Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-07

cratc ranks; ana IN 1854, Win every coneiu
Grafton of State pride to overcome, and in |
spite of the powerful appeals which were ad-
dressed to her in behalf of Texas annexation,
a neighboring country in great part settled oy
emigrants from her own soil, she resisted ev-
cry attempt to ALLEVIATE her from her princi-
pies, and cast her electoral vote for HENRY
CLAY. In the succeeding year she shared the
common dispiriting effect of that great defeat,
and through apathy and indifference, the
elated Democracy for the first time In SIX
years were again victorious. In 1S47, how
ever, in the midst of popular foreign war,
in which her sons had acquired renown, she
again righted herself, and declared against
the dominant party. In 1913 she maintained
her position and gave largely increased ma
jority against the Democratic candidate, and
In favor of Gen. TAYLOR. In 1849, supinely
reposing in confident security, disorganiza-
ton crept into the ranks of the conservative
party, and by the aid of the gunpowder pop
ularity of the Democratic candidate he was
elected During the following two years the
nation was violently agitated by the questions
arising in regard to the settlement of the
status of slavery in the territories acquired
by the treaty of peace with Mexico. Seces-
sion reared its horrid horrid front in the
South, and death-struggle between the sec
tons was imminent This was happily COM
posed by the compromise measures of 1850,
and loyalty to the spirit of that adjustment
was the question for her decision in 1851
The Democratic candidate, and the large bulk
of the party opposed it. True TO her duty,
conservatism was again INDICATED in the cleo
ton of Gov. CAMPBELL. IN 1852 again, ii
became her to choose between the Wing and
Democratic candidates and determine her
judgment as to which was the sounder COM
promise man, and though supported but by
three other States in the Union, she again
proved her fealty to her ancient faith.
Thus in five Presidential contests, leading
the van in 1885, with only Georgia at her
side: in 1910 in the majority; in 1874 in the
minority; in IS4S gain in the majority; and
in 1852 gain in the minority, she was ever
true and steady.
In 1853, under the encouragement of the
| repulse of the previous year, she listened to
the special pleading of that inefiable dema-
gogle ANDREW JOHNSON, and again lost her
position. In 1855, the circumstances which
led to defeat were numerous, and are TOO
recent to require recaptulation. In 1856
the sectional aspect of the contest which was
shaped by the disunion Democracy OF the
South and the republicanism of the North,
made effective and plausible the cry of mo
chance; in regard to the only national and
conservative candidate, and the triumph OF
the Democracy in Pennsylvania just prior to
to the election purchased by corrupt money
influences and illegal voting, threw her for
the first time, in twenty years, in Presiden-
tial election. into the Democratic ranks. In
1857, unnerved by repeated defeat, with
democratic misrule irrevocably fastened upon
the nation for four years, the election, may
almost be said, to have gone by default
BY this cursory glance it will be seen that
in seventeen contests she has ten times de-
clared against Democracy, and every one OF
these occasions was a test, unaffected by ex-
traneous, or accidental influences.
In addition 10 these evidences of healthy
political bias, there are other and intrinsic
reasons which compel to the conclusion that
the sympathies of her people are antagonist
ic to the Democratic party. She lies IN the
center of the Union, touching on the west the
Mississippi, whose western tributaries ind
their source on the eastern slope Of the Rocky
Mountains; and on the east, the mountains
from whose SUBMITS may be seen the placid
bosom of the Atlantic. The commercial and
business interests of her people ally her equal
ly with her Northern and Southern sisters in
the Union, and while recognizing and uphold
ing the institution of slavery, and standing
prepared to defend the constitutional rights
which environ to it, to the last extremity,
she is not beaten by the rays of a tropical
sun locally concentrating all her ideas, in the
one absorbing consideration of niggerisns, and
for selfish and sectional purposes, causing her
to obtrude that subject into every question.
| She has no part or lot in extremism of any
! form She despises the cant of fanaticism,
and will resist the encroachments OF that spirit.
| She abhors and loathes in her Utmost soul the
| not less hateful spirit of the antagOnistic eX-
IRENE, and its darling derivatives, nullifca-
| ton, secession and disunion, which are the be-
| ginning corners of Southern Democracy; and
we feel an abiding confidence that when the
| necessities of the times have demonstrated
that the agency of mighty effort of the con-
| servatives is necessary to restrain these radi-
| cal extremes, and save the country, that she
will. as of old, prove leal and loyal to her
| principles.
| Such an emergency liz upon the country,
/ aud we see the manifestations throughout all
her borders, that she appreciates it. The
reckless triaing with the true interests
! of the nation which has been increasing
year by year. for the last six years, has grown
uncomfortable. The poison of corruption has
| infected the entire body of the republic. Its
stencil fills the land, and rises, dense and
sitting vapor, from every hedge and by-way.
Reform is absolutely necessary, and the PEG
pie have resolved that it shall be effected
The holders of power have abused the public
confidence long enough. Their displacement
is determined on. The hands on the dial-plate
| of events are on the stroke of doom to the in
soleut Democracy. In this grand and vigorous
assault which is to overthrow the dynasty OF
imposition and corruption, Tennessee will be
found at the post of duty.
|
| Another Good Ticket -OId Wilson
has done We'll.