Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-12


ously rssd out Of the party. or at least excluded
from Cts honors ard tie ofhees The nineteen Dem
ccradc Representatives and eight Seuatcrs I've be-
ieve We give The numbers CORRECTLY though We have
net the journals before usl who manifested such
coRtumsoy at the last session of the Legislature,
may prepare themselves to die with deceEcy. Fer
them there Is no pardon. They may be treated
with @ certain degree Of condeacendipg forbesranee
in county meetings, and eveR allowed TO occupy
back seat in party conventions, bat the leaves aud
fishes to then forbidden fruit and in sll Official
nominations they must expect to be oTerslaughed
Il is none Of our business perhaps, ard yet We feel
Inclined to do them one good turR, and lift from
their shoulders one Of the burdens that the Oe1ea
has placed upon them.
This is truly msgnanimous in our Memphis co
temporary, considering them are hrO Democratic
papers IN that Gig, amply able to defend their party
friends. But it is not our purpose to question the
motives Of the Enquirer We leavs that to thoss
m5re Immediately concerned, eontenting ourselves
1iththe simple remark. that whsn The course Of this
paper shall be so unfortunate as to elicit the CON-
pinenis and voluntary defence Of the Opposition,
We shall be ready to exoFaim, "'what have done,
that mine enemy should praise me:' aad to suspect
ourselves Of having wandered from the beaten
paths Of Democracy, into the by>Ways and qusg
mises Of Federalism under soms Oneofits numerous
di guises
But we cannot permit upon the Enquirer to mis-,
represent the facts, whether inisled by interested
advisers, or from mere neg'eetto inform itself upon
the subject il question.
The proposition which we had bean discussing
was the Bank bin, as passed by the last gi latnre
1t is il oritieisins this that Mcnphis contempO
rary says above, {" The nineteen Democratic Repre-
seatsiives, snd eight Senators I'VE believe givethe
numbers correctly, though ne have net the journal
before us,) who manifested such cOntumacy at the
last sessiOn of the Legislature may prepare them
selves to die with dseency," &c. The inference
which was evidently intended to be conveyed by
this and similar expressiorgis that The policy of re
form agreed upon, ard inaugurated by the last Leg
islature was opposed by "ninoteen Democrats Rep
reseststives and eight Senator's" who stood with
the Knog-Nothings On that question. a greater
blunier e5uld not have been committed, as the
journals will show that the bill was essentially
Democratic accommodating originated with a
Democratic committee, perfected By Democratic
council, and carried through by Democratic votes;
the vote in the Senate standing for the measure Is
Democrats aud bat American against the measure
posing it simply on the ground that it was not rapid
enough in its refOrnstory action. In the House the
complexion of the vote was still more strict in its
party character, 80 Demonstrating for the measure
and but &mericans-Whilst against the measure
there we're 20 Americans and but DemOers s-mak-
ing in both Houses 45 Democrats for the bill and bu
IL against it, and portion of them the recognised
friends of reform.
Where then are the 10 Democratic Representa-
tives and Senators whose fortunes the Enquirer has
taken under it's especial charged They are like
Fslstaf's men in buekrsm, creatures of imsgina-
ton only. If our Know Nothing contemporary
thinks be has any such friends, let him name them
Who are they, aud in what section of the country
do they live? Let him speak out, or admit that he
hes been misled on this subject.
There were differences among Democratic men,
bers during the sitting of the last Legislature
he precise policy that ought to BE- pursued on the
currency question; aud they we're debated in some
instances With warmth and feeling, but we assert
it, from personal knowledge ami without fear of
Standardization, that there not exceeding six
Democratic members of that bOdy, Of both houses,
who did not avOw themselves as the advoc ties of
reform; and some of those even who were classcd
among the extremely conservative, declared them
selves looking to ultimate rstHrn to the true
constitutional specie currency.
The apparent discussions of Democrats upon this
subject have been greatly exaggerated. The differ
ences that have existed we're not upon principle,
but upon policy. With the great masses Of the
party there exists no essential difference as op
ponents will find out in the approaching canvass.
al of them are for a sound and uniform currency
"A different currency from that with which We have
been cursed for come yeGrs-many are for rapid
return to specie-but we have far TO travel on the
road of reform, which to be safe must be gradual,
before there will be any practical ground Of differ
ence with the Democratic masses Their interest is
in the protection of their rights and the prosperity
Of the country, and We have too much respect for
their intelligence to believe that they will suffer
themselves to be divided to suit the humor Of asPr
ipg politicians.