Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-19


hibitions of corruption in high places revolt
ing to every sentiment of integrity; and,
FINALLY. to render imminent the danger of a
dissolution of that Confederacy which is the
palladium of our liberties at home and the
surest safeguard against aggression from
abroad.
The time las arrived for the people TO
pause and reflect on the present condition OF
the country and the causes and the party
which have been instrumental in bringing 1T
upon US. The time of II ckoning is a! hand.
The days of the Democracy, | trust are num-
bered. To quote the language of distln-
guished Senator. used the other day in refer
ence to the ambiguous platform of Demo-
crazy, Virginia desires "neither TO cheat nor
be cheated" Heaven knows she has been
cheated long enough She is now prepared
to look the dangers " bich beset her squarely
in the face. The imposing character and
numbers of the late Opposition convention
show that she has aroused from her lethargy
and is ready to take new observation to
ascertain how far she has drifted from the
course which duty TO Der own lofty fame
and duty TO her confederate sistersrequire
her to steer.
1t is obvious to the most superficial obser-
yer that under the fatal auspices of Democra-
cy the country has become divided into two
great sectional parties. which are fast pushing
us to the verge of dissolution of the Union.
Losing sight of all the great industrial inter-
ests of the country, and protesting to be the
exclusive guardian of the peculiar institution
of the South, the Democracy has adopted as
its cardinal measures the acquisition of Cuba,
per fds ant nefds the repeal of the laws pro-
hibiting the African slave trade the seizure
of Sonora and chihuahua by force of arms I;
and the invasion and occupation by lawless
maraUders of the territory of friendly but
defenseless neighbors of Central America.
At home we find the same party, at one
session Of Congress, repeating the great
measure of pacification--the Missouri Com
promise-(the repeal of which the Virginia
Legislature had pledged itself, but few years
before, to resist at all hazards and to the last
extremity and affirming as fundamental
article OF their faith, the absence of all con-
stitutional power in Congress to intervene in
the Territories for or against slavery and,
at the next session, We have seen the same
party attempting. by the Intervention of Con-
gress, to force the LecOmpton Constitution on
the people of Kansas, in opposition to their
almost unanimous wish Defeated in this in
iquitous measure, they now, in the face OF
their former dogma .Ot non-interventiOn. de-
mand that Congress shall pass laws repeating
the acts of the Territorial Legislature, and
substantially establishing, by Congressional
legislation, slavery in the Territories.
What confidence can be placed in party
thus regardless of its own plighted faith and
of all the obligations of the Constitution and
of common honesty?
Is it a matter Of surprise that measures like
these should have strengthened the hands of
the Republican party of the North. and
caused the people Of that part of the country
to believe that an institution that leads to
conduct like this is inimical to the welfare of
the nation?
This sectional strife has gone far enough.
The time has arrived when it must be arrest.
ed. There is peculiar propriety in Virgin
las assuming the Office of peace-maker.
Standing as she docs in the center of the Con-
federacy, having common interests with both
sections, but identified with neither extreme,
her cOInsels must be received with respect.
Let, then, Virginia, the parent of States and
the great pioneer in the cause of civil liberty
let Virginia, the mother of Washington,
with a thousand memories more precious
than rubies encrcling her brow, stand forth
with majestic mein and say to the angry
waves of faction, peace be still"
Let her invoke the good men of all parties
to remember that their first and highest duty
is to their country! She has erected plat
form broad as the Constitution, comprehen-
sive as our territorial limits; a platform on
which all men true to the Constitution, true
to the Union, true to the best interests of the
country, true to the sacred trust reposed in
us by an all-wise Providence as the guardians
of the great principle of the capacity of man
for self-gOvernment. may safely and honOra-
bly, stand.
Let us hearken to the appeal, let is stand
en- that platform! Let us invoke by example
well as precept, the good men of our sister
States-those who love country better than
party-tO unite with us. Let us in the com
ing contest give them the assurance that We
are i'll earnest; and who can doubt that, witt
the blessing OF God, glorious victory
will crown our efforts?
1t is fortunate though probably fortuit
Gus circumstance that your meeting is to bC
held on the 18Th of March. 1t is a gloriou!
| day, day illustrated by one of the mos
signal displays of genius and patriotism tina
ever graced our Congressional annals: it II
the anniversary of the great speech of DAME
Webster on the compromises of 1850.
We all remember how deeply agitateG th,
| country was by the angry struggles of tue
| winter of 1890. The stoutest hearts
were appalled,. The turbid waves of sectional
strife ran mountains high. The business o
| the country was suspended. Every eye wa
turned to the Capitol at Washington. Cal
houn was dying; but Clay and Cass and Web
| ster and Dickinson and Douglas were there
| The hopes of the country centred ia them
| At length it was announced that DAME
| Webster had the floor of the Senate to spcal
| to the nation. The sun of the 18th of March
| 1850. more glorious than the sun of Austerlitz
| arose. Every avenue to the Senate Chamber
was thronged with anxious crowds, and thou
sands turned away disappointed. At length
| came the hour and the man. Daniel Wehste
arose in his place, with that majestic presenc
| which so well became the great defender anC
| expounder of the Constitution. and poured
| forth to an enraptured audience those word
| of wisdom and patriotism and eloquence an'
| devotion to his whole country, which touched
"A responsive chord in every American heart
| BY telegraph and the mails they were spreaC
| broadcast over the land, and sank deep int
| the minds of the people.
The country breathed more freely. Al
| felt that the Union was safe! All knew tina
| the Demon of Discord had been exercised.
| Let similar spirit animate your meeting
! Let devotion to the Union be cherished il
| your hearts. Let the 9TH of March, 1859
| borrow the inspiration of the 9Th of March
| 1850. Let all remember that although
| Daniel Webster be dead. though the morta
man be not present to appeal to you in be
| half of that Constitution which he so mucl
| loved, his immortal spirit will be present, anC
| inspire the last anthem which hallows it
| memory!
Very respectfully, your friend and fellow
| citizen,
ALEX. ii. ii. STEWART.
Messrs A. J. Crane, T. b. Ingram, q. Whit
| field.