Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-05


paper in the Union, presents the following
picture of ''the party" How are they to be
saved?
No labori6us presentation of political
statistics. historical facts, party witnesses
and circumetantal details can be demanded
now. by the intelligent political reader, to
satisfy him that the democracy and the oppo-
sitiou forces of the. country are in most
lamentabie condition of discord. disintegra-
ton and dissolution. From several promi-
nent democratic journals at this moment lying
before us. our opinion, heretofore repeatedly
expressed, that there is no longer n demo-
cratic party in the broad national sense of
the term, is fully borne out. TIE old elements
of the progressive JacksonIan democracy still
exists; bnt the conflicting schemes. views and
platforms of the various Presidential
aspirants and President making cliques of
the party have cut il up into as many clash
ing revolutionary factions as there are in
Mexico Very true. there is still attached to
the administration the nucleus of solid
national organization;but it is only ,as matters
now stand, one of these various existing
divisions of the party.
There is the Douglas popular sovereignty
division of the North and Northwest whose
cardinal principle is the absolute jurisdiction
and supremacy Of the people of the Terrific
ries respectively over the question of slavery
therein. The Northern State elections of
last autumn have disclos pd.very significantly,
the zeal and the strength OF this Douglas wing
of the party polit cal balance OF power
Opposed to this faction, however, and its
hobby of popular soyereiguty.n we have a
strong division of the party in the South.
which declares that Congress has the power,
and that IL is the duty OF Congress. to inter
pose In such acts Of positive legislation as
NAV b. required 10 protect the institution Of
slavery in the Territories against the prtindi-
ces aud local hindranees of the white free soil
squatters thereot. Singularly enough. too.
the central Virginia organ OF Gov. Wise-the
staunch defender OF the anti-L COMPTON rebel
lion OF Douglass the leading advocate Of
this pro-sIavery Territorial policy OF Congress
sionai Intervention.
Between these tao divisions Of the stnltified
democracy upon the slavery question. there
can be nothing but an everlasting split. should
the experiment be made AT Charleston of
forcing the policy If the one faction or the
other late the national party platform. There
Il disagreement in the party equally mark
ed. North and South, upon the tariff question,
represented on the one SIDE by AF. Buchanan
julieions Recommendations OF a revenue tariff.
embracing that Incidental protection which
may lac extended 10 oar home manufactures.
through the discriminating policy al specific
duties and. on the other side. by tie free
trade and al vai0rem recommendations 81
Mr.. Secretary Cobb. Tho experimental votes
or d-lates IN Congress. aud the dad lock at
the Committee OF Ways and Means upon this
satirct, serm IA ini cate. beyoad d. shass.y
Ut doabt. thai nssthlag eaa be done IN the
way Il party policy upsn the sar Il, = SAL
isiy the Southern free traders, wiihoai alien.