Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-30


The Opposition in this State occupy very slngus
lar attitude just now. They have several Thousand
voters al eager to sgnsIizs their devotion 70 their
principles and their party, bat unfortunately they
havs neither principles nor party, They are pre-
pared to fight NEST calamity II they eOnld only ind
cut what 10 ght about 1t is . pity that 80 much
patriotic zeal should be wasted for want Of an OBJ
jeet on which to ezpsnd itself Cant somebody
give them PLATFORM Any thing wiz do. They
are By no means fsstdous with regardtO their Prn-
oiplss They expect 10 change them again next yszE
80 L would not be Warth Whilst 20 provide Fst rate
article Il isnOtneossssry that tsiE platforms sboHid
contain any pOliticsl truth They eaR dshi bsat
when they are in the Wtone, forthey srs accustomed
70 a. The more heresies they arc required 70 advo'
cate the better, as their eaderH have been trained
IN ts use Of sopbislfy and bsve their WesPOas ar
ready prepared We earnestly hope that some ohsri-
table n0isidual viii furnish the Opposition with
platofn No political organization ever in such
destitute circumstances before, and We really fear
that they viii perish from want before suitable ae-
eommodatioas can be provided for them The or
eans Of ihs Opposition beginning to feel uneOmr
Portable about their situation. They are tired Of
The freebOOing gypsy life they have been leading,
aad they want ga local hzbiaiion and pane"
The following article from the Memphis Eagle and
EaQugsr distinctly avOws the absence Of anything
IKE principle in the opposition, and very seusibly
suggests the prOpriety Of Preliding platform be-
fore they commend the contest EVen Know Noth-
iuEs cannot be humbpgged into the support Of their
leaders, without some pretence Of principle.
From the M.mphis Eagle ana Enquirer Of Dee. ga.
Opposition state Convention.
some time since we expressed our appreciation of
aproposition for ihe assembling Of au Opposition
State Convention ct Nashville on the 22d Ct Febru-
arv next. As We then understood the proposal, the
Convention vas TO meet for the purposes Of consul
tstiOn and adVissnent to she best plan OF forms
inRa basis npan which ell the elements Of opposition
90 the bogus democracy might mite for q common
purpose. We did not regard the proposal as means
ing that the Convention should be composed Of
Americans exclusively, or Of Wings exclusively but
that il should be meeting Of delegates appointed
by all those who are opposed TO the principles and
policy Of the Ity in power. Nor did We under
stand thst Il was intended that candidate for Gov
ernor should be nominated by this Convention.
Il appears, however, hat We were mistaken as
to the objects contemplated. From the following
extracts taken from the Nashville Patriot Il seems
that the Convention vas 10 be OF the -AmeTicGR
party and the purpose to nominate candidate for
Governor. Such being the case, we dissent entire
~ from the proposition. For several reasons we
deem the movement unEise and impolitio. In the
Arst place we desire 70 see party upon broad, ma
tional and conservative principles, opposing the
Southern sectional phase Of the Democracy % The
enc side and the NOrthern sectionalism Of the Res
pub,icsns on the other On such 3 platform, the
large body Of old wings who have hitherto STOOD
aioof from all parties, could and would unite with
Us body and soul. The strictly partizan convention
contemplated would not only not invite the co~opera
tion Of those Whigs, but would cause them 10 main
tain their present attitude Of neutrality.
Secondly, We 90 not deem the principles, aims,
and objects Of the opposition sufficiently we'll dehn
ed and distinctly snunoiated 20 tha unity Of
action absolutely necessary 10 success At present,
il cannot BE- denied that stand in comparative
b negative positiOn-that simply Of opposition
That will never answer for the purpose Of action,
and is not sufficient to unite the masses in our sup~
port We must put forth our purpOses-emblazon
eur principles on our banners-enunciate distinctly
and uneqnivooally the aims we have in view, and
she policy upcn which the government would be
administered in the event Of success. That done,
the people would know where We stand, and be pre-
pared % take action. Then all IN )se who approved
the principles AV0Wed could meet 10 their primary
capacity and act sdvssdly. When this is done, and
the people know what We propose TO DO, il viii be
aims TO nominate candidate. Whether q couven>
sipn will be Necessary for that purpose is another
Question.