Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-04-01
PEECH OF
2 Hon. Jere. Clemens.
o F NJ E MPH HIS:


Mr.. CLEMENS said: had not intended to
make any remarks upon the public questions
now agitating the country. until after the re-
port of the Committee on Resolutions of
which | am a member. But the time is not a
all material and do not feel at liberty to re-
fuse the call which has been 80 generally
made. From what know of the sentiments
of the committee doubt not the resolutions
will be such as every patriotic citizen can en-
dorse. and i have no idea that they will
stand in need of any of my advocacy to make
them acceptable to the Convention There is
enough OF other matter to occupy more time
than you would he willing to accord to me.
The Democratic Convention which recently
assembled in this hall have accomplished a
feat Of hOrsemanship which, 80 far as nv
knowledge extends, is without precedent;
they have demonstrated the fact that il is
possible to ride on both sides of a sapIing at
at the same time. They resolve that gold
and silver is the only constitutional currency,
and yet add thar i'll view of the circumstances
surrounding them they will tolerate bank is
sues, and lrgalize the circulation of paper rags
At another time, and in another place shall
have occasion to inquire what kind of public
morality that is which justfies Legislator
who has taken an oath to support the Consti-
tuition in tolerating what he believes to be a
plain infraction of its provisions for the sake
of expediency. To-day chose to look at that
solution in another light. 1t was intended
by it, trainers to produce double result. The
first, which | consider very unnecessary
prec ution, was TO heal the divisions in their
owB ranks, and make platform upon which
"Hards' and ''SoftsP could stand with equal
comfort. / say that | believe this to have
been unnecessary, because / have never vet
known difference of principle to influence,
to any great extent, Democratic votes on cleo
ton day. The other object was to force us to
conduct this canvass with reference to nation
nj rather Than State issues. From the result
az III" last two or three elections, they believe
that if they can only keep State issues out of
the canvass, their success is certain, and they
have therefore attempted to frame their resO-
luton uron the currency question in such a
manner that it may mean just what each To-
cal SPEAKER chooses to ascribe 10 it.
or course / do not intend to permit this
shallow artifice to pass unexp0sed. In the
progress of the canvass it will lie necessary
for all Of us to exhibit it in its true celors;
but on this occasion. | desire to apprise them
that we do not shrink from the issue they
themselves have rendered. | take up the
gauntlet they have thrown down. | enter the
the list they have selected. and accept the
combat upon their own terms. 1t is true, and
they may possibly remind you of the fact
that am citizen of less than four months
standing. Nevertheless, feel, and | have
gratifying evidences that you do also that
am neither stranger nor an intruder here.
Born upon the frontier of the State, | have
from early manhood been familiar with Ten
nessee politics. and more or less Intimately
associated with Tennessee politicians Even
were it otherwise even if | was a stranger.
with not one remembered face about me. the
only inquiry | should deem it necessary to
make, at time like the present, would he.
Is this an GsssmbtG9e Of american citlz",as? And
when an affirmative answer was received, |
should claim the right to say, as citizen
equally Interested with themselves that every
case of governmental misrule is a reflection
upon the intelligence of those who submit to
1t. That every instance OF violated pledges
on the part of our rulers, which is permitted
10 pass unremarked, is IA crime against patriot
ism--and that every detected corruption
which is not promptly followed by signal
chasiiscment, is foul blot upon the memory
Of glorious ancestry. who transmitted TO us
an inheriance of self government with the
implied injunction TO preserve it pure and un-
detiled. When these truths were admitted-I
should claim the further right to say to them,
within the last four years a mourn
full and degrading chapter has been written
in the history Of this Republic, which it is
our duty net TO hide or excuse, but TO amend
and redeem. @
1t affords mC no pleasure 10 go over the in
cidents recorded in that chapter. Ii oblivion
could bring back the public virtue which has
been frightened away, no hand in America
would be more ready than mine to throw a
pail over the loathsome story and inscribe
upon il Let scho i0rcs his country seek 10
earn trhdt IS hidden beneath
But unfortunately silence is a charity which
is no more appreciated by the public than the
81 n.
ner case il is sure To be taken MS an evidence
IF appreciation, while in the latter the often
Ter only imagines his sins are unknown For |
public criminals, therefore, there is no repent
ance until after punishment; and to insure |
hat punishment, it is necessary that YOU and |
, and those who feel IA we do should 90 out |
,mong the people, and read page after page
rom the public records, however we may feel |
,ur checks burn during the performance of |
he revolving task.
For my present purpose il Is not necessary |
o 60 behind the Convention which assembled |
"a the city OF Cincinnati in the month of |
une. 1857. Ii il true that there is much be-
-ond that Convention which the patriot can
ot recall without shame. or the reformer who
eeks To re tablish better times, pass unno-
ced. But all the sins of the mis-named De-
locracy en- not be cafalogued in a single
p'ech, and As AIN compelled to make a Sc
'etion, shall begin with that memorable
Upon coming together il exhibited mass
diScordant and conflicting materials. such
5 was never witnessed before in this country
nd such as ! trust never will be witnessed
gam. There were Benton aud anti-Benton
slegates from The State of Missouri. There
ere van Bnreu ds iegates. and Dickinson DEL
gates nom the State of New York There
ere delegates protesting friendship for Doug
g and ys,i intriguing for Buchanan. There
ere delegates Instructed To vote Cor Pierce
no were all the while intriguing for Doug
:. Inere W. re men ready To subscribe TO |
~ Kind OF platform provided their candi-
Ate Was pat upou il. and there were others
ady TO serilice the choice OF the people they
presented If they could obtain platform
squ themselves In one thing only was
ere an approach tn unaninl.ty. Seven ia
Iery ten had gone there in the hope, aud
tn tire expectation of political prefermrnt.
wen In every ten were working for their
IN interest, first, last aud all the time"
be public honor and the national greatness
ere minor considerations, though will do
en- The justice 10 say. that In trading off the
epublic no one OF them underyaiued his
sn Importance, aud all Of them demanded a
CHER price than Judas received for betray.
z bis master.
As might have been ex ,ected from snch .
aterials, scenes of intrigue, of bargain and :
fter began even before the Convention /
ct. The friends Of each candidate estab- I
bed Kind OF public restaurant, aud the
animation Of President Mas effected by y
cans that "a candidate for County Judge c
uid have been ashamed TO employ. Upon :
> prhlie acts OF that candidate shall have /
casion 10 comment with some degree OF
cd s,ii; Blit 1 wish first 10 call attention 20
. Platform upon which he was elected, q I'd {
Iich. IN his Iett,r oi acceptance, be fully en- q
- q. sszisaTs u not b fore ne. nor Is IL :
1888