Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-01-15
For the Onion and american.
SHAM DEMOCRACY.

AhTCHELLVILLE, Tenn, Jan. 2, 1858.
lIEssRs. EDIroRs:-The term sham Democracy ap-
pears so often in the editorials Of the Nashville Pat
riot, that my curiosity prompts ne to inquire what
constitutes in in the estimation Of that paper, the
real DsmOeracy3
The disciples of Thomas Jefferson agree with him,
LIST. That all acts of legislation having partial
bearing-oppressive to one portion Of the people
and advantageous to another-are wrong in their
nature and ought not to be passed.
ID. That all mouopolies are infringcments on the
rights of the people, because they grant special
privileges to a favored few, in which the general
mass have no interest," and from which the country
derives no benefit.
Sd. That National monopolies institutions
hostile to the liberties of the people-unCOnstitu-
tional oppressive and unnecessary.
4th. That equal and exact justice should he Sc
cured to all men.
9th. That a wise and frugal government is the
best, which shall restrain meR from iDiuring one
another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate
their own pursuits of industry and improvement,
and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread
it has earned.
In addition to this, they declare that "aIl power
is inherent in the people and all free governments
are founded on their authority and instituted for
their peace, safety and happiness, and that for the
advancement of these ends, they have the power at
all times to alter, reform abolish their govern
ment, as to them may seem proper"
But this doctrine l discover, according to the Pat.
riot Of September 3, 1886, constitutes the "Ioose
and laWless dogmas (which were) born of French
Jacobnism and crossed into the American system by
Jefferson, and since bastardized through a success
sion of demagogues." And that it is an equalizing,
leveling and agraran system, chiefly given strength
to by that view of our system of government which
teaches that in the people reside the power and that
these are the obstructive doctrines which are the
beginning corners and basis Of SHAM Democracy.
The Jetfersonians declare that all power is inhe-
rent in the people, and this in their estimation is
true Democracy.
The editor Of the Patriot, in styling this the sham
Democracy, leaves room for the inference that he is
Of the opinion that all power is inherent in the
grand council Of the Know Nothing party he pow
er to swear men to perpetual secrecy-the power to
absolve men from the binding force of their Oaths
the power to decide upon all matters appertainngt to
national poliics-the power to control the people in
all things political and social and the power to dis
regard the Constitution Of the United States by es
tablishing q religious test as a qualification for
office
Now, can it be possible that the editor of the Pat
riot has worked himself into the belief that this |
know Nothing concern is the true Democracy? But |
hold!-an idea strikes me just here-that he has no
confidence in a democracy, in the capacity of the
people for government and hence he styles it all
% sham, and is advocating an aTis50eracy, wherein
the few govern the many. JAS.
AN ACT for the benefit of the Criminal Courts of
Tennessee.
SECTION l. Be Il enacted be- the General Assemble
Of The State Of Tennessee That the State Reporter
be and he is hereby authorized furnish the clerks
Of the criminal courts with a sett of the State Re-
ports, in the manner, and under the same res
rictiOns the clerks Of the various circuit courts
IF this State are now furnished.
SEC. 2 Bet enacted, That this act have force and
fleet from and after the date Of its passage
DANIEL S. DONELSON
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives
JOHN c. BURCH,
Speaker Of the Senate.
Passed December 10 1857