. who ran Electoral Tickets in
many more States than we did. and that the
| Republicans ca ried eleven States and gave
| Col. Fremont ia Electoral Votes while the
combined Whig- conservative National Union
| American vote for Mr.. Fillmore was but 8,
we must think that the Journal displays no
very striking magnanimiiy or selfsacrifcing
devotion to the success of the Opposition
| cause. We cannot encourage the journal to
| cherish any very sanguine hopes of uniting
tie Opposition Oh its basis.
Let us state, on our part, what we think
the Republicans would generally be willing
to concede for the sake of harmOnizing and
securing triumph to the Opposition.
We propose that the Republicans, as the
largest section of the Opposition, be per-
United TO name one of their number for
President, to be sustained by the entire
| Opposition, while the American and National
Wings propose the Vice-President. The
ticket thus formed shall be supported by the
| entire Opposition, each party aud each State
making its own platform, and none being
committed to any but his own doctrines or
propositions. and the UAitcd Opposition to
be designated Republican," "American,"
'Union," Peoples party" or whatever
else its voters in any locality may choose.
We suggest this first, because it is the
basis on which the late benelicent triumph in
Pennsylvania was achieved. There the
Opposition was heartily combined on
negative platform and union ticket, headed
by John NJ. Read. who was VIGOROUSLY
Republican pure and simple, and very
earnest one. The Tariff question was
powerful element in the canvass; but nobody
pretended that Mr. Read was personally
better Prctectionist than his opponent, Judge
Porter. In the North and West Opposition
tickets were generally designated Republican
in the South and East, they were known as
''People's;" but the name was of no cOnse-
quence. Suffice it that the State was carried
throughout, by majorilies ranging from
Twenty to Forty Thousand. The next
Presidential election may be carried
sweepingly and in the same manner. Why
not?
But suppose this fair and conciliatory
proposition prove unacceptable we suggest
another, which would be heartily acceptable
to u.s. and which. if satisfactory to the other
wing of the Opposition, we would heartily
urge upon the acceptance of the Republican
party-namcly:
Let the other wing of the Opposition name
the President conceding the Vice-President
to the Republicans, with this single condition
agree to on all hands and proclaimed to the
public, that the Naturalization thus formed shaH
do all IN its po'oer 10 cogfne Slavery acitim the
limits Of the er,aing Stare STATES.
Is this asking too much? Consider that
we propose no party Shibboleth, no pro-
fession of faith. We do not require the Presi-
dent to do anything which he deems uncon-
sttutional, but simply to exert whatever
power he may have in the premises to
prevent the Extension of Slavery. We
know. and all know. that President clothed
with the power of appointing all the Cover
nors, Judges, Marshals, Land Officers &c.
&c, in the Territories, can easily make and
keep them Free if he will in spite of all the
Senatps Supreme C"urts and Drod Eoott
decisions that may be arrayed against him.
We ask for no warfare upon any State or
their rights-no assent to a Republican
creed, but simply the exercise of whatever
power the President may have to keep the
Territories-as jefferson proposed and Wash
ington approved to Free Labor
evermore.
Is there, then, sincere desire on the part
of the American and Old-Line Wings for a
union and consequent triumph of the Opposi-
ton? Their response to the above sugges-
ton will go far to determine this question.