Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-06-01
WEDNESDAY mORNTNG, JUNE L, 1859.


The late KnoW-Nothings have adopted the name
of Opposition" because no specific name could be
applied to SO heterogeneous collection without
giving offence to some part Of it. II is organized
for thepurpose of pulling down only, and should
ever happen to be intrusted with administrative
duty it would at once fall into wild confusion
a. did the builders Of Babel. Those Of our fellow
citizens who intend joining this Opposition" to the
Democratic party Of the country in the next Pres-
Dental election, with the hope of eeotng somebody
else thsn Democrat, they cannot tell who or what
he msy be, give better assurance of their
inability 10 administer the government than the
name they. select. Not positive principle of
government policy has this Opposition in Tennessee
advanced. While abusing the Democratic party,
and disappearing its acts and principles, not
hint Is given of what their own course would be if
they should succeed is displacing their opponents
We believe they have told that they regard gold
and silver as q great humbug, and that they them
selves are in favor Of 'banks M proper restrictions"
They have also talked good deal of economy; but
as their conduct when in power, has been the ex-
cot reverse of their professions when out Of power
they cannot expect the people Of the State to credit
their sincerity in this respect. They have also
been so peculiarly unfortunate in some of the men
whom they have placed to guard the State Treasu-
Fy that they need not be surprised if epeople fear
to trust them with the National Treasury especially
as little experiment with the strong box Of the
House Of Representatives, by one of their leaders,
was much more profitable to that leader than to the
Treasury
How the Opposition" expect to make up their
party, they dare not honestly tell They deal in
generslies, and talk they did when they started
KnoWNOthingism, in 1885, Of SO union of all honest
men" But they union with the free-soil
people Of the Eastern and Western States. They
must mtan this, for, except the Democrats Of those
Ststes all free soilers. Should they effect this
fusion, just that che tail follows the head,
they viii be compelled rcnounce il the first mo
ment it is successful, OF join in q war upon their
own hearth stones.
What is there-what cen there be-in such "0p-
position, organized only to oppose, right Wrag,
the Democratic party, and proposing no measure of
government, TO commend il to the patriotic people
OF the South interested only in the preservation of
their rights in the oOnfederaey, and in securing
themselves and to their posteriy, the blessings of
liberty, regulated by just and equal laws? The
hunter, the thirsty spokesman, may be tempted
By the offer Of rich plunderings in prospect to join
this Opposition. But it can tempt no others to its
rsnks unless it be those with whom hatred of the
Democracy has become passion, and who would
1'rstber reign in hell than serve in heaven"
Opposition" in the best sense of the word, ez-
presses less than half the duty of the patriot and
The Christian in this world. No man does his duty
here by simply rejecting evil He must do good
also. And 50, We remind the Democracy Of their
duty to oppose the evils of KnoW-NOthiugism under
its mask Of Opposition, and to do a great good to
their country and to humanity by securing the sue
cess of the Democratic cause and party in August.