Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-02
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.

THE HOMESTEAD BILL.
Gov. JoHEsoN's Homestead Bill, was defeated il
the Senate last Friday BY vote Of soto 81 Gov.
JoHEsos voted with the majority, in order to be able
TO move reconsideration, which he did so that the
actual majority against the bin vas seven.
NORTHERN DEMOCRATS AND SOUTH
ERN KNOW NOTHENGS.
Il is somewhat remarkable that the organs Of the
Know Nothing party at the South, which favor the
LeoOmptOn policy Of the administration, while hurl
ing anathemas at the heads Of the Northern Demo-
Gratis who voted against the admission Of Kansas
have no word Of censure for the Southern Know
NOthings who did the same thing. A majority Of
the Northern Democrats have been always true to
the constitution and resOute in their support Of the
equality Of the States They have firmly adhered to
their national and conservative principles even when
certain Of defeat They have never turned aside
from thepath ofduiy though surrounded by darkness
difficulty and danger They have heroieally resisted
the sncroachments Of our enemies even when resis-
lance involved their own destruction. Neither tie
allurements Of Office nor the seductions Of power
have ever been able to win them away from their
allegiance to the laws and institutions Of the country
Though assailed by sneers and threats by dsrisiOn
and deuunciation by the terrOrs Of social and pot-
ieal accommodation, they were still loyal to the
constitution and the Union. When pursued by bitter
and unreenting persecution when the fires Of fanat-
icism burned fercely and furiOusly around them,
they did not renOunce their faith nor cease to pro-
claim their principles. They present example Of
moral heroism which the world may wonder at and
admire They have struggled without reward and
suffered without complsiningin the cause Of justice
and equality. They might have given way to the
tide of prevailing opinions and foated smoothly into
the harbor of popular favor. But they discarded
selfish considerations and adhered to the right with
out regard to consequences. In the admission OF
Missouri and Arkansas in the annexation Of Texas
in the passage ofhe fugitive slave law and the Kan
ass-Nebraska BILL and in this last struggle involving
the admission Of a slave State into the Union,
they stood boldly by our side resisting sectional
distinctions and sectional perjudces. large majori
ty of them we're still true to their national principles
A few deserted and went over to the enemy. These
deserve the reproaches which have been heaped upon
them by the Lecompton organs Of the knoW-nothlng
party. But If northern Democrats merit reproba-
ton for their opposition to this measure, what shall
we say Of the southern KnOW-nothings who united
with them in their opposition Why should the
Patriot denounee Mr.. DOUGLAS and spare Mr.. BELL?
Why should he complain that northern Democrats
desert their party and vote against their principles,
when the great leader Of his own party dehes the
instructions Of his State Legislature and disregards
the wishss of his constituents to affiliate with the
Black Republicans, and yet escapes the Patriots con-
demuatiOn? We beg that the Patriot will be just in
the distribution Of his censure. While he is look
ing abroad for objects of indgnatiOn he should not
forget the sins Of his own household.
Now. the fact is that the Northern Democrats in
Congress are sounder on this question than the
S,uthern Know nothing representation Nearly
three-fourths of the northern Democratic Senators
supported the Bill for the ADMISSION Of Kansas
Two out OF The four southern Know nothing Sen
atOrs opposed it. More than two thirds of the north
ern Democrats in the House sustained the bill
Five out Of the fifteen Southern Know nothlngs Vot-
ed against it, i is evident from this that the hopes
Of the South must be committed TO the Democratic
party OF the nation. nc other organization can De
trusted with the keeping Of our constitutional rights.
No other party is wi ling or able to protect them
We can not rely on the Know nOthir leaders Of the
South in a struggle affecting our interests large
norton of them have deserted US and are II league
with our enemies. We cannot rely on the oPposi-
ton forces Of the North for they avow the deadLest
hostility against our institutions. Let all Southern
men cling 10 and cherish those noble and heroic
men Of the North who have aided in resisting abb
clifton aggression Let all southern men support the
Marty which can claim true and faithful friends
both North and South, the party upon which the
hopes Of our national existence are centered'