Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-17
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY II, 1859.
Close UP.


There yet remain several Senatorial and Repre-
sentative districts, doubtful for want of harmony
among the Democrats. We confess that We have
very small stock Of patience for use in such cases
The pretence usually resOrted to, that mans
friends insist that be shall run, is always CANNON
and hunbug Friends msy become involved and
excited in q bitter contest between two Democrats,
but at the start there is nothing but the crazy de-
sire to be elected to ooe BY the competitors them
selves at the bottom of all such contests. Two De"
mocrsts for instance, want to goto Congress There
is seat for but enc. Neither Willyield. A bitter
quarrel springs up. The party divides between
them, although, ct the start, caring nothing for
either. The result is, the Governor loses thou>
sand votes in the District, and perhaps enough
members Of the Legislature lost by the contest
to give that body to the Opposition. That thing
has happened several times in this State; and breach
ss have beer made, which have affected for years,
by men, for whom, at the start, nobody, outside Of
q dozen relatives, cared q straw. Nobody has any
right to do this; and when disposition to do Ii is
shown. such disposition alone should be conclusive
against any mans aspirations to seat in Congress.
He who is reckless enough to hazard the success Of
his party for the qualification of his own ambition
or vindctveuess is unfit to be the representative Of
the Democracy, no matter what his other qualifcs>
tions may be.
But. going back to the subject with which we
started, we again remind the Democracy Of what
We have heretofore frequently told them, that the
last apportionment made by the Opposition, was SO
unfair and unjust to the Democracy, that with a
large majority for Governor it is the easiest thing
in the world to throw away the Legislature. Thus,
in the last Senate we had nine majority. But
we carried FIVE districts By close and unreliable ma
jorities 1t is not safe to calculate on more than
three of those districts. If the ree fights" which
are going on in some Of the other districts shouldrs
suit in the loss Of three cthers that fixes the Senate
against us.
So, also, in the House. The sppOrtiOnment under
which that body is elected is exceedingly unjust
that with twelve thousand majority for Governor,
the loss of single representative in close Demo
cratic county endsngers majority in the House.
In this condition of things, We appeal to our De
mocratic friends to promptly close up the ranks.
However great the luxury of free fight may be, it
is q luxury that they can't afford to indulge in The
Knov-Nolhings understand the chance they have
for the Legislature, and will use every effort to TO-
meHt divisions in the Democratic ranks. Their can
didate lor Governor was made 3 candidate precisely
upon the principle that Pindar's razors were made
Made to SELL or to swap, for other more valuable
property.
Pray, Democratic friends, take sensible view ef
the coll siOns between Democrats for seats in the
Legislature With the strength easily to double the
majorites Of 1857 don't lose all BY senseless quar-
rels Where the candidates will not settle their diff
ferences, srbitrate for them; and let us present
united front to the guerrilla party, which is trying
to surprise our outposts and plumber our camp.