Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-31
WEDNESDAY, MORNING, MARCH al. 1859.

The recent meeting Of the " grand arIay" in this
city vas in many respects amusing. 1t was anus
ing to observe the prominence given to gentlemen,
now voting with them, who had at one time figured
as members Of the Democratic party. 1t seemed
that 10 one could make so savory e speech an
sx-democrst; and, what was equally striking, none
were 50 ready 10 speak these ex-demOcrats. They
seldom waited to be called second time. Their
readiness to speak and lead lie not to be wondered
At--they abandoned the Democracy for want of po-
sitiOn, and what's made, unless in the new party
they assert their righttO it?
Il was equally amusing to observe the self-cOm-
plaoency of these gentlemen. They were perfectly
a. home. Those who suppose that QUARiEs, GLEN,
MEMS, FoorE, and NABERs looked out OF place in
the arms Of Federalisls are mistaken. They are
right where they properly belong and ought to have
been from their youth up. The Democracy Of Tens
nessee and Mississippi could readily spare few
more Of the same sort.
But more amusing than all else was the one great
leading idea of each Of their speeches-that, they
having abandoned the Democratic party, the Demo
cratic party bas become corrupt and that the only
way to purify the morals Of the country is to turn
out the Democratic party and elevate to power the
Of JEFFERSON, and MADISON and JACKSON defend
us We would esteem it privilege to die Of the
dry rot rather than be ubjected TO such cleansing
&c this.
Another smusing circumstance was their much
talk about the heavy appropriations and expsndi-
turzs of tho government for some years past. This
thg5 did in the presence Of Mr. BELL and apitkOW
blush careless Of the feelings Of The old gentle
man. and seemingly ignorant of the fact that syery
appropriation dsnominated extravagant, passed with
his vote and his approval l. may have been fun
to them but could not have been fun to him. This
was evidenced when it came his time to speak He
said il was not the of the public expendis
ture go much, that was to be complained of. One
hundred millions he thought might be expended
economically" He believed in liberal policy
had himself voted appropriations recommended by
the President, and appropriations not recommended
by the President. He had favored an increase Of
Navy. He voted for the Collins line of steamers.
He had voted for the laying of the Atlantic Telegraph
II was the corrupt use Of The public money by the
President which Mr.. DELL thought oug6t to be
hsrped upon; not the amount expended, which be
had himself approved by his votes. Il was shreTd
suggestion. Il remains TO be whether his less
discreet followers will take the Mr. BELL well
knew that the Democracy would explsin to the
people that Congress alone held the purse strings
and not the Presiden';-that he could get no
monies that were lot granted by the vote
Of that body; that he is only chargeable with
such expenditures as he had recommended; and
that ell the excuses over aad above hisrecommen-
dstions had,been carried through Congress by the
votes of Mr. BELL aud majority of his party, and
had been strenuOusy opposed by the majority of
The Democratic members In view Of these facts
Mr. BELL saw how terribly The tables would be turn
ed against them by the Democratic speakers in the
coming canvass.
His subtterfuge that the Administration has used
the public monies, not extraysg lny, but corrupty,
is as bsseless the other, BUTT spares Mr.. BELL
and his Black Republican co-adjutors ia Congress
the blows which the penny-whislle politicians of
his party would be constantly inhicng, in the igno>
rant belief that they were hammeying away on the
the Democrats.
The "grand army" in council was farce, Mr.
BELL constituting the only serious character in It,
The first scene having closed, the piece will grew
the mere ludicrous it advances. It's free show
and We invite the entire PEOPLE Of the State TO look
on It will amply compensate for the time and the
frouhle