Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-04-10
The CohesIon Of the FACTIONS.


The friends of Mr.. BELL, the Patriot says, are
''cohering toEether into new party, which is pre-
pairing to assume control Of the government, when
the present administration retires from power As
we are to contend against fragment Of this party
in the campaign now commencing it may be pro-
ftabe to inquire what the basis of It's organiza
tion and the elements of its strength The name
of Opposition, which it has adopted indicates
rather what il is not than what it is. The Platform
scarcely gives clearer sight into its principles
or its purposes. We must look to the Ingredients
Of the compound then, 10 determine its nature and
qualities.
The mixed and motley character Of the late Con-
ventiOn in this city, would lead US to think that
some new law Of political affinity must be brought
into operation 70 produce the desired cohesion
among its disoordant materials. Such collection
of factions and psrefactiOns never before.
''The elements were SO mixed in it. that the power
which called it into beirg could not give it name.
Disunionists and do1ghfaces, fire eaters and freeo
sellers, Red Republican radicals and federal con-
servatves, the proscriptive know nothing and the
prescribed foreigner cOunselling aud cODsult>
ing together about the best means of defeating the
Democracy and restoring the government to its
original purify.
We saw men there who had learned their polit-
ical creed from the eloquent lips Of kentucky's
distinguished Statesman, who loved HENRY CLAY
with all the ardor and intensity of their mattress
who venerated lis name and cherished his memory.
They were listening patiently, aye, apprOvingly to
the oracular uterances Of Henry s. FooTE, who had
denounced Mr.. CLAY as the enemy of the South,
a.. 3 b,1;t h auth If
timents more insulting to Southern men, than any
which HALE or SEWARD had ever dared to utter
There was no Oulburst Of honest indignation from
these lifelong frienOs and followers of Mr.. CLAY
when the calumniatOr Of their old chieftsin arose
10 address them they welcomed him with enthu-
siasm and applause. Respect for the old leader
yielded to admiration for the new one.
JERE CLEMENS, the former fre-sstng Senator
from Alabama was there. His philippe against the
administration has been published and is now cir
culating through the columns Of newspapers which
adopt the com premise Of the first article of their
creed. Mr.. CLEMENS pronounced fereer phiippics
against the compromise than he ever did against
Mr. BUCHANAN. He almost went to the point Of sd-
vOcating dsunion rather than submit to its provis
ms.
We TeCOBulEbu IN lll6 COHF6uAluu many SCut4eWSA
who had supported Gen. sCoTT in 1852. They
we're listening to a speech from Gen. QUARLEs, to
whom they have committed the banner Of their
party in the Hermitage District They were pleased
with his thrusts at the Democratic party, and did
not seem to remember how bitterly he had reviled
themselves in days gone by. They seemed to have
forgotten his declaration, that the State Of Tonnes
see had been disgraced by its support of General
Scott-that it was ga dark spot on the map Of tie
country"
Sch are some of the elements of the OPP
position in Tennessee. 1t has again and again
been repudisied by the people under different
names. II has not improved its character of late,
nor have the citizens of Tennessee lost any Of their
disgust for its practices. They will repudate it !
again.
But the Opposition Of Tennessee, and of the
entire South, even if there was any prospect or
possibility Of their carrying single Southern |
State would not be powerful enough to achieve the
overthrow of the Democracy in 1860, which they in
common with the Black Republican Opposition of !
tire North, announce to be their object. This
Southern faction is not the "great Opposition
partyn of which Mr.. BELL is the Representative
and leader These III Tennessee and these in other
Southern States are net alone, the friends to whom
he Patriot Glludes cohering together into new
md formidable organization. The efficient force is
o come from the States where the Opposition have
. majority-from the Black Republican, Abolition
2tates of the North. Without their aid and ALI
nee the Southern wing would be as powerless as
hey were in 1856. In protesting in their platform
nd in their organs, that the object of their organ
zstiOn is to overthrow the Democracy, they viz