Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-07-16
Your Attention!

YSur Attention!
The man is cTiminally ignorant who argues with
himself that he has the right to be Indifferent 10
the political issues of Tie day and thathe viii pillow
his corn or shove his plain, pursue whatever else
may be his private pursuit. in life, aud leave pro-
fessiOnal politicians to shape and administer the
affairs Of the government Such a spirit becoming
general With the masses Of the people, would even
tualy. and at no distaEt time, result in the down
fall of our free institutions and here-estabiishment
of moaarcbisai rule. The history of the world has
shown that tae cangesnt tendency of power is to
steal from the many 10 the few Liberty with
mankind is not The general ru'e bat the exception
When We rtaec. that ours is the ouy really fres
Qovernmernlaent on earth, il will be readily under
stood that its peruansncy is by no means matter
of course but its downfall cure, unless preserved
and perpetuated by the constant vigilance and IN
corrupted patriotism Of the people
republican government is government of the
people. Sovereignty belongs to them; and every
free citizen has resting upon him the responsibility
Of SO exercising that sovereignty to preserve our
institutions from harm, and make them more useful
in tue advancement of the general good This in
divdual duty is so sacred that cannot be delega-
ted, however much i. may be trifed with and Rbus-
weary Of political strife; may become Indifferent
TO the result of elections, aud keep himself aloof
from the active scenes Of the day, but he cannot
thereby avoid the responsibility under which he
rests as part of the sovereign power of the land.
He cannot forget that, like the unjust steward be
has buried the one talent given him, and to that
tent has offended against liberty and good govern
ment; against his own interest and the interest of
others.
One Of the great evils incident to our government
is that the people will grow at times too neglected.
of their public duies-and too much disposed to re-
gard the political rights that enjoy blessings
that come like the sunshine aud the shOEers-and
each is too much disposed to leave to others the
agement of public affairs. The only class who are
at all times active and alive are those who incl
ted by the love of power and place, and the per-
sonsl friends who follow in their lead.
Let the time come when from these, or like caus-
Is, the few can control the many; when those most
interested in preserving the liberties of the country,
from their own Indifference and folly, shall have
become practically disfranci5ed and away goes the
Boosted equality under which we live; away 60
indiviGual rights and privileges which make ours
the happiest people on the globe
We throw out these rem lrks in view Of the cleo
lions which are now pending in Tennessee. Elec-
fions which involve, not simply the elevation Of men
10 office, but the decision Of questions and the de-
termning of influences whose limit reaches from
the very centre the circumference of our govern
Misunderstanding good evil, not only for the pre-
gent, but for the future
lis to be determined whether not the people
of Tennessee will stand by and maintain, what they
have heretofore sanctioned the great principle Of
Congressional non-intervention with the rights
slavery as laid down in the KnusssNsbraska bill
and confirmed by the decision of the Supreme
Court and which was SO wantoaly violated by
Northern AbOitionists and few Southern confed-
crates in refusing TO admit ksn3as into the Union
under slavery constitution.
It is to be determined whether or not the people
Of Tennessee will abandon the national men Of the
North who have stood by the national man of the
South, or encourage the aggressons Of our com
mon enemy, by sa3ciioning the disrePuable over
TUES which have been passing between The SEW
ARDS and the GREELEys CT the North and the BELLS
and the ErHERrDGEs Of the South, for coalition
OF all the hostile elements to the National Democ-
racy under the one common sppellatiOn of "Opposi-
tou.p in order that trcksters and advenlurers may
share the spOils Of government patronage
lis to be determined, so fer as the people Of
Tennessee are concerned, whether they will give
their approval to the corrupt practices Of the Cor
WINS, MATrIsoSs the GILBERTs and the CULLoMs,
whom the Opposition elevated TO power or by their
Indignant voice 30 rebuke the party which makes
leaders of such men as to break down the ladder
upOn which they crawled into power, and thus main
tain the honor and dignity of the country.
IL isto be determined whether, in State affairs, the
neople shall govern our banks or the banks shall
govern our people-whether thu present rotten and
dangerous system shs be continued, by which every
interest of the people is made subordinate to the
hanks; or such reforms adopted as will make The
banks subordinate to the interests Of the peoples
BY reserving the power, that has succeeded so well
in more experienced States to alter or repeal them
whenever necessary to the public good
Ills to be determined whether the people of Tonnes
see will set the example Of eleotng as their Govern
ora man whose public record is, from the beginning
to the end the most odious and uDjusti6able oharao
ter Of class lsqislation-unjus in its Determinations
in favor of capital and oppressive in its discrimina-
lions against abor-Or whether they will set an ex-
ample to future legislators, by houoring man
whose public record >honOrs them, and who can
proudly point the evidence of his fitness, and
as a guarantee of his future course if elected.
These and many other important considerations
are 10 be determined The whose sentiments
are favorable to the policy and principles of Gov.
HAMS, if he remains from the polls, viii give half
a vote for METH ERLAND, and will therein be doing
violence 10 himself and to his country.
The friends of Col. NErHERLAND are active. Men
engaged in bad cause are always active. The
very considerations which prompt them TO error,
rive them spirit of desperation They know they
have nothing else to rely upon but action 1t is not
40 with the Democracy. We are not working like
our opponents We are trusting too much to the
inherent strength of good cause. And in this we
come short Of our duty; for il is not only the duty
of the advocates of Truth TO triumph over Error
hut to labor against it in such way as to crush
out as effectually as possible.
We hsve no hesitation in saying that If the Dem
Ocratic party was to exert itself in this canvass to
the same extent that its opponents are doing, We
should carry the State by a popular majority Of
f,osnty thousand The honest sentiments Of the peo-
pie are with u.s. Many who are not in principle,
and never can be, Democrats are With us not from