Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-25
From the r richmond Enquirer, Feb. II.
Facts. for the Consideration of the
Democracy.
AN APPEAL FOR THOROUGH ORGANIZATION.

We have laughed at and rid;culed the re
! Organization of the Opposition long enough;
| it is time sober reason had been consulted
and action begun. 1t is folly TO deny that
| there is danger TO the Democratic party from
| the 7, cent enthusiastic and thorough organ
| Zatinn Of the Opposition. Let any candid
man look nj the condition Of the two parties
and he VIII -carccly say that there is no dan
| ger. The democracy hold a majority of
about eight thousand in the State. Under
| the leadership of such public speaker as the
present Governor aided by the active efforts
of warm personal friends, our majority reach
Cd ten thousand. But this Is uot expected Ivy
any sane man under circumstances dissimilar
TO those of 1855. At present there is the
same antipathy to Democracy on the part Of
the Opposition that rallied them in 1855; the
same organization binds them together with
out the Odous element of secrecy; active
canvaSsing of the State, instead of silence as
in 1855. Compact organization cOnfronts a
disOrg anis' d. divided and quarrclling mass.
Our leaders throughout the Union are fighting
each other; no harmony: not even a platform
of principles sanctioned bv the Federal EX-
cutive. upon which our candidates can stand.
With one portion of the party standing
with the President in the recommendations
of his late message; with another portion of
the party contendng for the ancient faith of
our fathers, we have no test put forth 10y the
Petersburg Convention by which we can try
and prove Democrat. Our party is a huge,
unwirldy, disOrgansed mass with no electors;
no evidence Of party organization save the
candidates.
On the other hand, the Opposition are no
longer dividcd--nOt even has a name been
given to the Ticket nominated in Richmond
ESchewing every circumstance that could in
tate dissension in the Convention. one of the
ablest. Eost digniied and pcclabe bodies
of politicians that ever assembled in the
State. has nominated three gentlemen of re-
putcd abilities and admitted worth. Compact
and enthusiastic, they have gone home deter
mined to fight a good fight, and once more
contend with their ancient enemy, the ''iercc
Democracie.'" - Eve have published full
details of the proceedings of the Convention.
selected from their own organs, in ord that
the Democracy may see where the "Opposi-
ton" forces intend to strike, and the enthu-
siasm which animates them.)
The Democracy, trusting to the weight of
numbers, utterly failed to initiate any plan of
orga lization; but. claiming for Mr.. Letchcr n
popularity so great. that no opposition would
be offered him, his friends have left the party
unprovidrd with electors His friends have
wholly failed TO provide for the cXigcncies of
the campaign; but. trusting to the name OF
JpHH IA'tClltI dnu lHf PROMISES VI no opppol-
ton, they have left him, solitary and alone,
to fight battle to which, unaided, he is not
competent.
Now, in view Of the present state of the
party its unOrganZed condition, its want
Of electors. the absence of harmony "A d.
fat is imminent unless active eXertiOn be at
once begun. We have already exposed the
pic-bald platform of the Richmond Conven-
ton. and we now propose TO call attention to
the organization of the Opposition.
All the strength and cumpactness of the
Know Nothing organization eXists,a at this mo-
mrnt. in the same efficiency that it did in
1855. The odious element of secrecy is in
advance. To be II sorted To or not as necessi-
ty may determine. The roll OF the party. in
1855. exists ut this time, and affords a means
of more thorough organization than the De-
mocracy ever can possess Sixty-cight thou
sand one hundred and scveuty-eight Know
Nolhngs ,rerc booked in 1855 and they will re-
spOnd To the call of the Richmond Conven-
ton with an alRcrity and enthusiasm even
greater than in 1858. without any secresy,
these men can bc reached even more efficient
~ than when banded together in the calvert
- Active speakers in every county, lat every
cross road (aS n distinguished member of
that party has just informed us) the Demo
cracy will BE- met, by the best men of the
Opposition. Never did a Convention adjourn
with mere enthusiasm. than did the recent
Richmond CONVEX ton.
A careful examination of the votes for
1858 aud 1856 will throw much light upon
the condition AT parties ut this time.
In 1883 Mr.. Journeys vote was 1885