Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-02
A ErOadside from Hon. andrew
Johnson I'm the U. =. Senate--'sSOme-
thing Rotten In Denmark,

|
Hon. ANDREw Johnson RECALLED the Senate
on the Oath of January, with characteristic
| speech. The ostensibe object ofthis remarka
bic cff'rt was opposition to the Pacific Rail
road Bill which was then pending In the
outset he argued the uncOnstitutionality of the
measure. Taking the line of safe demo
cratic 'precedents," he urged strict construc-
ton, and lamented the dcgeneracy of the De
mocratic party. many Ofwhose members have
so far wandered from the teachings of the
fathers, as to advocate the building of this
road by the General Cover nmcnt. From
this, he passed easily and gracefully to the
opinions of the President on this subject
There are certain portions of this speech
which will not probably find their way tn
the public through the democratic press, and
we therefore give them the benefit of our cir
culation-cmphasising such passages as we
deem especially fine, not to say pregnant.
After arguing the point whether the Cincin-
natl Platform contained a resolution. advocat-
ing the Pacific Railroad, and concluding that
il really did not though there was a rcsolu-
ton in it which made mention Of the subject,
he thus holds up
BUCHANAN on THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
81 remember very well, that after the NOM
nation was made, the question came up as
to whether this plank had been laid down rs
part OF our creed. and | know that in the
section of country where | was during the
canvass, it was repudiatod and condemned
] l.. III, Of N a
faith. | know that Mr.. Buchanan was not
understood in that region as entertaining
opinions favorable to the Pacific railroad and
admitting its conStitutionality. Although
the opinion may have been expressed, and ii
may have lain hidden somewhere else vet
during that canvass it was not before the
public mind n mi asure of the Democratic
party. On the contrary, Well remember the
surprise with which, in my section. the peo-
pie received news from the State ofCalifornia.
after the election was over, after victory had
pcrchcd upon the Democratic standard. that
Mr. Buchanan had written n letter to Califor-
MIA. committing himsclfto the Pacific railroad;
and il was SO surprising that some even look
ed upon that letter, being published after the
election was over, ~ hoax, as not authentic
as gotten up for the occasion. But let that
he as il may, the letter was written In ScpteIn.
ber went to California and did its work there
if it did any. do not know whether it in
fluenccd the election there or not, hut ,ca,
not kRo,on The region Of country from uhach !
come until after The election Orer and ii took u.
by suprise."
This will doubtless take the President ably
surprise" If we understand the purport o.
this passage it is that Mr.. BUCHANAN held tive
faces before the public in 1856 on this subject
What have our democratic friends who art
extollng Mr.. BUcHANAN's integrity and puri
ty of purpose, TO answer to this? But Mr.
Johnson is not content with this thrust at the
President, but pitches into the Cincinnati
we have the pleasure of presenting
ANDREW JOHNSON on PoLIrIcAL CONVENTIONS
IN GENERAL es
"Mr President, even if the Cincinnati CON
vention had laid it down rs an article of the
Democratic faith, as q tenet in our creed,
should like 10 know of what binding force
resolutions and tenenis and articles of faith
| laid down by conventions in modern times
are upon any party whatever? ! think about
this convention AS have thought about AL
conventions, from my earliest advent into
! public life to the present time. We know
| how these conventions are gotten up. w,
| know the objection that was urged against
| the congrt sSional caucus system in 1924. aud
we know that Andrew Jackson, being the
| peoples man and a great advocate OF popular
! rights, was brought forward as the most III
| and suitable Individual To break up the old
congressional caucus system. Experienc,
and observation. however. have satisfied N,
mind that the old congressional caucus sys
! tom was Infinitely n-ef,.rahIa IN vnur taa.nl
national convention system. In the one case
| the members of Congress who made the nom
| ination felt that they had some res ponshlliI,
| resting upon them, and when they went 4
their congrt ssioual districts they were res
ponsible for the nominee who was put npoI
| the country as a candidate for the Presidcncy
Hoss haze Tour Tsat.0Hal e1apesfogs lem q tefs ss
I 10 Hot sag cat q any disresTccf BAT refer {.
a as Aisterie9l fset, tsafd kfrgs froFoyfioa y IA
persons trao attend saGonai ooaue7.ilors 90 then
leskieai reg1reseisfiHg dAybOsiy. L.Rtie Hesflaes
irse5oasi5ts yss tagstss and ssypoaf del
egIfss 10 go 20 he conventions. Most u fhem ar
gsaSraiiy aAO haze xLsadn,gat honae They
are mrn who, when they look to their con
grrssional district, see that somebody repre-
sents Il la Congress; when they lock TO thri
! glslatlye district, they see that somebod,
represelts il In the Legielatare; they ind TIA
various places filled, and they 20 into a con
yenlion with their Little amount 81 stock. /.
make the beet aud saf ~ investment OF /
they an, aud the candidate who can com
forward, aud, through his fritnds. hold GA
the greatest amsnnt OF appliances, fair or ua
fair, is the one Rho secures their support, an'
obtains n domination.
Mr.. Presidrnt 1 most sincerely hope ID
time viii come VIII the people OF the Ul.l
I'd STATES will have the constitutional right I.
4 eleef their AVN President In fhex si.,cs hin