Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-31
one Of the constituencies of Federalism

one of the Constituencies of Federalism.
Time and experience have demonstrated that the
true theory Of government like is to legislste
for the rights and liberties Of the man, and leave
the man free to take care of his own private
concerns Il is only by acting on this prin-
CHILE that that just maxim can be realised Of
sssousl rights to ALL exclusive privileges to none"
The old Federal party believed that, in government
the man should be subordinate to capital; and fol-
lowing out the idea proposed system Of legislation
that would foster and protect capital, leaving labor
10 take care of ITSELF And hence has followed the
old idea that Government should take of the
rich and the rich would take care of the poor"
These old federal notions have their repsesenta-
tives in our country to this day; snd, nOtWithstaLd
ing their unpOpulArity with the American masses,
such Is the absolute power Of capital, and the supe
rior adroituess Of capitalists, that they have always
received the largest share Of the Legislation Of the
country to the neglect and detrime0t of labor The
artificial classes of socety-the who consume but
groduos not--hGve managed to make themselves the
favOrites Of government; while the hard>working
telling million, who, by the sweat Of their brows
feed and closhe the world, have been greatly IN
cared for and overlooked
still persists in its unjust demands upon the rights
and liberties Of the people-that it still seeks to
make the rich richer, and the poor poOrer-thst it
still seeks to benefit the few at the expense of the
manythat it still seeks to build capital at the
expense Of abor--to foster class legislation and ex
elusive priVeges-ls clearly demOnstrable from the
political history Of the last few years in Tennessee
In 1855 they nominated as their candidate for
Governor, Major GUsrAvUs A. HENRY. He had
been honored with public confidence as a member of
the legislature Of Kentucky, and, at later date of
the legislature of Tennessee. The journals Of the
two bodies in which he served showed, and it was
made one Of the chief arguments against him in the
canvass that he had been friend TO capital and
an enemy to labor. He had voted in every in
stance where an opportunity presented itself to
build up corporations and foster the interests Of the
artificial Glasses, while he had invariably op-
posed every measure looking to the aid and pro-
lection of the working In proof Of this it
will be remembered that we instsnced at the time,
his vote against the "MEcHANIcs LIEN BILL
while Q member of the Kentucky legislature-a
measure that meted out the simplest justice by
means Of increased protection to the mechanic for
his labor In proof that he had not changed in his
dtsfeger0, HOT 10 say unIflenuy teengs Tor the Ia
boring man. We instaneei his then recent vote as q
member of the legislature Of this State in 1882 in
which he voted against the bill, No. 263, extending
Shs Mechanics Lien lsW. II is net our purpose to
comment upon these votes now. We merely instance
them to show how consistent the federal interests
in Tennessee have been in putting forward as their
representatives, men who have proved themselves
true to the ancient faith GRd practices Of that party
Their Hsxt candidate for Governor was Col GEN-
rax, who, ss shown by his competitor In the can
xasS had uniformly favored the interests Of capital
Co the detriment Of labor, He instanced among
stbsr things, the fact that Col GENTRY, ss a
member Of the ed Congress, had offered bill to
increase the pay Of clerks and other officers Of the
government 20 per cent, to which he, Gov j., had
fered a amendment that 20 per cent. be added to
the per diem or monthly pay received BY all en-
plsyess Of the government Who we're "engased IN Gy
1,aaeA Of eskanics or at common labor" And that,
while proposing to increase the pay Of clerks and
ether officers Of the government, Mr. GENTRY voted
GoaaDs. making thisprOpOssd increase Of the pay to
mechanics and lsbOrers, also in government employ
Their next candidate for Governor vas Colonel
HArros-s candidate chosen on account of his sup
posed availability frCn having 50 eriSfa record.