Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-09

tanning the facts necessary to the clear set
ting forth of the grounds upon which our
candidates appeal for the overthrow of the
spoilsmen and plunderers. True, active, Ia
boring men should interest themselves in this
matter, and engage heartily and earnestly in
| the work. No man should wait for his neigh
Dor o-begin. Whatever his hands find 10 do,
he should do il, at once and vigorously, A
half dozen of judicious canvassers in each
county in the State, in the present state OF
| public feeling, can work out glorious revo-
luton. We appeal TO our friends throughout
the State that this kind of work be not ne
| elected.
We have before spoken of the effect of
nominating thoroughly sound. popular. strong
men on the Legislative tickets, who will go
before the people. If there be drones in our
| party, as there are in all parties, do not let
the party commit the error of placing them
where their criminal inertness may prove
fatal to us. This cannot be too urgently
dwelt upon. Let men be put forth who IN
derstand the questions at issue, and can
handle them to some purpose, and let the
party in every county require, yes, we repeat,
require, that they shall show themselves worthy
| of the confidence reposed in them and of that
which they are asking at the hands of the
people.
| THERE'S another point of great importance
| which the party should assume the control OF.
We mean the question of harmony in regard
to candidates. Let there be but one candidate for
eUTy office fla number of aspirants apply.
let county conventions or committees of re-
spectve friends settle the precedence and if
there are refractory spirits, let the arlothema
| Of the party be directed against them and
selfish disOrganizers be frOlcned doncn. No
true man who, at heart intends to be of
good service to the party, will, in such an
| exigency as the present, introduce discord
by preferriEg his ''claims (oh! how we despise
the word9 to the party's support. This con-
test is not for the promotion of individuals
however deserving they may be. 1t is for
the success of great party, and the redemp-
tion of the country. Political adventures
and mere Office seekers for the sake of office,
are out of place in offering their services, and
Such characters are aptto become disappoint-
ed and rebellious. The true policy of our
organization is to "off7' with such "heads"
without remorsc or calculation. Upon
prudential considerations in some instances,
such a course may seem illjudged; but in the
end, it will vindicate its wisdom, and be
healthy pruning which will prove serviceable.
Then we say let the party in the various
counties and districts take this matter into
their own hands. If there be selfish violators
of this wholesome and necessary discipline,
let them reap the fruits of their disobedience,
and forfeit the confidence and support of the
party. No party can live and win, while
hampered with such burdens for burdens they
are very millstones abont its neck.
We have never admired but one thing in
the party we are opposing, and that is its or
ganizati0n, a1d the discipline which it main
tains. 1t is all there is about it we desire to
initiate. 1t is the source of its success. In
it, recreants and disorganiZers, however form
liable, are summarily dealt with. No quar-
ter is shown them. Before the vigor of its
discipline, every personal consideration is
made to bow. 1t matters not whether the
head that resists has been high or low in
position. The sentence Of condemnation goes
forth, and it rolls from the block, a CHASTITY
example to the refractory. The Illinois giant
had raised himself to position second to
none in his party. He aspired, with we'll
founded reason, to be its official head-al-
ready did he feel ''the golden top and round
of royalty" on his brow. He rebeled against
the discipline, and the whole official force of
the party. from the President down to the
lowest scullion, backed by the large majority
of the party, repudiated him. Herculean eff
fort saved him at home. but he is no
more a law-giver in the temple Of Democracy.
It's ban is upon him, and we doubt if he
ever regains his lost rank While we con-
demned the measures employed to crush him,
we paused in doubt, which most to admire,
the beroism of his struggle, or the heroic
adherence to discipline which sought to chas-
tise him for his cOntumacy. In regard to him,
later developments show that even he is
yielding to the rigid infexibility of the party
rule, and is preparing to repent. We have
instanced his case to show the power of dis
cipline. With the justice or injustice of its
execution in regard to him, we have nothing
to do. We are for discipline justly admins
tered, regardless Of its effects upon individual
ambition. We exhort our party in this Stale
to adopt it, and enforce it. 1t is the surest
preventive against division. And if in spite
of it, division and defeat does come, then the
party's skirts will be clear of blame, and
upon the indi viduals who produce it, alone
will be visited the proper rebuke.