Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-02
What is the Proper Policy of the
Conservatives
ldence of the Nashville Patriot.l


anu tnSc outSe " We pdtstu ioI VIC gnu vi
the country.
We should look at facts as they are. And
Ito be brief, for have not time to be other
wise-tbe fact cannot be disguised or ig-
nored that the question OF slavery is the
controlling question of our national and State
| politics. There are, as conceive, three dis
tinct and well-defined positions assumed by
three distinct schools of politicians. Re
publicans bold the power and duty of Con-
gress to legislate slavery from the Terrific
ries; but do not deny the power, but the pol
icy TO protect it in the territories DOUGLAS
| democrats hold that the constitution recog-
nises slavery in the territories but that Con-
gress cannot or should not interfere with ter
ritorial legislation on the subject, whether it
be for it or against it. Ultra southern DEM
ocrats hold that the constitution r. recognises
slavery-in the territories, aud thai Congress
can and should, if necessary, protect it
against unfriendiy legislation by the terri
tories; but cannot prohibit friendly legisla-
ton by the territories. We, of the Opposi-
ton school have not distinctly, as 1 conceive,
defined Our position. This will have to be
done, or we will suffer the fate of $50, with
interest.
! Now the question for us to consider is,
| what shall be our position? Shall we take
the position that our party in Kentucky and
| Georgia appear to have taken? If so, let us
formally disband and join the ultra demo-
Gratis. 1t is true that 10 demand of the North
what they demand is impracticable; but it
follows logical sequence from the SUI
preme Court decision in the bred Scott case,
if we regard that as q decision and not dc
tum. / shall decline to espouse the Ultra
doctrine.
Shall we embrace Douglasism?. 1t is in
consistent but plausible; and it will be hard
for any one, think 10 show that the people
when they come to form State constitution,
have the power to exclude slavery, but have
not the power before then. l think 10 con-
ccde that they have the power, as well before
as then, would likely operate less prejudi
cially TO the STAKEHOLDER than to deny it,
! SHOULD they exclude slavery at the adoption
OF State constitutiOn); because there would
| likely be fewer shareholders in the territory
to be effected by it before, than at the time.
However, l object to Douglasism-I don't
| like Inconsistencies.
Shall we fraternize with the Republicans?
No; an emphatic no, will resound from all
quarters, and why? Not because the North
ern people hold any new doctrine. but be-
cause they are more likely to enforce their
old doctrine than heretofore. The reason
why they appear more determined to do so
is, because the democratic party of the South
principally has manifested no desire to regard
compromises.
What, then. shall we do! That the next
election OF President will go into Congress,
l think, is inevitable. l take it that the Re-
publicans will not be able to elect by the
people: DOUGLAS, If nominated, cannot carry
the extreme Southern States if not nominal
ed he will be run as middle man by some
OF the Middle States, unless we supercede
him by cur course. How shall it be done
As we claim 10 be conservative, and as our
main strength is in the middle States, let us
max re an effort TO consolidate those States, as
good and true men. AS we recede from the
centre of the Union, our strength grows less.
To effect the purpose, we must say something
definite on the controlling question. Can we
not do SO, and have what we do say both con-
sistent and plausible? | think we can, and
suggest a meeting of all the Opposition pro-
per. on the 22nd of February next, at Louis
vile, especially the Opposition of the Middle
States. Let them cOncede the constitutional
power of Congress over the subject in the
territories; but declare that the perpetuity OF
the Union depends mon that power being
used without prejudice TO either section !:
That is, that all territory that we now have
shall abide the Compromise of 1850, without
the Interpretation of any more Kansas-Ne-
braska bills: That all territory hereafter ac-
CURED shall be equitably divided between the
two sections That they are opposed to the
acquisition of any more territory for the pre-
sent, unless it b. necessary to have Cuba for
our national defence. Let all be left free as
to tariff. internal Improvement and currency
questions, and opposed to the re6penng Of
the African slave trade. Let all be pledged
to an honest aud economical administration
of the Government.
/ believe, Mcssrs Editors, that il the
patriotic men of the Free States and Slave
States that lie in the heart Of the Union, will
but take this thing in hand, and make an
honest effort to form a Union party--to be
called the Union Prfy--they can carry six,
eight or ten States and would hold the bal
of l,,tv he
would be able to let the extremists Of both
know, that we, the representatives of the
centre and heart of the Union, had deter
mined that they should neither dissolve the
Union nor tyraniZe over each other. Let
such spirits as Boris and GoGGIN of Virginia
CRITTENpEN and MARSHALL of Kentucky, GII.-
MER and RAYNER of North Carolina, BELL and
ETHERIDGE of Tennessee, BATES of Missouri.
and their counterparts in the States of Ohio,
Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and from
such other Us may have them, meet, adopt
something like the above, nominate Bell and
Corwin, Bolts aud Lincoln. or Bates and Col
fax, and go before the people and show them
that Mason and Dixon's line should no longer
divide our national parties.
This policy, think, would induce many
Republicans North TO abandon their sectional
organization, if not determine them not to
nominate any ticket. 1t would floor DoUG-
LAS, whether he be nominated at Charleston
or not; and many Of the fire-eaters would Le
glad that We had taken the live Goals out OF
lheir reach. take il for granted that where
we can carry the electoral vote, the repre-
sentatives In Congress now elect would con-
form to the popular move. also take it tor
granted that the election once in the House.