Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-12

nicipal governments that sprang from the.
forms of popular election. but whose abuses
and corruptions were so great that the most
virtuoas and in general peace-loying citizens
co-operated in their overthrow; and even
those who gave existence to them by their
suffrages looked on and reioiced in their
downfall?
And what Is this but revolution? And
may not what has occurred in your cities
occur, in process of time, on the theatre of the
nation, if such enormous governmental
abuses as have exposed to you this day be
permitted to GO on. not only uncorrected.
but accommodating, and acquiring a more dar-
ing boldness by impunity? Leave not, L
beseech you, fellow citizens this dear native
land of ours to the cruel alternative of a
tame surrender of its liberties, or of fearful
resort to a revolutionary vigilance committee
taking possession of the Government at
Washington. at.
No, fellow-citizens; let US organize our
| legal, constitutional salutary vigilance COM
mittees at the polls Let us throw off the
dehasing shackles of party thraldom. and
assert the majesty and sovereignty of the
| popular will. Let us resolve by the potent
! voice of our suffrages to exclude from the
| high places of the Government those, whether
individuals or parties, who have in any man.
| ner sanctioned. participated in, or been
accessory to the gross and daring abuses
which dishOnor the country, while they
impelil its liberties.
| know there are many of my Democratic
friends who loathe and detest these official
| inlqultles as do. L say to them, then, re-
specially but earnestly-do not make your
selves responsible for and accessory to
such abuses, by giving your confidence and
support to those who practice them. Stand
up in the virtue and manliness of your own
freedom. You are the rightful master. Do
not consent to wear the furnished and dis
honored livery of your servants. You owe no
allegiance but TO your country; and she now
calls upon you to perform your duty, your
whole duty to her, fearlessly as patriots.
conscientiously as men.
1t is the fatal doctrine of passive party
obedience and nOn-resistance-a doctrine so
long and successfully inculcated by the party
IN power-that has brought the affairs of our
country into their present deplorable con-
ditiOn. They have assiduously taught that
the first and indeed only duty of every man,
in the exercise OF his civil and political func-
tons. is to follow and obey bis party leaders:
Shat the predominance of his party. under all
circumstances, and whatever b. the conse-
quences to his country, is the one paramount
and absorbing object which should engage
all his zeal, to the disregard of every dictate
of conscience and of every call of patriotism
This mercenary and slavish doctrine has
been enforced by the the terrors of excommu-
nication on the one handy the Lavish
promises of reward on the other. $40 the
victor belong the spoils of victory" is the
motto emblaZoned on their standard. The
Offices, the empIoyments of the Government,
are no longer, in their eyes, public good; but
OF every grade and description, from the
highest to the lowest, they are the legitimate
booty of cOnquering party, to be dealt out
III largesses and rewards to its followers.
Through jobs, through contracts, through
the prodigal and inscriptions expenditure
of the public money, upon every possible
pretext, the Treasury is delivered up to pill
lage, to stimulate the activity and feed the
cupidity of partisan hordes.
The startling abuses which have been re-
Gently broug ht to light in the various branch
es of the public administration are not
accidental, or occasional, or simply personal.
They are the necessary, logical, inevitable
results of the system of political morality
embraced, and indie prOfessed by the party
in power. If the Government is to be admin
istered solely for the benefit and selfish inter
ests of a party, then. follow-citiZens, your
rules have not been unfaithful to their
creed. r...
And who, permit me TO ask, according to
this modern system of political tactics, con-
stitute the party? Are they the rank and file
the great body of worthy and respectable
citizens who do the voting--ihat constitute
the party, in practical sense? No, fellow
citizens we all know, and | am sure that
many of my Democratic friends will sustain
me in what say, it is few adroit political
managers, who, for the most part, make a
trade of politics, that constitute the party in
every practical influential sense. 1t is they
that make the nominations they that make
the political issues they that construct the
party platforms and the sovereign people,
however their consciences and better feelings
may revolt, have no option. under this new
martial law of party discipline, but to obey,
or be shot as deserters.
Is this, fellow-citiZens, the system of gov
eminent which our noble and free-born an
cestors bequeathed to us? Is this Govern
ment of the people? Is this a Democracy, in
the virtuOus and honorable sense in which
only. a free people would accept it, or is it
not rather an oligarchy of the worst and most
degrading character-a sordid oligarchy of
mercenary ofiice-holders and office-seekers?--
have the satisfaction to know that there are
Democrats in Virginia, at least who repudiate
such a system: who will not permit themselves
to be manacled with such vile letters; who
will assert their privileges as freemen, their
dignity as men.