Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-28
RE. CHEATmAr., of Davidson.
xrarEExECUTIXE COMMITTEE.
THURSDAY, JULY %. 1889.
One Word More.

The WEEKLY PATRIOT which we send out to-
day is the last one we can issue before the day
of the election. We have done all it has
been in our power to do in placing the issues
of the canvass, and the facts ana arguments
connected, before the people fully and fairly.
1t now remains for them to make up their
verdict and announce it at the ballot-box.
We earnestly invite the people of both
parties to give those issues, facts and argu-
ment, with which they are now familiar,
calm and dispassionate review, and to make
up their minds as patriots and as indepen-
dent freemen. We invoke them to scrntiZe
the positions of each of the parties and de-
eide in favor of that which they sincerely be-
lieve to be best calculated to secure the bless
ings of liberty TO the people, the perpetuity
of our glorious institutions, and the prosperi-
ty OF the country. The issues, in relation
both to national affairs. and State policy, as
developed in the discussions ofthe campaign,
are of the very highest Importance The
measures suggested by the Administration,
If carried out, would be most dangerous to
the public liberty and destructive of the
primary principles on which the government
rests.
The President has asked that the war-mak-
ing power be delegated to him in person.
thus paving the way for the subversion OF
the constitution, the destruction of our liber-
ties, and military despotism. The power
to declare war is one of the highest preroga-
tives of sovereignty, involving as it does the
highest interests of the county, the use of
the public treasure and the service and even
the lives of the citizens. The constitution
wisely vested this power in the people
through their representatives IN Congress. 1t
is therefore a violent innovation upon our
organic law, which would lead to the most
disastrous results. Will the people sancton
this?
The President has asked for Bankrupt
law for banks within the several States; thus
inauguraIing a principle at war with the
reserved rights of the States, and tending to
build up central consolidated government
at the expense of the States themselves.
Will the people sanction this?
The President has asked for the enormous
sum of $50, 900 900 of the public money, TO
be placed at his absolute disposal for the os-
tensible purpose of acquiring more territory
thus making the Executive the dispenser
of the peoples money. Will the people
sanction this?
The President has used his patronage for
the purpose of controlling elections in the
States, and while the elections themselves
were pending-thus striking directly at the
he, Of hnl rk
of liberty, and the most valuable heritage of
the citizen. viii the people sanction this?
The President and his party have, more
over, run the expenses Of the government
beyond all precedent, and beyond all neces-
sity. They have bankrupted the treasury,
and, like the besotted and dissolute spend
thrift, have scarcely retained q monument of
its going. and are still spending and borrow
ing to keep up appearances. The effect OF
these expenditures has been to innoculate
every department of the public service with
corruption Of the rankest description. Will
the people sanction this?
In relation to our State policy the great
and overshadowing question is that respect
ing the currency. The history of this question
for the past eighteen months. is conclusive
Of the fact that the leaders of the democratic
party are in favor Of destroying the banking
system of the Stale, and of adopting an ex-
elusive gold and silver circulation. Reform.
with them, means destruction. The evidences
of this fact are numerous and convincing,
In our discussions heretofore, we have given
then at large, and need not now repeat them
The question then iswiIl the people strike down
the banking system, and reduce the property
values and the productive capacities OF the
State one half? Are they willing to tram
mel theiI own energies, and to stop the State
in the mid-career of its development?
FeHow-citzens of Tennessee, weigh well
these facts, and ponder these questions. They
not oely involve the mere triumph Of the
few men who are candidates, but they deep
ly involve the present aud future welfare of
the State and the Integrity ofthe constitution
and the stability of the Union. The efforts of
men for individual promotion are transito'y;
but the principles of government are eternal.
Will you follow the fortunes otany set ofmen
or any party, when in so doing you invade
the original principles OF u sound, stable and
free government. AS freemen aud as pa
triots. will you endanger your highest aud
dearest rights for the temporary advance
ment of few ambitious individuals, We
bust not we believe not.