Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-10-18
Majority for HARRIS


The Progress of Fusion.
most remarkable communication lately sp-
,psared in the Banner. which we overlooked in
that paper. but which is reprinted, without
comments. in the Murfreesboro Telegraph, from
which latter paper we copy it below. The Bauuy
and the TsleqraoR are both friends of the Hon JOHx
BELL; and we suppose both papers would be very
careful 10 do nothing prejudice that gentiemans
hopes for the Presidency.
The Republican party, as is very well known, was
formed to resist the aggressiOns Of the slave pow
er" We know Of little division Of sentiment among
the members of that party that ''there shah be no
more slave States" Many Of them say that they
do not wish to interfere with slavery where it exists
in the States that their purpose is to prevent its
extension into the Territories But these assai
slavery where it exists wrong, and stop at no
means which are calculated to render slave property
every where insecure and the holding of slaves
udious. Yet these are the conservative men of the
Republican party with whom the Southern Opposi-
tloa party are urged to unite.
must have been seen that In UotiRg there is but
one class of Republicans. They unite q common
1Iatform and vote for common candidates. In this
way only are they able carry any Northern States.
Resistance to the slave power, and resistance 10
1he Democratic party, are convertible terms. Upon
the single and common principle of resistance to the
slave power" these Republicans defeat the Democ-
racy of the Northern States. The conservative men
of that section know very well, and act upon the
knowledge that Abolitonism is only to be defeated
by placing the Democracy in power When such
contest as is now going between the Democrats of
1he North and the Black Republicans of that section
is seen as it must be SEEN the proposition for the
Southern Opposition to unite with these Republicans
must strike every Southern man as monstrOus. We
have argued that such the tendency of things
with Southern Opposition leaders and the article
below fully confirms this argument The proposition
forfusion exces with us no astonishment The weak
ness Of the argument, which proposes union with
Republicans for the purpose of defeating the Re-
publicans is the only thing surprising in the article
That argument only thiny wells the resl purpose of
our Southern Opposition leaders which is the for
nation of party for common purposes and COM
mon benefits of the Northern Republicans and the
Southern Know Nothings:
From the Republican Banner.
shall we Unite with the Republicans!
MEssRs. EDITORS: It has been the habit of the OPP
position press of the South to answer the above
Question 1atly-in the negative. Ii is said we must
not unite with the Black Republicans, but organ
ize great union party 10 be composed Of the con-
servative of all parties and sections which IL IL
hoped NAV triumph in the approaching Presidential
election. Allow TO suggest that this is all
patriotic dream Let our party and people awake
10 the reality of their position. The Republic
can Marty is q great and locally triumphant and
dominant party. Il hopes 10 be able to carry
enough electoral votes in the North if cut of entire
~ from Southern support to elect its candidate for
the Presidency in 1860 There is good reason 10
believe such a hope on the part of the Republicans
well founded But the Republican party of the
North is divided in sentiment, portion entertain
ing extreme sectional views, tending to disu-
Mon and another portion entertaining conserve
live views and desiring to rid the party of
All its extreme tendencies The extreme divis-
ion of the party is much the less numerous, but
OF course the more noisy portion. and may manage
1lpder circumstance of favorable excitement, TO
control for tine the action and give tone 10 the
public expression of opinion Of the party. But
when a season OF calm repOse comes on the cham
MONS OF utraism in that party find themselves shOrn
of their strength: and we then find the Republican
marty 10 be after all inclined TO conservatism.
There has for period extending back far behind
the organization Of the Republican party existed
similar division in the Democratic party Of the South.
Ten or twelve wears ago there existed within the
Southern democratic party small number OF dis
nrionists and of ultra men whose views would lead
10 disunion. That faction Of Democracy has gained
ground from wear TO year, advancing and receding
but vet gaining ground-untIl ii now exercises
controlling influence upon the policy of the Demo-
could not fail the rapid increase of strength
in the influence Of this ultra faction arising from the
recent almost complete standardization of the Demo
cratic party; and now but for the little remaining
strength which the Southern Democracy hope to
retain in the North should soon see the Southern
Democracy utterly given over TO those ultra views.
the CARRYING out of which would lead inevitably TO
disunion and all its attendant evils A profitable
lesson NAV be learned from this, that the Northern
alliance of Southern Democracy. and nothing else.
n taking the direct road
10 ruiu-of itself or OF the country.
But there are oeaidcogueS in the Republican party
who advocate extreme views only for purposes OF
personal advancement. OF this class are Seward,
Lincoln Chase and others. These men VIII moder-
ate their views-or rather their seeming views
whenever they perceive that their object cannot be
reached by a Of ultraism. Ii is well 10 get
rid Of such men if we can; but if not, we must do
what can 10 control their action. The conserva-
tive portion OF the Republican party earnestly de-
sire southern allies the better to assist them in
moderating the tone OF their party Without an al
liauec with the southern Opposition the ultra fac
lion of the Republican party will increase and be
confirmed in Its strength like the ultra portion of
the Southern Democratic party. But with Southern
allies the conservative portion Of the Republicans
will be able 10 control the action Of the party This
is a sconsummation devoutly TO be wished" and
without further clrCumlOcuuon, allow me 10 eS-
,ess the hope in plain unmlstakab bic terms. that an
alliance may be effected, at an early day between
The Southern Opposition and the Republicans upon
alike hOnOrable DOl consistent
,[-itb the rights of the South and the NOrth-an
alliance of the parties for the sake OF the union of
7be Satesa union OF the States for the sake of all
5hat we hold dear in free government
This Repu blicsn party will not abandon its organ
ization or name-tle name, by the way, is not bad
one II is not the destruction or Reorganization of
that Marty for. which we as Southern should
work but its naturalization. The great body of
that organization we have reason 70 believe desires
10 make the party national. Shall we discourage
these prriotic men by occupying an extreme position
ourselves? In the recent published manifesto Of
the Republican National Committee. mot now be-
fore the wrier) we see nothing of the "irrepressi-
bic conflict of Seward, Lincoln and Roger A. PTy-
or but chiefly a little about the "aggresslons
of slave power" with special allusion to the double
1roiect OF Southern extremists Of carrying slavery
into the territories by Congressional Intervention,
and the re-opening of the African slave trade, in
sr 10 get the slaves TO occupy the territories with.
The Southern Opposition will hardly object to Re-
nubIican resistance Of such aggression Of the slave
power" as this.
rbe RIack Republicans have carried Ohio.