Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-03-25

anu any tnllg elllanatng from such source Is Ger
tainly, at this time deserving Of careful consid.
Grafton
We concur with Gov. F., that in the election of a
President in 1860 may be involved not only the
peace and harmony Of the States, but the prsser.
walton Of the Union but we widely differ with him
IN the conviction that he declares, that there is
but one man in the Union whose nomination at
Charleston would likely avert that danger, and that
man STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS. We cannot attach
such Importance to any single individual, however
high he may be placed in public estimation much
less can we consent to give such Importance to the
man who, more than all others, has contributed to
demoralize End break down the Democratic party
by siding with its sectional enemies and partially
disorganizing it in a great emergency.
| Whilst we have no disposition to enter upon a
criticism Of the past political relations Of Gov
FOoTE, it is all important to proper estimate of his
opinions upon the subject in question that the read
er should understand that Gov. FOoTE himself occu-
pies a relation to the Democratic party somewhat
similar to thai occupied by Mr.. DOUGLAS; and il
might not therefore, be dealing harshy to infer
that his recent letter based upon that trite but
truthful, adage fellow-feeling makes US wonder
GUS kind" Gov. FooTE, if we mistake not, has been
an uncompromising enemy of the last two Demo
cratic Administrations. He Joined the Opposition
in its war upon Mr. PIERCE, and he has been alike
hostile to President BUCHANAN. In letters and in
speeches. from California to Tennessee. he has con
tri5uted largely to the general warfare that has
been made upon the Democratic party for the last
six years. We had the pleasure Of listening to him
in the last Opposition State Convention which met
to nominate candidate for Governor in this city,
and will do him the credit to say that no man dealt
more effective blows against the Democracy than he
did 1t follows therefore, as consequence that his
opinions as TO who should be the nominee at Charles
ton have been formed from a very different stand
point and from different feelings to say nothing Of
associations, from that of the great body of the De
mOcratic party who have never faitered, and who
during the last six years have been unfolding their
old banner against the combined assaults of him.
self and the common enemy.
1t may be, and doubtless is the fact. that those
with whom he has been cooperating will concur
with him in the wish that Mr. DOUGLAS shall receive
the nomination at Charleston, and, for aught we
know, they may have a more selfish reason than
Gov. FOoTE. It is common to all parties to wish
their adversaries iluck in the selection Of a can
didate. But we will not be so uncharitable as to
suppose that Gov. FoOTE has no better reason than
this. In an evil hour Gov. F. abandoned the Demo-
cratic party and went over to the enemy. In an
hour equally as unfortunate Senator DOUGLAS did
the same thing. 1t has not been the fashion of the
world to reward desertion. And yet if the treach-
cry Of Senator DOUGLAS could be made stepping
stone to the Presidency upon the broad shoulders Of
hat
mand premium in the political stocz-market, and
old-fashioned fidelity would scarcely command a
penny's-worth.
We confess ourselves unwilling to see the Demo.
cratic party-the great party of JEFFERSON of MAD
IsoN Of JACKSON and of PoLK-the party that has so
long upheld the government, and given the world an
example Of mans integrity and capacity for self
overnment-reduced to so pitiable condition If
Senator DOUGLAS and Gov. F0oTE have been right
then the Democratic party have been wrong. If the
Democratic party have been right and these distn-
guished gentlemen have been wrong then they owe
it TO themselves and to that party to sit upon its foot
stool ofrepentance distressing their own judgment
in future and content to follow rather than to lead
in the determination of grave questions like that of
selecting candidate to represent in the great bat
Of the gravest moment
Having given place to the letter Of Gov FoorE it
was due to candor and to ourselves that we should
say this mueh studi0usly endeavoring to avoid any
nisstatement Of fact injustice to the gentleman
IN question. We trust and believe that we have
succeeded.
We are pleased with the disposition recently made
r Congress of a certain resolution for the protec-
ion Of citizens, reported from the Committee on
judiciary by HICKMAN, of Pa. a Democratic rene
,ade who went off into the ranks of the Black Re
oubHcans under the lead of Senator DOUGLAS on the
-ecOmpJon question. The resolution reads as iol-
ows:
Rss0l0eS, That the Judiciary Committee be in
tructed to inquire and report to this House what
ddIuonal legislation, If any, Is necessary to give ]
protection to citizens engaged in the pursuit of their
rivate and lawful business while travelling or so 1
burning in other States than those in which they /
eside
twas evidently reported that the House might /
i've further Instructions, bat Mr.. MCQUEEN arose
nd stated that he desired ito amend the resolution
Y inserting amendment that said committee in
uire whether any person or persons are in the
abi of going into the Southern States to steal ne
roes from sand States, or to ncite the slaves Of
aid States to insurrection, arson and murder; and
'hether any citizens of the United States are en-
aged in the establishment Of underground railroads
r in the management of the same, for the trans
ortatiOn of such stolen negroes to Canada; and if
D, to report what legislation, if any, compatible
18th the Constitution. is necessary to prevent the
ime"
This timely proposition, very qpropos, rather
,,IaI Tho 41,,
'me random inquiry, Mr.. HICKMAN concluded that
lie committee was hardly ready to return the reso-
ItiOn.
4" Allow me to add now, that know Judge Doug
S well-that [ have thus known him for about
iirteen years past and that l am perfectly
'rsuaded that more upright. fearless, ener-
'uc supporter Of the Democratic cause and of
lie best interests Of the Republic, has never occu-
ed seat in that august deliberative assembly Of
hich he is at present the chief nament"-Hoy.
s. FooTE.
That is merely the opinion Of Gov. FOorE. He
YES it for nothing more. If Gov. FooTE is serious
and we do not question that he is-it argues unfa-
,rably for the chances Of Senator DOUGLAS for it
happens that for several years past Gov FoorE
d the Democratic party have been looking
rough glasses entirely different Whatever the J
party have taken to be aohas Gov FooTE
S characterized as black. That which the Demo
attic party have called good Gov F. has denomi-
ted bad Merit with them has been densrit with =
N, and rice UerSd. 1t follows, therefore, that if
nator DoUGLls has been an upright fearless and +
argetic supporter of the Democratic cause" ac-
riding to the standard of Gov. FoorE he must have
en- disorganizer and deserter according to the
innate Of the present Democratic party. 1t may
we good purpose, therefore, to make known the a
hit in which Senator DOUGLAS is viewed by Gov r,
oTE. Il
The Louisville C0T Ter regards the proposition to
inge the National Democratic Convention from N
lrleston to some other place as a trick of the al
of STEPHEN a. DOUGLAS, and that the
shville UNION AND American, in favoring such
nge unsuspectingly fell into the cunningly pre- pc
ed and sillfully sprung trap" The Courier may &c
correct in its surmses that the friends Of Mr.. IN
-GLAs are urging change for motives personal
heir favorite. but that does not show that the co
unds upon which we favored such policy were II
good and sufficient And until it does 50 show ~
ltever may have been the motives of the friends te
DoUGIAs, there Is no truth or justice in the pa
rier's explanation of the course of this paper.
'e are satisfied. upon reflection that the meeting D"