Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-01

recurrence TO First Principles.

An old and Experienced Democrat, VINO dubbed
his democracy from the teachings of Jefferson, and
who fought in the ranks under Jackson, says to US
in recent letter: " We have recruited leaders from
other parties and organizations until cur own,
fear, has become seriously debauched. The rank
and file sound and Devoted to principle, but ma
ny Of our leaders need recurrence 10 the early
teachings of their fathers" Another correspond
Snt says: Z" hope you will continue to call the at
tention Of the people to the pure principles of De-
Doeraey and they will act with you on them. If
there any democrats in the State who will aban
don the party for re opening time hOnored doc
trine, let them 60, for they would have gone on
SEINE other question, and can be &c we'll spared
now. We should revert to frst princi Piles and pers
nit no departure from them" A third friend who
has done much service for our common cause, and
who is distinguished for his devotion to Democratic
principles writes US: The Democratic party have
been struggling in Tennessee for twenty years and
have at last obtained an overwhelming majority
Now is the time, therefore, for them to affirm the
doctrines for which they have SO long bsltled."
We respect the counsel Of such men and acknowl-
edge the lorce of such suggestions. They me at
prOpitious time, and We com mend them 10 the Sc
rious consideration Of Democrats everywhere. For
the last ten years the popular mind has been SO
pletely absorbed by the alarming sectional Issues
which have controlled our political contests that our
party has been compelled to direct most of its
gies to the maintenance of the constitutional rights
of the the South, which during that period have
been persisienty and 6ercely sssaled by power
full sectional party. Amidst the overwhelming ex-
ctement incident to such struggle it was impOsi
bic for the Democratic party guard some Of their
distinctive doctrines from violation and sbuse, as
they could do when no such overshadoWing issue
demanded their constant vigilance.
The evils incident to such state of affairs are
now apparent. Acquisitions to the Democracy from
other parties have been made upon the isolated
question of slavery, who in al things else are still
opposed 10 our creed as taught by jefferson, Mad>
sion, Jackson and Polk. We do not question the
propriety of such acquisitions in sectional strug-
gle but we should not have overlooked the fact
that those who came to us merely upon the slavery
issus we're not Democrats but were simply Gcting
with the Democratic party for the time being, from
a demand of patriotism and the Reorganization of
their own party. They did right to act with us un-
der suoh circumstances; but they should not have
expected, nor should We allow, any departure from
the long established creed Of the Democratic party.
We allude to the influence of those only who are
merely acting with the Democratic party the
slavery question, and who have never made any
professions of Democracy upon other matters Of
principle. There are now in our ranks, and we are
proud TO recognize them, some who IN days past,
from early association, education prejudice acted
with the Federal party under some Of its names,
but who from observation and better judgment,
have oandidly embraced the Democratic creed and
expect to act with it through life, only upon the
slavery ISSUE but upon all other questions involving
principle.
Again, the absorbing interest of the slavery ques-
ton has enabled politicians and protesting Demo-
Gratis, whose only ambition is TO the party, not
to ssrvs it, to violate its principles for local purpo
ses and private ends, and escape that exposure
which their course meTited and TO which, under diff
fsrent circumstances it would have subjected them
The tolsraiion extended to such offenders, has
blei Them 10 bring reprOach upon the party, and
subject us, not untrequently to the criticism
of our opponents, who are always satisfied if they
can only show that they hsG Democrats to with
them in the violation of sound principles and the
adoption Of such measures as infict evil upon the
country.
Again, 8 serious evil results to the Democratic
party and the country under the OveIsbadOwng in
huence Of slavery agitation, from the tendency with
young men and others to lose sight of the peculiar
nature and principles Of Democracy as theory in
government; and by making room for the spring
ing up ofunsound views tending toward federalism,
for the want of an understanding of the creed of
or political faith as touehstOne by which to try
every new question as it arises.
There are many additional reaeOns why every