Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-20

The Old Party with its News Name.
Ii is really amusing to read the proceedings of
the so called Opposition" meetings that the Know
Nothings are new holding in the different counties
in Tennessee 10 appoint delegates to thtir State
Convention.
First, who is it thai are holding these meetings?
This is q matter 50 plain to the understanding of
every one that it would be useless to ask such
question; and yet it is evident that those who get
them up are guilty Of the gorgeous folly Of rdeayN
oring to conceal the fact, and cheat the public as
20 their own identity. For instance, for the last
two canvssses there have been but two parties in
Tennessee, Democrats and Know Nolhings. They
Iaarshalled under their respective banners, and
were thus designated No change in he org sn>
ization Of parties in this State has taken
place since that time. In politics We now just
what we we're then. There may be some who, dis
appointed in their expectations Of getting fsvors
with the Democracy, will in another election vote
with their opponents. There may be Know No
things who, Disguised with contemplate cheat
are ready to join the Democrats. Some changes in
the membership Of parties arc constantly taking
place. But the two psrties that divide the people
of the State are, in fact the to-day that they
thingism has grown wonderfully less SD DemOcrs-
prOpOrtisDably stronger. But the Know NOthings
would fain create different impression; not by
open declaration go much as by indirect action,
In proof Of this, we longer hear Of ''the great
American party" about which they boosted so
Justify in the last canvass. They are 10th TO
speak Of ii as man is of his disreputable anees-
tors. They would be glad to have the world believe
they sprung from different race-that they never
knew Sam. They have ceased to call themselves
Americans" their newspapers speak only Of the
Opposition" 1t is customary about this time,
preceding every State election for Conventions to
nominate candidates for Governor. The Democrats
have called theirs, and another party have called
theirs but enc may look through all the papers in
the State and see reckoning Of an Amsy1ceH Con-
ventioH. Meetings are being held il the various
counties of the State TO appoint delegates to at
tend these two Conventions, but We see account
of american" meetings Ia shelby, Monroe and
some other counties they designate themselves a
meeting of the Wings In ell the rest they are called
F'OppOsition" meetings. These, the Wing and Op-
position, are new psrties-rhe last bran new par
ty. When "Americanism" was ushered into exist
ence they told us tho Wing party dead. Now
alive, and that Know Nothing is dead
But what Of this other part Of the new party, the
Opposition" Wat is it, and where did il come
from? Who fathers it, OF does il belong that uu-
fortunate class Of bsntlings who never know their
fathers? What credentials does it bring as evil
denoe that it is worthy of credit =? May it not
be an imposter or a clown? These questions
that should be answered. and We call on gen.
tlemen who are now trying to introduce it into
genteel society to answer them. The entire pub
lie are waiting to hear.
In the mean time, We will indulge in some specu-
lsiOns about this party that puts itself forward
with such arrogant pretensiOns, under the eonve-
nient cognomen of g the Opposition" In opin-
ion it is humbug; a silly pretence; Clownish
disguise; & questionable character in borrowed
clothes, that, instead Of coaeealug, serve only
expose the bideOus deformity beneath. In other
words, the new party is nothing but the old party
Know Nothingism under an assumed name. The
only thing about it new is its tricks. We shall hear
no more of the blue boOk-tbe rituals, the Oaths,
and the dollar that was paid il. In future it will
he An insult to mention these. Nor will We hear
Iouch Of their intense love for the native born"
and their earnest appeals to "put none but Ameri>
cans on guard" The Pope still sits upon the Vat
lean and thunders forth his bulls but we will hear
NO more Of the dangers of his inquisitOrial power
in this country. Oppressed humanity in the old
world still keeps anxious look to the beacon of
hope which beokOns them across the waters; and
pilgrims aud tmigraats are still landing by thou>
sands on our chores, but we shall no longer hear
them spoken of as the "paupers and criminals of
Europe unworthy the privileges Ct frsemen" These
were the old tricks and they have served their turn.
New ones must take their places What they are
to be the future will deveOpe; but the motive that
influences the change of name is two fold: First,
to escape the Odium which justly attaches to the old
enc and makes its very touch Contamination. Second
~, to deceive the unwary with the idea that there
10 in Tennessee a class of voters opposed to Democ-
1acy, other than those who have heretofore mar
shalled under the banner of the so called American
party.
The name itself has foreign origin. Like Know
NOthingiSm, it was coined by the AbOlitionsts of
the North. There it was used with some pr0priey /
IS representing the combined forces Of Aboiti nism
and Know Nothingism, in their joint efforts to beat
down the National Democracy Il can be used for
no such purpose here, unless similar elements
exist At the South. There is but one other reason
we can conceive Of which is, that Know Nothingsm
in the South may be regarded Joined TO, and an
integral part of that combination of Abolition
lists and Know NOthiDgs at the North that have been
making common cause of late to break down the
only party in that fanstica section who loyal 10
the Union and willing TO observe the rights and hon
or Of the slave holding States.
Away with such party. IL is unworthy of any
age country. Ii is insult to tie intelligence
Of the people. 1t only serve to encourage the
hope Of fanStieism at the North increase the dis
sentiOns in the country, and be political lazor-
house for disaffected, reckless and adventurous
politicians The people will trsmple it under their
feet.
Our Democratic friends in Coffee, in their
recent meeting to appoint delegates to represent
them in the State Convention, adopted the folio wing
resolution personal to ourselves. They cannot en-