Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-21
The Late democratic Convention

has several points of novelty in its pro-
ceedings. to which the attention of the conn
try should be especially invited, as signif-
cant OF .'the progress of the age,"-the age
of reform-and az indicative of the power
and advance of political machinery.
The first point is the introduction of fancy
men upon the stage. These, it has long been
known. are very important men in the city of
n York, and constitute in good degree what
may be called the "City Government 5" that
is to say, they make the PRIMARY MEETINGS.
which make the City Justices, Aldermen,
Councilmen. Assemblymen, and other impor-
tant functonaries. They tcho make the Judges
of the Ldtc of course, make ae LaW; and hence,
bruisers and boxers are above the New York
Law. The introduction of these New York
bruisers and boxers to the country people ut
Syracuse, is not altogether a nOvelty-but
never before have they gone so far as to
knock over "CHAIRMAN there, and thus
especially to call themselves into notice.
They appeared once before in State Demo
cratic Convention at Syracuse in 1854, we
ihink-some on the side of Radical Free
Soil Democracy, and some on the side of the
Hard Democracy.-butt they did not fight, the
occasion not calling for it. What has rem
dered them more rabid of late, is the taking
from them by the Sachems of the Tammany
Society, the making of the Inspectors of votes
given at the Primary Elections,-that is, the
Primary Elections themselves,-for they who
make the Inspectors have the votes counted"
Just as they please. The Tammany Society
now does all the work, and the bruisers only
go through the forms of the Primaries.
The Cagger Party, we see, charge the Wood
Party with bringing all the Bruisers and
Boxers, and paying for them to go to, SYRIA
cuse. The Wood party says,-and with
great force, that only Cagger himself gave
out tickets of admission to the Hall in SYRIA
cuse and hence none but Cagger Bullies
could get in! Tie Csgger reply is, that the
Republican authorities (Policemen) at SYRIA
cuse, let in the Bullies against Cagger's wish,
on purpose TO break up the Democratic Con-
vention. The public must find out the truth,
as well as it can, between these rival state
ments.
The second point worthy of attention in the
operation of the Political (Syracuse) Machine
is
The abstraction from the Congressional
Districts of the selection or election Of the
Delegates to Charleston, to make President,
and the monopoly of them ty the Machine.
This is second novelty in our Politics, and
shows ''the Progress of the Age" and of its
machinery. 1t naturally follows that of Tam
many's taking from the People the election
of the Inspectors of their own Primary Elec-
ton. When we disfranchise the People Of
the power of primary nominations for office.
We naturally enough. next, disirancbise them
of their power to create the highest officer,
that of the President.
The theory of our Government is, and the
Democratic profession cmphatically is.-Hdt
all poorer RESIDES m the people, and that whatev-
er the people enact, according to the Consti-
tuition, must he law. or GOVERNMENT. The
Syracuse Machine, seli-constitutd because it
robs the people of the power to make their
own Primary meetings next rolls the people
OF the right 10 elect their otrp delegates tn Charles
! ton, which delegates prObdJiY make the Presi-
dent. certainly make him, as long the Re-
| publican Machine is kept runninS-as the lat
ter machine is not only sectional lin one half
of the Union) but Of not half the working
] power, as the mochine DenoTdh9ue The Dem
ocratic machine. in short, is now perfect. All
the laws of dynamcs are fully carried out in
it.-while the Republican machine is only n
one-horse affair, aud with no standing ground
| for its legs in fifteen States OF the Union.
Certainly, then. according TO all the laws OF
machinery. the perfect, batters TO pieces the
very imperfect machine.
We trust that in due time,--though that
| time is not quite yet-these and the like
workings of the Syracuse Machines belong
ing to both of the leading Parties, will dis
/ gust the honest People of the country with
them all, and that some day or other, they
| will turn out aud smash them all to pieces.
| The late scenes aud doingsa at Syracuse ought
TO open our eyes,-but If they do not, we
shall have them all over, and worse and worse
every year. The CONSTITUTIONS, State and
Federal, are daily tested, nearly TO their ut
| most bearing, though they are so strong, that
| they will bear an enormous trial, but they
cannot stand every thing. Here and here
about. there can be nothing worse than what
we have now; and In the relief from il, hun
dreds are ready for Lynch Organizations
Committees Of Safety, and Vigilance Com
mittees,-all Revolutionary, aud therefore
dangerous, modes of operations. If the
People. however. do not smash the machines,
and take the government away from mechan-
ism, all these Revolutions will come,-and
ii is only question OF time.-Ne0 lo'k En-
Dfexs