Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-04-08
FRIDAT MORNING, APRIL 5, 1859.


Platform of the Opposition.
We win not waste ink and paper ia any lengthy
consideration Of the sixth article laid down by the
recent convention as 4 declaration Of principles,
fsvoring an extension Of the period Of probation
now prescribed for the naturalization of foreign
srs," "the prohibition of the emigration Of for
eign PagpsTs and criminals and the prevention of
all Foreigners not nsturazed, from voting at cleo
tOns" eOntentng ourselves with the belief that the
people understand, that whatever abuses or evils
may eyst in connection with foreigners in this conn
try, do not result from any defect in tho present
naturalization laws, which were frst passed under
WAsHIHGToss Administration, and have been in
force SINCE except for the brief period of Fet>
sral reign under the elder ADAMS. As to the emf
grafton Of foreign criminals" they are already
prohibited from our shores, no party ever having
favored their admission. In their general hostility
10 'paups it is not expected the Democratic party
should sympathize, understanding the sense in
which the term is used BY their opponents to mean
the poor aud unfortunate of Europe. No other kind
Of paupers have, to any extent been landed on our
shores, and with this class Of pauperism We express
our decided sympathy. They are, many Of them,
such "paupers" IS the majority of eur people have
descended frOm-such paupers as landed st Plymouth
and jamestown and founded our infant colonies.
The other kind, the privileged and high>born,"
such as our federal opponents would be willing to
associate WITH seldom emgrate to our shores, hav>
ing no fODdness for Democratic institutions As TO
the prevention Of all foreigners, not naturalized
from voting at elections" we know of none such in
Tennessee who do vote, and of party hat ever IA
vored their voting. II it is intended to assert the
doctrine that Congress prescribe the qualifca-
ton Of voters fer the States, then we take issue
with our opponents at once. Congress can pass
laws prescribing the time and mode of Daturaliza-
tion but naturalization only confers the rights of
citizenship, not the right to vote. Who snail and
who shall not exercise the elective franchise, are
questions for the States 10 determine-s matter
with which the general government has nothing to
do. Tennessee once permitted free negroes to vote
and the Federal Government could not have prohib-
itedi.. If Congress could have prohibited free ne
grOes from voting then, Black Republican Con-
rsss could invest them with the privilege of voiug
now. To contend for such power on the part Of
Congress, is wicked and absurd.
The seventh declaration Of their platform is
rsbuke to the President for an aedged offence, of
which the President was never guilty. he has not
ssksdthst Congress should confer upon him the war
making power; and as TO the "reckless extrsva-
Ranes and corruption Prsetised under the present
Administration" defy them to make specific their
charges, with promise to show, not by assertion,
but by the public records, that they themselves
have produced the extravaganza and engendered
the very eorruplioDs of which they SO loudly and
bypoeriticalIy complain.
Their eighth proposition is one Of some impor4
lance. It reads:
VIII. That we are in favor of sound and we'll
regulated banking system, the Issues whereof shal
by being ysble their face at the place whence
issued, be convertible, at the will of the holder,
into the precious metals.
Among all the shin plaster advocates that have
afflicted the county at different times, none we be-
heve ever confessed themselves in favor of an IN
sound and ily-regulated banking system; they were
all for a "sound and Well-regulated banking sys>
tenn" The friends of the old United States Bank
talked that way. The friends of all the Banks in
Tennessee that have gone down and left their spur-
Gus CIRCULATION in the pockets of the people, talked
the same way; and under this delusive plea they
we're chartered by the Legislature. This then, is
but reassertIOn Of the old federal doctrine in favor
Of paper money system, without restriction, ex-
Cspt that they shall profess to be convertible athe
will Of the holder, ct the place whence issued Il
will be remembered that nearly Every bank that has
fsiled in Tennessee was subject by its charter to
this restricton-the Central Bank, Citizens Bank,
Bank Of East Tennessee, the Exchange Bank, the |
Banks Of Jefferson, Claiborne, TazweIl Sc &C., &C.
And thus it is that the people of Tennessee in
vitsd out upon another sea of experimental high |
pressure bsnking-Of cheap money, grOund out at
the printing press by the thousand, aud paid to
the people for the products of their labor, fail
upon their hands again during tbs next panic,
and after the sdventurers and gamblers in trade
shall have filed their pockets with the fruits of la
Dor not their own.
Upon this question the position Of the DemOcrrtie
party will present striking contrast with that to
which We have been referring. It recognizes gold
and silver as the true constitutional currency-the
present paper money system evil TO be depre-
satsd-and avoWs its intention to labor for q reform
Of these abuses by the most direct means consist
sRt with the existing circumstances so as to avoid
the possibility of crping any Of cur various in
terssts by any legislation not gradual in its opera
ton. While there may have been some slight diff
fereuces in the Democratic party to the extent to
which the measures Of reform should be ultimately
csrried, there is no difference upon any thing now
practical relating to this question. The measure
IF reform, insugurated almost solely by the Demo-
,ratic members Of the last Legislature, and opposed
With equal uuanimity by the Opposition, has re
,sived the general sanction Of the people. The
,ropriety Of carrying forward that reform, at least
o the extent agreed upon by our State Convention,
md Of retaining far possible, in all future
egisston, the power TO alter abolish these cor
,Orations as the public good may require, will find
% opponent in the Democratic ranks. On the con- S
rary, wseonhdently expect that it viii be the means
( bringing many honest people to our support who
svs heretofore been in the habit Of voting against
8. They viii realize SOr the fFss time thS' they