Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-04-06


has sihned against that leading idea with Southern
Union men, which the Baaner informs us, sis OPP
position to she agitation Of the subject Of slavery.
should the Banner be less r.gid with the Patriot in
enforcing due observance Of that aleading idea
than it has been with Mr. Bates Perhaps the Ban
ner IS content to reprove the Patriot in the very di
ferent manner in which it has replied to the inter-
rosatories Of the St. Lonis Neos; the substance Of
which reply is that it is opposed primarily to the
Democratic and Republican parties alike on account
of their sectional attitude and their persistence in
urging sectional issue that whenever opinions
upon territorial questions as the Patriot
says were laid down in 1850, advocated and estab-
hshed by CLAY and WEBSTER, and other great lights
Of that peri0d-are accepted as test of fitness for
office, the Presidential contest reduced to- purely
sectional aair''that whatever rights the settlers
Of the Territories eentted to under the Constitu-
ton viii, no doubt be accorded them by an admin
istraton put in power by the coEse rvative men
North and South and secured 70 them by the Courts;
and the whole country viii be quoted" whether
that administration hold views in keeping with those
Of BATES or SEWARD, so that the President elect
shall have refused to say anything on the subject Of
slavery previous to the election.
Such is the spirit of the Opposition press. 1t is
faithful portrGiture Of the dismembered, dscor-
dant factious, selfish and unprincipled interests
that are held together byno other bond and no high
err aim than a natural prejudice against the Demo.
cratic party, and a common desire to get a chance
a. the Offices and patronage Of the government
The picture certainly enough to offend the patri-
otism Of every sincere man who has intelligence
the belief that there many such men among those
who are classified with the Opposition and thatit will
be manifested bysa speedy abandonment of the ruin
ed fortunes OF that faction. the continued organiza
ton of which is powerless for good and only capa
bic of harm. Among the evidences upon which
this belief is based is a recent article in the New
Orleans Crescent one of the ablest and heretofore
one of the most jealous of the Opposition press
most Of which we copy below for the striking con-
trast it presents with the other journals we have
quoted, and commend its frankness and practical
good sense to the careful consideration Of all honest
men in the Opposition ranks whose only purpose is
to subserye the public good
The South, as well as the Union itself has all to
lose and nothing to gain by three parties entering
the Presidential campaign. Circumstances, wholly
beyond the reach Of human control have given
lle DcnOCFauC party the pOsluOn-lnu the only
feasible position which presents lsef-to fight the
sectional hosts Of Abolition with any assurance of
success This we may regret as strongly as any one
else possibly can ; but as common sense men, ap-
pealing to common sense men, we ask what is the
use of quarrelling about that which is as fixed as
destiny ITSELF or, Of acting in manner calculated
to sacrifice our section because our party prefer
| ences are impossible of realization? It is not
likely the Charleston nominee will carry any IA
yOrite Of ours. Far from it. But if the Constitu-
tOnal rights of the South will be safe in his hands
If we are persuaded ne VIII administer the Govern
ment Justly and impartally without regard to sec
ton, latitude or longitudinal if he is the OlV man
with whom stand the remOtest chance of defeat
! ing Seward or a worse AbOlitiOEst why should we
not take him " Half a loaf" to a hungry man.
So is better than no bread = and the Southern On
position TO the Democracy, being pOwerless in
ITSELF may well afford without sacrificing an iOta
of principle to support a sound Democrat, when
the pursuit Of any other policy could have no
other effOct than to rebound to the advantage of
the Black Republican candidate. 1t is on this
ground, and this ground alone that we deprecate
the formation Of third party in the ensuing Presi-
Dental struggle.
Suppose the Baltimore Constitutional Union Ma
tiOnal Convention should nominate ir-eproachable
candidates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency
and publish to the people irreproaclabe platform
of principles what would be the natural. we may
say the inevitable consequence, of their proceed
Ingsy Why, the election Of the Black Republican
Glll44ldlc " tit 70 Il GCsil ana moral
certainty. There are now but two parties in
the United States prominently before the country.
which viii determine the issue of the Presidential
contest the Democratic and Black Republican par
ties. 1t is too late to set up another organization
were 1t desirable, which conceive is not the case.
Consequently the battle must be fought and won or
lost by the parties we have mentioned. Hence. any
outside interference can only result inluriOUsly to
the party processing allegiance to strictly cOnstUu-
tiOnal principles while it viii COrrespOndngly adj
vantage a Northern sectional organization with
Seward as the standard bearer in chief.
Suppose the Baltimore Convention should nOmi-
nate Critenden. Everett Bell for the Presidency
and third party should vigorously enter upon the
canvass-wh@t would be the natural effect of the
pr0cedure2 Why, without carrying single State
and probably not a single county in the whole broad
COnfederaCy, either Of the distinguished gentlemen
named would unquestiOnably obtain a sufficient
number of votes Of true, honest and patriotic citi-
Eens, who would otherwise, to a man, support the
Charleston nominee, to enable Seward TO carry, be-
yond all question Pennsylvania Indiana, and Illinois
NOW doubtful States) with the balance of the free
States and thus render the object INSCRIPTIONS
ambition sure as well comparatively easy of at
tainment.