Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-11

the Maury county Democracy, held in Columbia IN
the 7th inst, to appoint delegates to the State Con-
ventiOn the folio sing preamble aud resolutions af
ter due confederation, were unanimously adopted .
On meeting together for tue purpose OF appoint
ing delegates 10 represent them in the S.aie Con-
Yentiop, be hedin Nashville on the 18th Of March
| the Demo erats OF MaurV county How assembled
deem it proper occasion not oaiy to declare their
firm adherence - the time-h0noTed nssges Of their
party bat 10 re afirm their unWlvering devotion to
its great fundamsn principles ami cardinal doc
trines For the last ten years the popular mind
| mas been so completely absorbed by the alarming
sectional issues which hase controlled political
contests that party has been compelled direct
IN st OF its energies TO the maiatanance Of the con-
stitutional rights Of the South, which during that
! period have been persistent and fercely assailed
| by powerful Northern party. When We aeh:eved
oar great national victory in 1856, it hoped
and bellies ved that sscionalisn had received so heavy
q blow that il would cease TO be the all-absorbiug
element in our future political contests The c0un-
try needed repose from this long continued sectional
/ strife. Amidst lis overwhelming excitement it
| vas impossible for ;he Democratic party to guar
some OF their distinctive doctrines from violation
and abuse as they could 20 Whea no such over
shad wing i.sua deman led their oOns mt vigilance
For a iime succeeding the Presidential election Of
1856, the expectation sas general that our mex
test wOnl be confroiled by s5ues unooBneeled with
sectional Influences. We had every reason to be,
eve that the question of slavery ia the Territories
hal been fully settled, especially sfer the
thorough endorsement Of the Democratic platform
that subject by the Supreme Court Of the United
States, that sbOitionism itself would shrink from
further agitation. That such would have beea the
happy result we caunot doubt, if the Democratic
party in Congress had united in carrying out the
recommendations Of Pres NJ Buchanan for the
admission Of Kansas a State under the Leccmpton
constitution Unfortunately for the pesee Of theosGn-
try portion Of the northern Democrats Joined the
"A .t,fs sb.,T p a
in defeating the settlement OF the question. From
that time to the present the indications have been
stronger and stronger that the Democratic party
will be forced in yindicliOn Of the constitutional
rights of the South, 10 meet another sectional issue
in 1850. Whether this issue shall come with an
undisguised abolition ticket for the Presidency,
whether in the shape Of a coalition between nOrth>
and southern candidates, protesting peculiar
devotion to national conservatism, the respons by
will deYoye upon the Democratic party TO meet il.
The detection in the Democratic ranks on the Le-
compton phase of the Kansas question, has fur
nished sroUg encouragement to the sbOitlonists 10
make another struggle for dominion If they feel
strong enough to triumph under an unfurled abohN
ton flag, they will reject the pr0e:ed coalitions Of
southern If they doubt their power 10 carry
all the northern States for an aVOEed abolition |
ticket they will make terms with the southern trai
tors and for the sake Ct TO hide their
abolitonsm under professions of national eonserva
tism. Whether they can triumph in the one way or /
the other, the result will be substantially the same
it will be an abolition triuml h. 1t is entirely 4
certain that the Democratic sriy will be called TO
meet the issue Of sectOnssm In the shape the
oher andt is their duty to prepare for the contest
without delay.
1t becomes every democrat TO feel the heavy re-
spOnsibility which rests upon his party His is the
only party which can save the Constitution and the
Union from overthrow. Let the democratic party
become diserganizCd and broken up, and then how
long could the Union stand? Who're else is the
power to resist the aggressions constantly made
upOa the constitutional rights of fifteen sovereign
States? So long these sgereEsiOns are ATTEMPTED
We are bound by our love Of the Constitution and l
the Union, to overlook all mi or questions and to
stand together on The great paramount issue f0Tcei
upon by cur enemies. On this issue the Southern
ates must be united or dissolution Of the con
federacy is ineyitlble. IL ab1lIOnis consent 10 /
any coalition with southern men, it will be for the /
purpose of dividing and conqueriDg the S G.h. !
With fifteen Southern States firmly knit together in
defence of their constitutional rights, slfely
count Northern assistance sufficient TO make
successful stand gsinst aggressio-s. The South
has and slWayshas had fii hfu northern friends
who gnizs our rights and are ready 10 saeri.
fee everything for their maintenance. If We would
keep these friends should prove true TO ourse.Vts
by showing in every election, lODg as sectional
is 2 is The prominent issue, that ranks I
broken. Whenever the democracy of the Southern
Slaes begin to Waver and to allow local questions
to eDgender dis. ensiOus and weakness IL its or
ganization our northern friends will no longer feel
that We appreciate or desire their cooperation
Il is au embarrassing fact that whilst the demo-
crsiic party is engaged in resisting the persisIsn,
aggret OF their heTn enemy, ihey called
on all the time to repel the assaults Of an inyeterae
opponent in the South. Without acknowledging
any sympathy with the aims of northern secuOnsl>
lists, we see amongst us Southern party aetuaied
by hostility 10 democracy as determined and uu-
compromising that Of abOhtiOnism itself We
see Southern statesmen who enjoy the confidence Of
their friends, cooperating IN Congress with aboh-
tiODists great test questions involving the instu-
tiOns of the South. We see Southern leaders and
their organs scquiescing in proposed terms OF Goa
liiiOn with our Northern enemies. If We do not I
see open and avoEed alliance with sbolitiOnists pro-
posed with the declared purpose Of suhjeoting the
SLUth TO Northern dominion, we DO see combinations
suggested and approved, the necessary consequences
of which would be to to the North IuInOus
ascendency over the South. We see our Southtrn
opponents daily rssorting to the most unscrupulus
misrepr resentations of democratic measures and
democratic statesmen, and laboring with unceasiBg
zeal TO create dis sensiOns amObg democrats on
questions OF local character. With two such eEe-
mics to contend ssWith-ODe assailiDg us openly IN
front and The other coverly in the IeaT-lt becomes
democrats to be 7igiant IN maintaining their or
gauizatOn unbroken and in harmoniziBg sil MI
differences that they may put forth their whole
strength in she approaching contest We can
not tight one enemy in the North successfully,
II
ded by our opponents in the South. Ii we will
stand hrm on great cardinal principles and adhere
faithfully TO organization, we shall come out OF
the next we did of the last contest with brill
liant victory to reward US for fidelity and zeal. In
view Of which;
Res0lUed, That we re-affrm the principles and
doctrines of the Democratic party, as laid down IN
the platforms adopted by our National Conventions,
and particularly those fea ures which declare,
l. That the Federal Government is one Of limited
poWers and that its Constitution should be strictly
construed by althe departments aud agents thereof
2. That the Constitution does not confer upon
the general government the power to commence snd
carry on works Of Internal improvement, and If IN
any way reconeilabe with the powers granted
therein it would be unwise aud inexpedient TO do
so, as unavOidsbly leading to Wssteful exravaganee
and corruption.
8 That justice and sound policy forbid the FedN
eral Government TO foster one branch Of industry /
to the CO riment of another by means Of prstec-
tive Tariff or otherwise; that no more revenue |
ought to be raised than is necessary for ecOnOm
icsl administration Of the government, and that in
adjusting the standard Of dutes the burdens should
be imposed upon Injuries, rather than neeessarits
On such articles would throw the tag, e;OrdiDg
to the ability to pay on property, rather than the
person.
4 That it is the duty Of every branch Of the /
government, both State and Federal, to practice |
rigid economy, and in times Of commercial disaster