Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-22
He Didn't Answer.

The Know Nothing Opposition niOn-Savers are
troubled IN The penutude of their overfowlng pat
riolisIn because breckenridge ddn ans Wer the ques-
tions put to Douglas Norfolk. His speechls unex-
ceptionable as far g2es. They can successful.
! " attack it. They maytmisrepresent, pervert, and
even misunderstood Il; but they can't attack it for
what it contains They admit that he IS not dsunon-
| st That is one point gained 1t he - not dlsu-
pioust he NAV as safely be trusted even by the I'm
iopsavars as Bell for with the Executive in favor of
the Union Congress and the Judiciary couldn't will
break ND the COntederacy andin no event could the
other branches of the General Government, the Sc
lection and composition Of which Is entirely distinct
from that of the Executive, do more towards dis
union than if Bell or Douglas were President So
the most timid may be quoted, the Opposition or
cans themselves having conceded, reluctantly but
fully that Mr.. Breckenridge is not a Disunionist
Rnt why didn't he answer the question Is it
importapt Mr. Journal, that the views of the Pres
identical candidate in regard thereto should be
known Then why didn't your party define Mr.
Bells position thereon? If they are OF sufficient
imDortance TO demand an answer, they were OF suf-
ficieut TO require the attention Of the Conventions
If thew were not of sufficient Importance TO require
declaration on them by either the Douglas Squattcr,
or the Know Nothing-U nOn-saylng Convention, they
cannot be of sufficient Importance 70 make IN neces-
sarv that Mr.. Breckenridge should speak 10 them.
Mr. Breckenridge appeared before the public, not
to add new plank to the platform Of his party, but
20 explain and defend the cOntroverted points in
that declaration of faith and repel certain unfOund
ed accusations. personal to himself Neither of the
objects. both of which he accomplished, required
him to notice the Norfolk questions
One of these questions involves the right OF scces
sion and the ve,y structure of our Government. 1t
involves n question that has long been before the
Deople and enlisted the attention OF statesmen.
Has the Democratic party taken a position on the
subject to which it refers Il SO, that position is
defined in that portion of the platform common to
both the Democracy proper and the Douglas Squat
ters-;u the Cincinnati platform. II so defined. then
NJ. Breck; nridge's position may be found without
5eiultv If il is not so defined then Mr.. Douglas at
NoTfoIk assumed the power TO add article TO hS
Marty creed and to bird by his GIcta the will and
oni,lions of his adherents he spoke, not for his
,,artv Int for himself alone and lad Mr.. BreCkin-
r.;d,a shaken he could have done more. The first
no man in America. save Douglas, would assume to
- and the latter is not worth moments attention
Rnt if Il was important that Breckipriege should
answer these questions, it is equally Important
- more So indeed--that Bell should answer |
,bo,n If thew involve il any great issue, material
"a tSo welfare and happiness Of The people Douglas
'SoiS have spoken and Breckenridge, and Lincoln. |
.,,5 RalJ should speak viii Mr.. Bell speak! Dare |
20 sneeky Will his keepers remove the paddock /
80 his mouth for one moment? His Platform is /
IL. Tbtre is nothing in his record to enable
p I,, what his views are 10 regard to the right
- a,oSs;op If they think it is necessary that Mr..
=. opiBions should be knowa, il can only
~ ayv thai Bell should speak because his
c,s are SO gloomy that it cannot matter what
l:I,., or what position he occupies. Is that
~ 70 NOT will Mr. Bells friends ask him to
me GaSe ,besn questions? viii they press him to