Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-12
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY Is, 1859.
Col. yetberIand ana his Antecedents.

Col. NetherIand and his Antecedents.
II has been The uniform practice of he OppOsi-
ton to characterize Democratic candidates as "De-
magogues" No single instance can be found to
which this remark will not apply, from the days of
THos. JEFFERSON to the present time. We will not
initiate their example by thus charscterizing their
candidate for Governor, Col. NETHERLAND, but will
briefly sum up his history as public man, and
leave the public 10 determine what word viii most
correctly portray the kind Of poHticiaa he is.
We have always been earnest and unspsring in
our structures upon the misconduct Of public men,
but we have chosen deal in facts rather than
serfioas and would to do injustice for party
purpose.
Colonel NETHRRLAND started out in public life
claiming to be Democrat, and as such advocated
with great zeal all the distinctive doctrines of the
Democratic party, and argued with earnestness
against the creed of their opponents. In 1885, he
abandoned the Democratic party, denying however,
that he was deserter, but expressly declaring in
an address, which be published to the State, that he
had in view the success Of Democratic principles
This is change No l.
A few years later Colonel NETHRRLASD ranked
himself with the more ultra school Of Wings party
whose distinctive creed was United States Bank,
high Protective Tariff, Internal improvements by
the General Government, Distribution of the pro-
oeeds of the Public Lands, and the Bankrupt Law,
and Opposition to the annexation of Texas. Col.
NETHERLAND and his party we're defeated in 1874
In lS48, the Wing Convention which assembled in
Philadelpha to nominate a candidate for the Presi~
dency, was taken possession Of by Get of political
adventurers, who threw Mr.. CLAY overheard, and
nominated no party candidate in his place Col.
NETEERLAND went upon the electoral ticket in Ten
nessee as the advocate of this noparty candidate,
General TAYLOR. Notwithstanding the want Of
honesty in such q petition, Colonel NETHERLAND
continued Whig and supported General ScoTT in
1852, one of whose peculiar merits his love for
1.-THE rich Irish brogue and the sweet German acs
cent" and the beefthst the present naturalization
laws ought to be reduced in time
Blu! the next thing that is heard Of Col. NEITHER
LAND, he has ceased to be a Wing, having united
himself with secret, oath>bOund society, known as
the american Order" which claimed to have risen
upon the ruins Of the two old parties, and would not
be responsible for 1he obnoxious acts or violated
pledges of either" This was change No. =.
Col NETHERLABD having abandoned the old Wing
party-haviDg paid his admission fee into the new
order, and taken its Osths and degrees, continued
jealous in its support from 1855 to 1857, during
which time the Northern wing of the new order had
triumphed over the Democracy, secured majority
in Congress, elected Banks, an Abolition Know
Nothing, Speaker; CULLUN as Clerk, and spent
mere money than any other Congress that ever
sembled before or since. The next that we hear of
Col. NETuERLAED, he makes his appearance as one
of the orators before the Convention which assem-
bled in Nashville, in 1857, to nominate a candidate
for Governor, styled The american and Hhig' Con-
vention. Col NETHERLAXD was protesting to have
discovered then that the old Wing party was not
dead which profession carried with it the necessary
inference that he with others, had been engaged in
dishonest fraud upon such democrats as had been
deluded into the new order with them This was
change No. g.
The new device fixed up for 1857, was more
complete failure than the trick Of 1855 One thing
was now clearly demonstrated, thet the only posi-.
bic means Of defeating the Democratic party was in
successfully combining into party all the hostile
elements North and South. Political tricksiers in
Congress seized hold Of the application of Kansas
Tor admission into the Union as slqUe State as the
rAllyiDg POINT for this coalition of the isms, and
taken against the admission of Kansas under the
Lecompton Constitution, We have the undoubted
Germ Of great national party" This new party
in Tennessee wanted a candidate. Where was there
so well suited for such emergency as Col.
NETHERLAND! Nature seemed to have fashioned
him for the purpose. AS the representative of
Democrats he has only to point to the time when be
was the eulogist of Andrew Jackson, and endorsed
every principle of his ministraton-opposing
banks, opposing tariffs, opposing distribution, sc.
As the representative of old Wings he has only to
point TO the time when he fought under their bans
ner-favoring banks, fgycTiIg tariffs, favoriug dis
tributior, Sc. As the representative Of party
men, he has only to point TO the time when be deS
serted Mr.. CLAY and took place on the electoral
ticket Of Gen. TAYLoR-who was known at the time
as opposing nothing and favoring nothing As the
representative Of the Know NoGhings, initiating the
example Of Mr.. FILLMORE, he can point to some
second sCRoGGs, who will certify to having sworn
him iRto all the degrees, mysteries and obligations
of the order--to prosecute Catholics and prescribe
foreigners As the representative of the foreigners
he can point TO the fact that he is himself the
in-law of foreigner and in 1852 supported fer the
Presidency man who favored the policy of incress
ing their facilities for naturalization, rather than
restricting them. Therefore, Col. NETuERLAND &C.
cepted This was change No. 4.
Thus it appesrs--and let the reader bear in mind
that it is matter of public record and will not be
contrOverted by the 0ppositiOn-that Col NEITHER
LAND has been a member of fUsry party and the adj
vocate Of every creed known in the history Of the
country What such fact argues whether it ar
CUES duplicity on his part, or honest dealing;
whether it argues manly patriotism or the mere
tricks of political mOuntebank; whetherit argues
high staesmsnsbip the arts Of mere hucsIer-
ing, barterine pOlitiCian-we leave the public to
determine. We do go in the confident belief, how
ever that with the impartisl mind there can be but
ons eouclusiOn-thst JoHS NETHERLAND is worse |
than demagogue.