Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-21
Tfss I-easeSsee Democracy and the
"Nfgger Question:,

be i luH representation
TfsA 1-ense~see Democracy and the
S.Nfgger Question:
In the Democratic Convention. on Thurs
day last, after the platform IF resolutions
had been adopted, and the business Of the
Convention concluded, several gentlemen de-
liyered harangues. Among these was p. B.
glenn. Esq, a prominent member of the
party, from the Western District of the State,
who was vociferously called for, and whose re-
marks were received with every manifestation
of delight. In the course Of them, he said,
the election in August would turn upon the
'.niggcr question: as he called it-that upon
that question the Democracy of this State had
beaten the Wings heretofore, and upon that
they would beat the Opposition hereafter.
We do not pretend toquote Mr.. GLENN, liter
ally, but give what all who heard him will
recognize as the substance of what he said on
that point. He was very emphatic in declar-
ing that The question upon which the election
in-August would turn, was, to use his own
words, ''the niger question"
Now, that question. in the progress of
events, may be presented under various as
poets. The aspect which it assumed in the
great Democratic debate in the Senate, on the
23d ult., and the form in which 1t will GER
tainly come up for discussion and decision
at the next session of Congress. are new, and
have grown out of the passage by the terrific
rial Legislature of Kansas of a law abofishng
and prohibiting slavery in that Territory,
notwithstanding rhe decision Of the Supreme
Court in the bred Scott case. It's admitted,
on all hands, that that decision may, an effect,
be nullifed by a refusal on the part Of the
Territorial Legislatures to pass the necessary
laws for the protection of slave property car
ricd Into the Territories. The Territorial Lee
gislature of Kansas, having refused such pro-
lection, formal notice has been given by one
of the Senators from Mississippi, in his place
in the Senate, that application W'H be made
to Congress to afford, by Legislative action,
that protection which has been denied by the
Kansas Legislature.
Shall Congress comply with the application,
and afford the desired protection? On the
affirmative side of the question, and in favor
o: Congressional protection, in such case,
sood in the late debate in the Senate, the
two Senators from Virginia, those from Mis-
sitsippi, Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama, and Mr.. BEN
JAHIS, of Louisiana. 1t cannot be doubted,
We presume, that not only will the Demo
cracy of those States, but of all the Southern
States proper, sustain the positions OF those
Senator's.
On the other side of the question, and
q .ainst atIording Congressional protection,
though it has been refused by the territorial
Legislature of Kansas, stood DOUGLAS, PUGH,
STUART, &c, who, it cannot be doubted, truly
reflected the sentiments of the entire Northern
Democracy.
With which section of their opH party, thus
rent in twain. do the Democracy of Tennessee
svmpathise, and with which Wilt they side
With DOUGLAS & Co, representing the North
ern Democracy, or with BRowN, DAVIS, MASON,
HUNTER, CLAY, and others, representing the
Democracy of the South proper?
For solution Of this interesting question,
let us turn to the platform adopted by the
Democratic Convention on Thursday last
Resolred, That we are satisfied with the
views announced by the Supreme Court of
the United States in the celebrated case OF
"Dred Scott" on the rights OF shareholders
and the status of slavery in the Territories,
and are willing to abide by the principles an
nounced in that decision. Slavery aud the
rights Of Shareholders are protected by the
Constitution of the United States, and by an
appeal to the action OF the judicial tribunals
~ tb. INT he
stitution by the people of IA Territory, aud
then the State must decide for itself on thai,
~ well rs other legitimate subjects OF govern
ment.
We should be very sorry to misunderstood
the true purport and intended meaning of this
resolution; and if we do so, after trying our
best to understand it correctly, We shall be
glad TO be corrected. We cannot doubt, then,
that the resolution was wordcd, as 1t is, In
view of the new issue which has been made
between the southern and northern Democra-
cy through their respective leaders. Nor can
we doubt that che resolution in its real mean
ing and intended acceptation, is deliberate,
well considered annunciation, that the De-
mo.racy of Tennessee, ON his issue, are trah
DoUGLAs and the northern Democracy, and
against Mason, HUNTER, DAVIS. BRowN, CLAY
and the southern Democracy. II we are mis-
taken as 10 the intended meaning of the re-
solution-we do not well see how we can be
we shall be glad to be corrected. IL we are
not corrected, we shall take II for granted
one.