Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-04-02
sATURDAY uonNING. APRIL ?, 1865
Plattarln % 1he OppositIon.

Platform Of the Opposition.
We propose this morning careful examination of
the declarations put forth by the Opposition in their
recent Convention constituting their new plat
fOrn. We shall do with fairness, and lot in any
spirit Of fault finding 1t would be sou1oe Of sat
isfsctiOn, and not of regret if we cOulS find much
in them 10 approve. Tneir FIRST declaration is as.
follows:
l. That the Union, as established by the FEEDER
al Constitution, is the surest guaranty Of The rights
and interests Of all sections Of the country, and
should be preserved.
This is truism which even the Abolitionist will
admit in theory, though deny in practice. To stop
here accOmplishes nothing. All the theories which
have ever been advanced in Congress- regarded as in
conflict with the Interests Of the different sections
Of the country and dangerous to the perpetuity of
the Union, were claimed to be consistent with the
Federal Constitution. There is bat one msn who
has ever claimed to assert doctrine ''hgber than
Inc Constitution, and he is prominent leader of the
Opposition. The principal evils which have afHict-
ed the country have resulted from the loose and I'M
WaErantable interpretations which have been given
TO that instrument 70 have svOiaed these evils,
our opponents should have gone farther and declar.
the same subject in favor Of ga strict construction of
the language Of the Constitution" This would have
guarded against the wild and visionary theories
Of secioHalists to encompass and destroy estab-
hshed rights and institutions among the people,
the efforts Of the abolionists interdic slavery in
the territories; to prohibit it in the District of Co.
lumbis, ArsenRls and NaVy-yards. 1t would have
guarded against the dangerous tendency in Con-
gress to legslste for local interests at the expense of
he general good, by improper OF the public
money and the public lands. The prevention of
thousand evils aRd the most serious dangers to the
dur lbility of institutions would thus have been
encompsssedina few words. The Opposition with all
their boosted feslty TO the GLORIOUS Union have
never been the friends Of the Constitution. They
have never been willing to restrain themselves to a
strict observance Of its provisions. They were not
lite friends in the convention which framed it. 1t
was too Democratic for them then. 1t looked too
much the rights of the people and the rights of
the States and too little 10 The poser and strength
Of the general government. They have alWays been
seeking to strengthen the government at the ex-
pense Of the Constitutions whereas, the Democracy
have stood by the Constitution and resisted The
erosebments of the government. Here lies the
terial ground of difference between the parties
now, as heretofore Il is easily seea. Let its i'm
POrtancs be reflected upon by the people.
Their next clause reads as follows
II. That while we will maintain with unwaver-
ing frmness cur constitutional rights in relation 70
slavery believe that the further agitation of the
question tends 10 no practical good 10 any portion
Of the country, and should therefore cease regard
ing the principle settled that the PEG pie Of the
Territories, wien they come to form Constitution
and establish State Government, shall decide the
question for themselvesG
To the casual reader this paragraph may seem
fair 1t was carefully and arrfully WOrded for that
purpose. But what does it mean What is its
purposei We All believe that the further sgita.
ton Of the slavery question viii tend to practi
cal good, and should therefore cease" but suppose
the Black Republicans think differently, what then?
Shall we fold cur arms and quietly submit? Shall
we yield our rights and interests under the Con-
stitution into their Ike, ping! Shall the Southern
States become mere dependencies upor the North,
surrender the into the hands of the dom
inant party in the free States 10 their elem
eney and for their mercy, for the simple purpose
Of having il to say that have ceased to 'agitate
the slavery question: Is it 'sgitaticn" to resist
opposilon-to defend cur rigbtS-tO maintain the
ConstitutOn-tO resist the tide OF sectional sggres>
sion which has beer rising higher and higher for
years past, and which has swept away every other
party At the North but the National Democracy
If this be agitation" then write it upon your
banners, proclaim it from your hOusetOps ihst the
Democratic party in Tennessee, and of the whole
Union, GLORY IN AGITATIoS THEY WILL MAINTAIN
THE CONSTITUTION AND THEIR RIGHTS UNDER 1T AT
ALL HAZARDS, call it what you will.
PM 49, he
principle as sailed that the peopleof the territories
when they TO form Constitution and establish
State Government, shall decide the question for
themselves" Who settled it The Democratic
party HoWH By the Ksnsas-Nebrasks bill, de.
elaring this as the true doctrine of the constitution,
which was subsequently affirmed by the Supreme
Court in the bred Scott decision. But will that set
Element be regarded by the Black Republican pGrty
Of the Northl Will they consent that it shall res
main settlement? Mott they can help il They |
are clamoTng for its repeal and are determined if |
possible, to accomplish that end; if by no other
means, BY recognizing the Supreme Court, when
they shall have obtained the control Of the governs
msnL Upon this subject We ask no better authOri-
y than the Hon. JONI BELL In his speech on the
Lseompton Constitution, delivered in the Senate
March Is, 1858, he says:
"Some Of us hsd hsttered ourselves that whom tbs
Kansas question should be settled peace and quiet
would reign in Congress and throughout the coun.
try The honorable Senator from New York, mt.
Seward announced 10 Us thSt this was a gross de-
fusion; that the admission of Kansas free State
would not terminate the slavery agitation in Con-
gress or any where else; that neither Congress nor
the country Is have any respite from it's evils,
and that there never will be quiet the slavery
ouestion until the South shall have abandoned all
further efforts TO extend slavery under the Federal
Oonstitution. He even undertakes to advise the
South on this point He could counsel nothing less
No copouering general in cooler manner, with
an air OF greater authority, ever dictated TO van
quished foes, the terms on which they could have
Race. But he does not encourage US with the h. pc
Of peace and quiet, if the South should yield
"a lis counsel, and seek further extension OF
- Anantinn. he intorms q 10 NRtl The