Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-03-02

~ 10 pe matter OF surprise IN such state OF things
that extrayagance and wastefnlness in the publ,
expenditures should exist to an alarming event
and that frauds and corruptions abound in high
: places.
e Instances Of frauds and corruptions win arise
under the wisest and purest administration but the
r rapid growth and progress of these evils in the
spoils prnciple-f principle IL may be called leads
rresistbly to the conclusion either that the prnci-
pie itsef is unsound that the in which il
Is carried out is essentially vicious and corrupt
: When the public offices and employments are be-
: slowed on honest and capable men, that they are
political partizare and supporters of the party in
power, can form no just ground Of complaint. But
when honest and capable incumbents are substtu-
ted by others who have no adequate qualifications
for the Offices duties to which they are assigned
and other merit than their capacity to be service
able to the party, to the ambitious aspirations Of
the President other high officer by whom he was
employed, is a corrupt abuse of power.
|, Whatever well founded objections may exist TO
the maxim that ITO the victors belong the spois"
it has been too long aequiesced in, and too firmly
engrafted TO be suddenly changed. II ever changed
1t must be work of time; but it is to be hoped,
that for the honor Of Republican Institutions that
the abuses and corruptions which have arisen from
the manner in which the maxim has been made to
operate in practice may be speedily corrected
But the correction of the various abuses in the
administration of the government important as il
into comparative insign6cance when we turn to the
overshndowing evil, the practical and paramount
question of the day and of the times. II is not a
question Of abuses in the practice of the govern
ment, it is a question concerning the existence of
the government itself, which has been brought into
imminent peril of dissolution by the same causes and
influences which have hastened the downfall of all
preceding Republics. In evil hour and at time
Of rare tranquility and exemption from party strife
and excitcmept-the result of the compromise meas
ures of 1850, the Missouri compromise line of $40
was repealed II would be useless to point out or
suggest the motives and designs of the authors of
that unfortunate measure, be they what they nav
the effect Of the measure was to kindle fame of
resentment in all the free States and to renew with
ten fold violence the sectional strife and dscord
upon the subject of slavery which had been so hap
PLY quieted in 1885, 1t is needless to recount the
means and devices by which the agitation thus re-
commenced was continued and even increased in
intensity, until now when we find two powerful
parties confronting each other the one in the North
and the other in the South, contending obstinately
for the power and control of the Government upon
sectional issue-the right Of the South under the
Constitution to carry slavery into the Territories
and to have it protected there by Congress being
the Southern vide of the issue and the right of the
North, under the Constitution TO prohibit slavery
in the Territories, being the other sidcof the issue
practically, and in effect distractions both at the
present time, in the opinion Of many Of the most
enlightened men OF the country North and South.
Nevertheless, the same motives and causes which
originated the controversy operate with the same
force to keep il alive. The sectional hate and aena-
tion engendered in the protracted strife add greatly
to the difficulties in restoring the wonted harmony
Of the country; and to make the prospect of ac-
complishing that great and desirable end still more
gloomy, the power and influence OF the spos
principle operate with their usual effect in stirnulat-
ing the antagonistic parties to put forth all their
energies in maintaining the conflict. All these cir
cumstances combined have created painful anxieties
as to the future in the minds of thousands of pa
riotic citizens in both sections. It is worse than
idle TO say that the Union is in no danger II may
be mischevOus to lull the people into security by
procaiming that the Union cannot be dissolved
that the associations of the past--the anticipation
of the glorious destiny which awaits US as a nation
will prevent t-that the ties of kindred blood of
common lineage and language will prevent it-that
the enormty of the crime of diSuniOn against man
kind will prevent it. and that if nothing else should
avail the magnitude of the material interest de-
pendent upon the preservation of the Union will
prevent its disnemberment. The Union cannot be
saved by such teaching. 1t should be remembered
that the ties of blood and natural affection are often
broken by repeated wrongs-that family quarrel,
of all Others when entered upon, is the most bitter
and reentless-that sentiment often proves strong
er as a motive TO action than material interests
\ mol The safety of the Union depends upon the
united action and energies of all good men, North
and South and with the blessing of the God of our
fathers upon their efforts, the Union can and will
be preserved.
Resolred, Therefore. by the Delegates of the peo-
pie Of Tennessee, in Convention assembled that we
will unite with all good men everywhere and devote
all our energies to maintain and perpetuate the
Union under the Constitution as it is.
Resolrsd That the true test of devotion to the
Union is the practice of ready obedience to the re-
quirements of the Constitution.
i RssoiUed That the continued agitation of the
slavery question, while il promises no profitable re-
suit TO any section is fraugh with infinite mischies
to the whole country-injurious to all material in
terests-retarding moral progress-imparing the Ma
tiOnal Character abroad-presentiug the aspect of
weakness, from incurable dissentions at home and
thereby inviting insults and aggressons from for
eign powers imperiling the peace of the Country,
stability of the Tnon, and that it ought therefore to
cease.
ResolUcd That we are opposed to direct taxation,
and in favor OF tariff adequate TO the expenses of
and economical administration of the General Gov
ernment with specific duties where applicable, dis
eliminating in favor of American labor.
Resolved That the Hon. John Bell, in the opinion
of this Convention, possesses superior qualifications
for the Office of President-his long and distinguish
ed public services-his broad and expansive patriot
ism-his answering devotion TO the Union and
the Constitution through all phases Of his political
fortune, entitle him to warmest confidence and
+ support
We commend TO our fellow citizens everywhere,
and the delegates appointed to the National Union
Convention are instructed to use all honorable
means to procure his nomination.
: The Address and Resolutions were adopted unani-
; mously and with acclamation.
DIR, JoHS II. CALLESDRR, from the Committee on
{ Delegates to the Union National Convention, re-
!, ported the following delegates.
The Chairman in making the report, remarked
that the committee had deviated from the instruc-
tions of the Convention by reporting three delegates
from each Grand Division of the State, and
three from each Congressional District, instead Of
two
East TeaH'ssee.--Wm, Brazelton Jr, of jefferson