Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-16
Political Nomenclature.


the press of the South, and especially with
the democratic and secession press OF this
section, to designate all the opponents of de-
mocracy in the North as dbolit,oniSts. Save a
few high-souled patriotic, national Americans
who were never seduced from their allegiance
to the constitution and the laws of the coun-
try and to the equal rights of all the States,
even in appearance, OF under the most fierce
and heated sectional excitement, and very
few democrats who, for the sake OF the spoils,
cling to the fabulous nationality of the de-
mocraiic party, 1t is usual with the presses
we have named, to characterize indiscrimin-
ately the people ofthe North as abolitionists.
In most cases, we are persuaded that this is
the result of looseness of expression fire.
quently inseparable from newspaper writing,
OR from want of reflection or information !;
but in some instances, we doubt not, it is
purposely done with the design to create the
impression on the popular mind of the South
that such is the fact. 1t would be great
point gained for the secession per sc organs
: to establish the belief that the great mass of
the people inhabiting beyond Mason and Dix
on's were abolitionists in fact, and that all
their political intentions and movements
were directed to the determination of the in
stitution of slavery from the southern States.
1t is not improbable that such circumstance,
having real foundation, indicating to the
southern people that the great mass OF those of
the North had formed deliberate determine.
ton to abolish slavery in the South, and
were using all their energies and their I'M
doubted powers for that purpose, wonld great
ly enhance the secession cause, and 60 far
towards precipitating, at once, dissolution
of the Union. And hence these mischievous
advocates of secession are willing to avail
themselves of the advantages of such state
of thing by the current designation of aboli-
tionism in their ordinary references to the
northern people.
So, it is Common with the democratic
press to refer to the Black Republican Or
ganization as abolition and "aboition-
ists."' And, whether intended or not, the
chief effect of these expressions is to leave on
the public mind, especially On the ignorant,
the impression that the body of the Northern
people advocate and are actually seeking
through their political organizations, the alb
clifton of slavery and the violent destruction
of the rights of property at the South.
Undoubtedly there is very small squad
OF fanatics at the North. led by such men as
WENDELL PaILIPs and LLOYD GARRISON,
who are really and in truth abolitionists, and
who, if they had the power, would at any
hazard set up crusade Tor freeing the slaves
OF the South. But they are few, and the
extravagant fanaticism of their views are
such as 10 render them odious, even at the
North. The anti-slavery feeling at the
North, as cherished by the Republican party,
as laid down in their platforms and repeated
and elaborated by their organs in general,
is confined to hostility to the extension of
slavery over the territories belonging to the
United States and opposition to The admis-
sion into the Union, OF any more slave States.
There has been no platform erected by any
convention OF that party avowing any desire
or intention of interfering with slavery in
the South, either through the forms of pre-
tended law or by violence. Some of the Re-
publican leaders have gone SO far as to say
u
State into the Union under any circumstan-
ces the organic law of which tolerated slave
ny, but comparatively few have even gone
this far. As political party, their aim is to
assert such doctrines and to pursue such
governmental policy towards the Territories of
the United States, as will preclude the ex-
tension of slavery into regions where it does
not already exist.
This is the sum and substance of the Re
publican creed. lis very far from abolition
ism, and cannot be cOniounded with il by any
intelligent mind. If the apprehensive and
despairing should regard it as the precursor
OF abolitionism--if they hold It's tendencies as
likely to so result; let it be so distinguished
and denominated. This is matter of opin-
ion and, to a certain extent, of argument; the
other is an assumed fact, which, If true,
would admit of no argument. We certainly
do not defend the Republicans, nor sympa-
thise in their creed; but it is but Justice to
call things by their right names aud convey
right impressions of facts in treating of those
things.
Generally, doubtless, the people of the
non-slaveholding states are opposed to the
extension of slavery into that portion of our
country where it does not already exist. If
the question was put to each individual in
that section, uniufuenced by the compact of
the Union, the constitution. and the dictates
of right, whether he would desire slavery ex-
tension, we imagine there are few who would
answer affirmatively. But we believe a
large proportion of the Northern people, if
placed beyond the influence and exciting APP
peals of agitators, factionists and demagogues,
would stand by the Federal constitu- |
ton, and the equal and common rights of oil |
the States and the principles of justice on |
which this government rests, whatever nigh, |
be the effect on slavery. Thereare doubtless |
very many thousands. who have been hurried |
into the Freesoil or Republican ranks, under
temporary excitement, and the indamatory |
appeals of those who hold their own advance
ment as superior to the obligations of pat
riotism. who are truly conservative and will
abide the constitution and laws. Ii is unjust
and untruthful TO place such men in the
ranks of, or to treat them as abolitionists.
Judge Douglas.
The Murfreesboro' Nelcs, in the following
gives its democratic brethren