Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-27
Ieanners Of the South.

An organization bearing this name has
recently been set on foot in Alabama, and is
being joined by all the most Incorporate and
extreme men of that State. Hon. WILLIAM
l.. YANCEY appears TO be one of its most able
and enthusiastic advocates and managers. a
League was organized in Montgomery on the
goth inst, from the constitution of which
we make the following extract, defining its
objects and purposes:
ART. 5. The object of this League is, by
the use Of proper means, To create SOUND
public opinion in the South on the subject of
enforcing the rights of the South in the L niOn.
Among its primary ideas are: l. No more
compromise Of those rights, either in party
platforms or in national legislation: 2. A full
recognition and maintenance of those rights,
as paramount to the safety of the Federal Ad-
ministration or the success of National
Parties; 3. The elevation to the public cOun-
ellis of the ablest and purest Southern men.
ART. 6. This League will nominate no can
didate for any Office, 5 ate or deral-but
its members are pledged to use all honorable
means to secure the nomination, by the re-
spectve parties to which they belong, of
sound, able aud pure men of the Southern
Ri ghts school.
On the same occasion Col. YANCEY delivered
an address. further explaining the nature,
design and supposed necessity of the move
ment, the report of which, as matter of in
formation to our readers, we suhjOin:
Mr.. YANCEY said that as the movement was
somewhat novel in the political world, he
would undertake to explain It, In the first
place he would reply to two views which had
been urged against it by those not friendly to
the League.
II has been said to he diSa1ion now
The Constitution report puts AN emphatic
denial upon that charge. 1t expresses its
aim to he to uphold and enforce the Federal
Constitutional in lieu of the fundamental law
of national arties-'comDrOmise.' 1t eX-
presses its aim to be to maintain a COnstitu-
tiOnal Union. It's great design is to create a
public opinion that shall force all parties to a
strict Observance of all our Constitutional
guarantees, by holding the Constitutional
Rights of the South to he paramount TO the
political necessities of National Admnlstra-
tions or National Parties. These constitute
sure basis of Il Constitutional Union. The
attainment of these ends will pcrpetuate "a
Constitutional Union, and therefore league
which dcyOtcs itself to their attainment can
never be truly branded disuniOn move
meut.
1t has been denounced as a new party. and
therefore ms designed To subvcrt the DemOcra-
tic and American parties. The charge is en-
tirely without foundation party means
an organization of individuals, upon agreed
principles, whose design is to control the
Government by electing its members to its
Offices. a party therefore dominates some of
its members for office, and all its members
are pledged to support the nominations. Now
this Constitution expressly ignores this lead
ing necessary element of party-it d clares
that the League shall never nominate can
d date for any office. This League is based
upon the same system OF organization ~ that
of the American Bible Society, and American
Tract Society. Each of those Societies are
composed of members of different religious
sects-nOt for the purpose of forming new
sect and opposing all others, but for the pnr-
pose of distributing widely amongst their
fellow men knowledge of that great iunda-
mental rule. the Word of GOd-upon which
all the evangelical scots base their faith
Each member preserves his regular standing
in his own church; yet is member OF the
American Bible Society-and 1t Is well
deemed that by his efforts a. a member of the
American Bible Society, so far from being
less valuable member--we will say of the
Methodist Church-he is in truth promoting
MethodiSm in its purity and rigor.
So of this League. Ii is formed to create a
stronger and healthier tone of public senti-
mcnt in favor Of the Constitution. The Con-
stitution should stand to ali parties, precisely
rs the Bible does to all religious sects. As
the Bible is the common bond of Union be
tween those sects--so the Constitution should
he and is professed TO be, the common iunda-
mental law of all parties. Aud yet, rs par
ties have departed largely from constitution
al standard, in their course upon the rights
of the South. and always have avoided its
application to those rights from selfish fear
a. to the effect on their organizations. and as
il is desirable that hereafter our rights should
be no more compromised, this League pro
pose an organization of all the earnest and
rue mel. of all parties, to the adoption OF the
Constitution as their only guide. If the idea
can b. carried out, in a short time there will
exist thro' its means "A strong, healthy pub
lie opinion, among men of all parties, as to
our rights and our duties. Good and able
men will be selected to office. who will abide
by no other rule than that of the ConSutu-
ton in settling our rights-and the day VIII
soon arrive in which it will be tested whether
there Is Justice and Honor and Equality for
us in the Union. II the Leagues produce
these results, they are worthy OF trial.