Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-15
Corruption of the Democracy.

The Richmond Enquirer, in an article IN
der the caption of Shall the Anti Democrat
States OceTtiie the Democratic States at Charles
ton," makes some allegations in regard to th
| decentralization of northern democrats WORTHY
| of particular attention. and which go far t
sustain the charges of corruption which tn
Opposition make against the party. w
copy from the Enquirer as follows
We have already adverted to the name
| in which either the majority rule, or the tw
thirds rule, may enable those States who's
| Democratic votes are worse than - o f" in th
electoral college, to lay down platform, o
nominate Presidential candidate aItogethe
obnoxious to those true Democratic State
which alone eau be relied on to elect Demo
cratic candidate when nominated, or sustain
Democratic platform when constructed.
This is not only ulj just to the Democratic
States generally destructive of party discip
line, affordng, too, an opportunity for lh
! invasion of party principles, but it is il
many instances, especially demOrdiizing TO DE
mocrdtic miRortties in anti Democratic STATES
Look at some of the instances at the North
where the Democracy have so long remained
| minority. They are pOweFless 10 secure popu
lar election to public Offices Their leaders hav,
| CcsiHtu W nc ItspOuslDIe 10 the pubic ODlniOI
of the communities in which they reside
| Wholly unaccustomed To defend or advance
political measures before popular assem-
biages, shut out from the grand theatre OF po
lltical contest and selfreliant eXertiOn, Mei5
political career has been reduced 10 mere fness,,s
10 secure Offices by Federal ElecatiCe Gppointnc,at
The business of Pr, sidenl making constl
tutes their main political stock and trade
Unable 10 achieve anything towards the cleo
ton If Presidential candidate. their entire
eXertions are confined to securing claims
upon the favor of some Presidential aspirani
by assisting him to procure a nomination.
They thus become mere trading politicians
bartering caucus tricks for federal Offices
| and, like all mere mercenaries when disap-
pointed in the qutd pro pro, they join the
ranks of the enemy. Thus it is that, in SO
many instances, small democratic minorities
at the North so rapidly become beautifully
less, until the Democratic party of IA whole
community dwindlss down TO mere cote
rie. which. on The election of 4 Democratic
President, finds federal spois in it's immedi-
ate neighborhood, sufficient TO answer all its
political wants in the way of public jobs and
public Offices. 1t then becomes the interest
and the policy of the little band of principal
managers to keep the party in Me State in a mi.
nority, and IN the smallest possible minority.
These men are not unfrequently heralded
through the newspapers as ''forlorn hope
n hand of devoted patriots; standing firmly
opposed to overwh lining maiorities-under-
going privation and defying popularity in an
unsel6sh devotion TO political principle.
Lucky dogs! They laugh in their sleeves,
and pocket federal money and wear federal
honors in proportion altogether unattana-
bic by Democratic malorites. Quietly. cozi-
ly. "harmoniously." they get on together,
until some fraction Of the faction discovers
that another fraction is continually assimla-
ting all the choice hits OF Federal patronage
Tor its own separate enjoyment. Then comes
snarling and reviling and fierce contention
and the consequence is, finally. that the two
factions select different Presidential aspi-
rants, each with the hope .of excluding the
other from all share in the spoils. Promi-
ntnt Southern Democrats, who were present
at Cincinnati. state that they were referred
To constantly rs umpires 10 settle squables of
this sort, where each of the contestants did
not hesitate TO avow that share OF the spoils
was all he was seeking. both discovering at
las, 1T they were only cutting each others
thi,",S and each finally DESTROYS of an
equitable" arrangement which would secure
him half The pudding. since be could not get
the whole.
Is there no manner in which the Demo
cratic party can offer honorable premiums TO
Dcnocratic majorilies! Is there, at least, no
manner In which the party can abolish the
present system Of inducing minoriiies to re-
main mlnorities? Can no system be devised
when Will oblige the aspirants to Presiden-
lial nomination TO appeal TO the sympathies,
sentiments and principles of the great ma
Iorlty OF the Democratic parIy--instead Of
tempting such aspirants to pander TO and
bride mlnorities which are now enabled to
stuic the voice and override the will of the
majority? Nous perrons.
The Enquirer sketches its northern com
rades. who chance to be in minorities, with a
bold hand. We do not doubt the truthful
ness of the picture with which it adorns the
canvass. 1t appears to us Iife-like and faith
tul in every particular. But, if minorities
have become "mere trading politicians
bartering caucus tricks for federal Offices
why may not majorities he equally corrupt
Majorities have the power to command good
trudes-they can barter "caucus tricks" To
greater advantage than powerless, helpless
as spoils are the great in
centive TO northern politicians-democrats in
suspect the maiorities are not
less corrupt than those which the Enquirer
condemns.
We have seen it stated recently that, in
The State of New York. u candidate for office
cannot hope to lie elected without the use OF
money in liberal sums-ihat seat in Con-
5ress frequently costs from FIVE to ten thous-
md dollars. This money is used TO buy up
he masses; the men who bay are not less
corrupt than the Fought 1t is the leaders
who buy; and it cannot be believed tliat
hey are any too yirtuons to sell their in
iaence Tor "ehoiee bits OF Federal patronage"
New York politicians are not singular in this
aspect. The eorrupting Influences of the
polls have affected the whole North. IL WAS
consciousness of this fact that caused Mr.
}CcHANAN to dismiss DtUGIAs men from Office
u the northern States, aud to appoint his
uemics in their places. Ia Is also a con-
eiousness Of this fact that gives the demo
ratio leaders assurance of union of the
'arty after Presidential nomination is made.
10 matter what questions of public policy
Iivide and distract thea before.
Instead of seeking means 20 reform north
TIA Ininoritics. the Enquirer should set about
eiormIag the entire democratic party North,
Z not South.
NORTH CAROl.INA.-1he Opposition press In