Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-02

r5- has undertaken to establish an foreground railroad
from the North, for the purpose Of bringing back the
miserable wanderers who have heeu decoyed from their
southern masters The enterprise promises well and de-
serves encouragement.
The Opposition Of Tennessee.
The Convention OF the Opposition party Of Tennessee
held az Nashville the 22l and Esd of February, was
ike orr own and those Of North Carolina and Kentucky
complete success The Memphis Enquirer, whose edi-
tor Hon Jere Clemens, presided, SAYS &" We have at
tended great many Conventions both as delegate aud
spscato- in the last twenty years but never one in
which there was the harmony the same uuaumi'y
the same good order and the earnesuess Of pur
pose Is distinguished the Convention Of the 22d twas
smpbaticay meeting of the people, and was composed
Of men who felt they had something at stake aud were
governed by higher objects than distribution of the
.Dols. There was not one scene of dsorder-not one
unsemly vrsucle 10 throw dscredit upon their proceed
irgs and the announcement of John Bell as the choice
of the Convention for President was hailed with
thasasm such as Jackson and Clay to excite.
Ifnomius,el by the National Convention, he viii get the
electoral vote of Tennessee beyond all question
The following address aud resolutions were adopted
by the Convention
The members Of this Convention chosen in primary
meetings of che people in their respective counties and
representing the sentiments aud opinions Of all those,
whether Wings Democrats or Americans in times past,
Who ew with and not without alarm, the pres
eut political condition of che country, have convened for
the purpose of taking counsel together, and 70 adopt
such measures as may appear best % awaken the sleep
ing patriot ana % the Indifferent 10 sense OF the
Impending dangers and 20 unite their energies TO save
the cogatry rom the dsorgluzug aud revolutionary
spirit Of the times They believe that the time has come
and viii not brook pOsp0uemeut when t ever, the pro
gross of abuses aud corruption in our Government which
I'm history shows the parents and toreruuuer OF revo
luton and anarchy may be stayed, if they cannot be
That we NAV not be- accused of exaggerating the
tent of the existing abuses and disorders in the body
polite and of Oyerratiug their disastrous and baueiul
consequences brief enumeration and description Of
some oil the mose prominent OF them viii be submitted
90 the Judgment Of the people who alone can apply the
remedy.
A ItIe more than thirty years ago the editor Of
newspaper iu New Hampshire who bad rudely assaled
Jhe character OF "a Secretary OF State, was denied the
publishing Of the laws of Congress, JOB insignificant IN
value which had been accorded 20 him under previous
administrations This denounced az the time 10y the
whole opposition act of tyranny and abuse OF exc
cltive nlrouage-an attack upon the freedom of the
rres-upou liberty ITSELF ia poisoning the fountain from
which was derived OF It's chief supports At this
dlv strange as &c may appear without any change in the
form of Government important public Offices orc fire.
4-gut.v bestowed upon she propueOrs and editors OF
Jobs ana contracts metei TO them, the profits of
them. amounting sometimes 20 thousands, distributed
anon. them without scrupe, aud under Executive nha
euce aud direction.
Under the msxjms and teachings OF Jefferson confirm
cd by the practice OF Madison Monroe and j. q. Adams,
re freedom OF political opinion held 20 be of
cred and important character IN Republic that u pc
Rod of thirty years prescription or removal from office
for opinions sake were unknown During the same pc
Rod of time the preservation OF the purity and rdePen-
.nee of the elective franchise hell be iupOr-
taut that the interference OF Fed raj officers in elections
STATE or National forbidden according 70 the teach
iugs Of Jefferson, who announced that such interference
would be held inst cause of removal
Bur soon after the close the period 10 which refer
s,e has been made the wholesome doctrines and seu
ents Of Jefferson and Of mis- immediate successors upon
those important subjects lost much OF their force and
respect With the public.
The frs, departure from them by the popular Chefof
"a new Administration found excuse among his followers
u che f,rcc assaults made upon his private character by
ITS onuor,uts iu the canvass which had terminated in
his election and Justification in The special circumstances
OF each case OtremoyJL
Bu u tne under various plausible pretexts particu-
Irv that which assumed that the retrCuchment OF eX-
eerl.ares and form OF abuses promised by the Pres
dent Boo bis first Inaugural Address could not be carried
70 unless tho public offices and emp.oymcuts, minister
al as wei. a. political, aud administrative, should DE in the
hand. ottis friends and suppOsters-he niunctions Of
ters0u ceased 20 De respected and the wholesale pro-
..a.ilu which followed the discovery of this necessity
.ei g.. the ,uj TO the introduction OF long train OF
abuses r tha exercise of the appointing power, IN the
-.bl,i0u of executive patronage and 10 practical
operation % the government suoversive OF spirit and
intention OF the Constitution The freedom once con-
ceieG 90 cine oice-hoiLers wei all other citizens TO
r1r0ve or ceusuge the acts and measures Of an admins
r-rO1 as their judgment and conscience might dictate,
can uo Doe exercised only under the penalty of forfeiture
of o.. tg5Ity due 10 the country and its govern
ueut rau al citizens in their is now held 10 be
transferred to- political Chief, or % party. No poht-
,4l acrc-v matter how miscleyous and dangerous,
even though D, aims at the destruction OF the Coasu
5u-uo violation OF solemn pledges OF duties Is held to
5e cause OF exclusion from, or appointment TO oilte,
provided thr essential point OF honor Is saved IN bearing
true allegiance 20 party.
Aie..oG-y with which the freedom Of elections, and
the purity OF che elective franchise, was once guarded
against che uLCeace OF the executive power aud the M
tt s.nte O Federal officers elections, IS no longer re-
c0guzei bv those who have the control OF affairs OF any
importance 10 the preservation OF free Institutions
Under the operation OF new maxim IN dispensing eN-
ecuvt patronage that 10 the yc,Oys belong the pOiS
the mlxuus OF Jefferson have been reversed and new
tenure OF Office prescribed no, known by the Consuu-
ton. OGce-hO.irr3 expected aad required 10 inter
ere actively In elections under penalty OF dismissal and
thus the whole corps Of civil officers aud employees and
their dependents hundred thousand OF more in num-
5e- dispersed over the country, constitute standing
political police llrre-trainei bands disciplined 10 any
service which may be required in unfolding the party
in power.
Al every Collectors once m thN large citlest every
lo>tcce every city aud respectable village IN the
lad may De found political club-rOom from whence
issue mis>ives giving instructions 20 the faithful
The purity cd tIe elective franchise IN the present
times B, mo-, exempt from the temptations and iuluen-
-ss OF ulcuuary brides with executive couuivnce.
I, Is notorious ttat per ceu,age Oh the salaries OF
Federal oc,-d0Jsrs has been frequently it not regular
D. assessed and collected raise fund TO be transmit
t,d Co whatever State Congressional district t may
be deemed necessary 20 enable the party TO carry
election Aud thus portions OF the public revenue derv-
ed from the people, OF thousands in amount are
turned into corruption fund 20 slide tie voice aud de-
fea the viii OF the honest aad Independent voters.
These evils aud abuses great AMI gross as they mani
iesy are may be tolerated and liberty NAV survive, and
tine country may prosper for season, while the great bo-
y oi the people continue untsH,ed by corruption; but
how long that season may be- vii depend upon the ope-
ration OF Of the Indirect and remote conse-
quences OF the abuses above enumerated. The maxms
observed and prcsed upon in the distribution Of the
spo for the last quarter of century has undoubtedly
lowered the standard OF public morals, and diEused
meFcensry spirit ever she S0untry.