Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-31
Have we Democratic Party Among


The donbt implied in the above inter- OF a
tory, however startling at first sight. appears
any thing but absurd on examination Nay,
at the hazard Of contradicting the vulgar
prejudice and shocking our own sense OF
security. we are obliged to announce the
deliberate conclusion that there is now no
Democratic party in existence. And we will
venture the assertion, that the paradoxical
opinion will he embraced by all observing and
ref citing persons.
OF Individual Democrats. dispersed over
the country. each with his peculiar profession
OF faith and object of pursuit, there is unques-
tonably a very abundant supply. But they
no moreconstitute party in the philosophical
ard practical sense Of the word. than a heap
Of unhcwn and unadjusied stone constitutes IL
palace. For the realization of that idea, there
must he primarily a common foundation, then
"A due subordination and fitness among the
parts. and finally Il complet' unity of organiza-
ton. We doULt u any one Of these conditions can
be pyelicfied of Ee Democracy.
la the first place. will any man pretend TO
affirm that Democrats are agreed upon a basis
of principle! Ii. reyp.ct Of wAich one among tie
politeai ISSUES Jefore he country as there much
as 0Yroach 10 humanity an the '.Pqrty.'
Not surely in regard To squattcr sovereignty.
| The disagreement between the President and
hi Secretary Of State on this sub, ct, is the
symOyl Of an equivalent difference among the
Democracy. Not in r. gard to the Pacific
railroad. for here again the chief of the Adj
mnistration is at points with his Secretary of
War, and the class of strict construction
Democrats dissent from the faith Of their less
scrupulOus associates. Not in regard to
federal appropriations for the Improvement of
rivers and harhOrs; since the division of the
Cabinet on this issue is likewise responsive to
similar division among the mass of the
Democracy. Nor yet is there anything like
unanimity in the party" in regard To that
most important matter of all-tliat tariff
question, in respect of which Mr.. Buchanan
alIirms one belief, while Mr.. Cobb maintains
directly the Oppost".
We need not recapitulate all the points of
divergent doctrine among the Democracy. 1t
is sufficient to say that upon no single issue
Is there adequate agreement for common
basis Of action.
In the matter of organization we discover
an equal absence OF concord and unity in the
..party." We have a LccOmpton and an An
ti-LocOmpton faction; there are the followers
of Douglas and here the adhercnts of Bucha-
nan: in short, as many as are the asprants
for the Presidency, So many are the cliques
and cabals among the Democracy.
Heretofore. the Administration has afforded
a rallying point for the individuals of the
party" but. instead, it ia become an origin
al occasion of dispute and discussion. In
these inter diIs, ne recommendation Of a Democrat
&c ELerAtiUe implies hGle authority ,cih De
nlocrr,ic Representatives than nth member Of the
Opposition.
In one particular the Democracy are
thought to lie very generally agreed in opin-
ion and concurrent in action, aud that is the
pursuit of the spoils. Bnt even in this most
important matter. they exhibit the same
diversity Of interest and policy observable in
every other regard. The course OF the pres
ent Democratic Executive has been signalized
by the indiscriminate Osiracism of the sur
vving oficcholdrrs Of its Democratic prede-
crssor. And in respect Of future promotion.
the rival factions in the party" are more in
tent each on the defeat Of its rival, than on
the overthrow of the common enemy. I'm
less these domestic Discussions be harmoniZed
by the prevalence of more fratcrnal counsclS
or suppressed 10y the pressure of an over
shadowing peril, we are not warranted in
anticipating the cordial cooperation of the
various factions among the party" in the
struggle of 1850. Eren the potent spell Of me
sl,oas triH not 0UHt 10 subdae the demon Of
disc ri among tie Democracy.
1t is no absurd speculation, therefore, to in
quirc whether there be Democratic party
among u.s. In fact. on elaborate invcstigl-
ton, we are CONSTRAINED to return "A negative
response to the question. Their" is no such
entity as II smocratic party. Greater con
fusion of tongues and opposition of interests
did not prevail among the children of men
after their ambitions but aboTtive attempt in
the plain of Shinah, than are now visible in
the broken ranks and mutual animositcs Of
the once harmonious and triumphant Dem
Ocrncy.
1t is time to arrest the progress of this de-
porablc decay. If the Democracy would
maintain their asccndency, they have not II
moment to lose from the work of repair aud
reorganization.