Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-04-30
SATURDAY MORNING, APHIL 80, 1853.
observation-disclosures

sEGenealOgicO.POliIical
Under the above caption, the Nashville Banner,
the special organ Of the Composition " in TennesA
see, has undertaken to criticise the character Of
THOMAS JEFFERSON as 'the father and founder T" Of
the Democratic party; and, in doing So very justly
contrasts him with ALEXANDER HAnLFoE, "the
father and founder" Of the Opposition under what
ever name il has sought to steal into power.
We are refreshed with this recurrence to "first
principles" lis seldom We can get so plain adj
mission of the TsQLpaternity Of the Opposition u
to Demoeraey. It has been their practice for many
years 10 repel Indignantly all charges and proofs OF
federal origin and federal instincts They have sell
dom admitted their responsibility for "the obnOx
ious acts and violated pledges of any political
ganizaton further back than ore administration.
The Wings would not be bound for the Federal
lists; The AbOliiionists would not be boupd for the
Wings; the KnOw-NothiDgs would not be bound for
either the Wings AbelitiOnists7 the Black Repub-
licans would not be bound for the Know Nothings,
and the general tenor Of remarks from the geters-
up of the present Opposition {" has been to repu-
date responsibility for any and all parties and to
declare their hostility to but one, the present party
in power, who impede their way to equal enjoys
ment of the federal patronage and spells.
The article in the Bonner comes at a pro-
pitiOus time-at time Shen the necessity is again
imposed upon The Demo Of exposing the tricks
of the enemy by slrippi them Of the neo disguise
in which they are seeking oiupose thems Ives upon
the creduliy Ct The people. TIE following extracts
are admirably suiiedtO cur purpose:
1.-The Democratic party claim Thomas jefferson
as its father, founder and oracle. We admit the
claim, and clearly perceive the liDeanents of the
sire in his offspring"
'.Poltical his Org informs us that Mr. Jefferson,
in 1871, as WashIngtons Secretary of State, in his
objections to the charter Of Incorporation of the first
United Stotes Bank, was the first TO enuueiRte what
is called the doctrine of strict consiruction-the
tenes Of the estate rights qualification" 'seccs
sion" dsunior DemocTaticspsrty, which We now
opposing-which doctrine was positively reafirmed
and proclaimed by the last State Convention Of that
party in Tennessee"
This paragraph is deserving of a second perusal.
1t enuneiates a great fact-a fundamental truth
which constitutes the basis of khe Democratic par
ty, and the great line Of demarkation which has
divided it from its lifelong adversary, the Fede
ral>Whig Know Nothing Black Republican 0ppOsi.
ton school Of politicians The doctrine of " strict
construction" of the Federal Constitution" the
support Of the State governments in all their rights
o
nestle concerns, and the surest bulwsrks against
anti>Repubiozn tendeucies; the preservation of
the general government in it's whole constitutional
xigor, as the sheet anchor of our peace at home,
and safety abroad" among the important prin
ciples put forth by Mr.. JEFFERSON in his fret inau
gural address constituting " the creed of our Po-
lticsl faith the text Of civic instruction, and the
touchstone by which to try the services Of those
We trust" This doctrine Of stict construction and
State rights, was at war with the Federal doctrine
of a consolidated government and State dependen-
cies; with the aristocratic notions and class
legislation of HAMILTON and his followers, and has
been the great impediment in the way of his party
followers ever since. The Banner in the heat of its
federalism sigmatses it as the of the ''nul-
hfcation," accession" disunion," tenets of the
Democratic party.
We want 1t distinctly understood in the ensuing
canvass that the peculiar and recognised organ and
exponent of the principles of the party now opuOs,
ing the Democracy in Tennessee, declares the doc
trine of "strict construction of the Federal
Constitution Synonymous with qualification, seees-
sion and disunion :" The editors OF the Banner
speak advissdly They are III the confidence of
Mr. BELL and Col. NETHERLAED. We trust the
champion of their party will not attempt the old
dodge of denying his creed in this particular when
he goes before the people of the State.
The Banner continues
This imPracticsbihty was engendered in Jefer-
sons brain, fIom the seeds Of certain radical and
jacObinlca ideas which he learned in France during
his residence there, while that mercurial people, in
the midst OF anarchy and bOodshed, were worship
ping the goddess Of reasOn-naving at the same |
time ignored all governmental as well as moral phi~
losophy and denied the existence OF the Creator and
the authenticity OF all divine revelation and law.
The fertile genius of that accomplished and most |
inefable demag0gue begat this fallacy as popular
hobby, whereby he might promote ms Presidential !
aspirations II competition with Alexander Hamilton.
HIS offspring, Ia imitation Cfthe pareut, are given
10 the same art Of Propagating talacous degmas |
and Issues al The present day, and frequently |
not less successful than Their lalher il deludIng the
people and achieving success. For though the lu-
minous intellect Of hamilton at once perceived the
falsy aud pernlcOus character Of this doctrine, and
in ms argument in favor Of the cOnstiuiOna!IIy OF
a United States Bank, he exposed it thoroughly and
effectively, yet the apostle Of Democracy and Black
RepubEcauism suCct eded IN overmaseriDg his giant
competitor and attained the Presidency"
We confess ourselves at a loss to understand how
this impracabihty" OF q strict construction Of the
Federal Constitution "was engeViered in the brain
of Mr.. JEFFERSON from certain radical and jacObn.
ieal ideas which he learned in France" Win the
pOlitico philosophers Of the Banner Eliminate this
point little for the benefit Of our Obtuse UNDER
staudipgsg For our lives we cannot the cOnneo-
uon unless IS that the French revolution having
sprung from tyranical enoroachments Of the King
upon established rights Of the people, Mr.. JEFTER
SON is supposed to nave learned the necessity Of
restraining power BY rigid rule to its prescribed
limits Is this what the Banner means Talk out
neighbor. Don't be afraid of maGing yourself too
plainly understood
The Banner thinks 'lhe fertile genius or that &C
,omplished and most Hsfd5s desaGg3gHe, JEFFERSON,
begat this faacy Of strict construction of the Fed
srsl Constitution as popular hobby, whereby be |