Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-12-20
The speekership.

So far as the balloting for the speakership
of the House in Congress has gone, the fact
has been developed that it is impossible to
electa democratic speaker. No ballot has
indicated that the democratic nominee could
be successful, even with the united assistance
of the Southern Opposition. Up to the pre-
sent time this is an indisputable fact. There
can be no view OF the contest taken by which
by sorturing the facts or by any course of
reasoning based thereon, any other concur
sion can be arrived at. On the contrary, on
the seventh ballot the fact was disclosed that
the democrats bad it in their power 10 have
elected Southern man, an opponent OF the
Republicans, man who OWNS hundred
slaves, and is as deeply interested personally
In the protection OF his constitutional rights
on this subject as any gentleman brought for
ward by the democracy, man whose rights
are similar to those of his fellowcitizens in the
South, and who, upon this question, is as sound
and reliable as either of the other gentlemen
voted for for the speakership, to-wit GnAER,
of North Carolina. If the hollOw-hearted cx-
tremists OF the South had believed, as they
profess to believe, that the slavery question
10 the paramount and all-absorbing question
Of the day, before which all others pale and
become Insignificant why was it that they
did not embrace the opportunity offered on
the seventh ballot, to elect a Southern man
and STAKEHOLDER TO the Speakership? Do
they desire, as their action thus far would
indicate, to connive at the election of Re-
publicanf Do they wish to secure the cleo
ton of SHERMAN, the Republican and indor-
ser OF "Helper's compend" of the Impending
crisis at the South? Is it their purpose to
still further promote the too violent sec
tional feeling which already exists, and thus
forward their schemes Of dsunion? Their
course and tactics appear to be deliberately
designed for this purpose and no other.
There is no other fair Interpretation which
can be rendered of the present contest in the
House OF Representatives.
Yet in the face of these facts, patent.
palpable, indisputable so far as the speaker
ship itself is concerned, democratic journals
are raising the cry that the Southern Oppo-
sitiOnist alone will be responsible for the
election of SHERMAN, If he shall be elected.
Already the States and Union, at Washington,
exhibits the shameless effrontery to say
upon the heads of the South Americans
Be the fault and shame if Sewardism is
formally and triumphantly ushered into ex-
istence in the South wing OF the capital"
We expect nothing else, we can hope for
nothing else but that this shameless perver-
sion of the recorded truth will be taken up
and reiterated throughout the South now and
during next year. And while the States and
Union makes this reckless assertion, in the
self same issue, in the very same breath,
almost with the same stroke of the pen it
says
1.-The Democratic members can console
themselves with the reflection-if anything
can console such true hcarted patriots, in
view of the triumph of Sewardism and Hell
perism-that they hare not soiled their hands
seuh RnO,o-N nottingham.
We advocated from the first the election of
Mr.. Bocock. We desire Speaker who. in
the possible event of his translation to the
Presidential chair, would be acceptable to the
country for his practical and sterling virtue. |
We free 10 declare that under circumstances
eidteyer ioouid hare ddUOc1ted The AeciioR
Of KnoaO- Nothnng as The presiding officer Of the
RotlsS. On the contrary. are should hare resisted
such purpose, q ii had been entertained, trih all
tts fnergy zoe could command"
And we have no earthly doubt but that
thiH sentiment is participated in by the body
Of the leaders of that party South. 1t is
thus that democratic organs strive to close
up every possible avenue by which the
Southern Opposition might be able to unite
on Mr.. BOCoCK. They are scorned and de-
spised and repealed. They are, in effect, told
that the party would be outraged and con-
taminated by a contact of any sort with
Know Nothings. How is it possible under
such circumstances that the Southern Amer
leans can go with the Democracy. They are
interdicted on all hands by a sort of noli me
sdngers bull or ukase, from contact with the
immaculate Democracy.
We trust now more than ever they will
stand by their guns, steadily opposing, as
they have done the Republicans at the North.
aud the sectionalism and partizan bigotrv
aud intolerance of the South. We say to
them, seize with a still Fl mer grasp the flag
STAFF OF the Union, and if political death is
inevitable, die just where you are.